[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16333-16335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07785]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0008]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals 
for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor 
vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will 
enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without 
meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0008 using any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, [email protected], FMCSA, 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64-224, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have questions 
regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket 
Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0008), indicate the specific section of 
this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for 
each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and 
material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only 
one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of 
your document so that FMCSA can contact you if there are questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
put the docket number, FMCSA-2019-0008, in the keyword box, and click 
``Search.'' When the new screen appears, click on the ``Comment Now!'' 
button and type your comment into the text box on the following screen. 
Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on 
behalf of a third party and then submit.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period.

B. Viewing Documents and Comments

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this notice 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Insert the docket number, FMCSA-2019-0008, in the keyword box, and 
click ``Search.'' Next, click the ``Open Docket Folder'' button and 
choose the document to review. If you do not have access to the 
internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket 
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

C. Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these 
comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the FMCSRs for a five-year period if it finds such exemption would 
likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater 
than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption. The 
statute also allows the Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 
five-year period. FMCSA grants exemptions from the FMCSRs for a two-
year period to align with the maximum duration of a driver's medical 
certification.
    The 12 individuals listed in this notice have requested an 
exemption from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). 
Accordingly, the Agency will evaluate the qualifications of each 
applicant to determine whether granting an exemption will achieve the 
required level of safety mandated by statute.
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision 
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) states that a person is physically 
qualified to drive a CMV if that person has distant visual acuity of at 
least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual 
acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with 
corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) 
in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at 
least 70[deg] in the horizontal Meridian in each eye, and the ability 
to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard 
red, green, and amber.
    In July 1992, the Agency first published the criteria for the 
Vision Waiver Program, which listed the conditions and reporting 
standards that CMV drivers approved for participation would need to 
meet (Qualification of Drivers; Vision Waivers, 57 FR 31458, July 16, 
1992). The current Vision Exemption Program was established in 1998, 
following the enactment of amendments to the statutes governing 
exemptions made by Sec.  4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 
21st Century (TEA-21), Public Law 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, 401 (June 9, 
1998). Vision exemptions are considered under the procedures 
established in 49 CFR part 381 subpart C, on a case-by-case basis upon 
application by CMV drivers who do not meet the vision standards of 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(10).
    To qualify for an exemption from the vision requirement, FMCSA 
requires a

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person to present verifiable evidence that he/she has driven a 
commercial vehicle safely with the vision deficiency for the past three 
years. Recent driving performance is especially important in evaluating 
future safety, according to several research studies designed to 
correlate past and future driving performance. Results of these studies 
support the principle that the best predictor of future performance by 
a driver is his/her past record of crashes and traffic violations. 
Copies of the studies may be found at Docket Number FMCSA-1998-3637.
    FMCSA believes it can properly apply the principle to monocular 
drivers, because data from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) 
former waiver study program clearly demonstrated the driving 
performance of experienced monocular drivers in the program is better 
than that of all CMV drivers collectively (See 61 FR 13338, 13345, 
March 26, 1996). The fact that experienced monocular drivers 
demonstrated safe driving records in the waiver program supports a 
conclusion that other monocular drivers, meeting the same qualifying 
conditions as those required by the waiver program, are also likely to 
have adapted to their vision deficiency and will continue to operate 
safely.
    The first major research correlating past and future performance 
was done in England by Greenwood and Yule in 1920. Subsequent studies, 
building on that model, concluded that crash rates for the same 
individual exposed to certain risks for two different time periods vary 
only slightly (See Bates and Neyman, University of California 
Publications in Statistics, April 1952). Other studies demonstrated 
theories of predicting crash proneness from crash history coupled with 
other factors. These factors--such as age, sex, geographic location, 
mileage driven and conviction history--are used every day by insurance 
companies and motor vehicle bureaus to predict the probability of an 
individual experiencing future crashes (See Weber, Donald C., 
``Accident Rate Potential: An Application of Multiple Regression 
Analysis of a Poisson Process,'' Journal of American Statistical 
Association, June 1971). A 1964 California Driver Record Study prepared 
by the California Department of Motor Vehicles concluded that the best 
overall crash predictor for both concurrent and nonconcurrent events is 
the number of single convictions. This study used three consecutive 
years of data, comparing the experiences of drivers in the first two 
years with their experiences in the final year.

III. Qualifications of Applicants

Vilas R. Adank

    Mr. Adank, 52, has a prosthetic left eye due to a traumatic 
incident in childhood. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and 
in his left eye, no light perception. Following an examination in 2019, 
his ophthalmologist stated, ``In my opinion, he has sufficient vision 
to perform the driving tasks required to operate a commercial 
vehicle.'' Mr. Adank reported that he has driven buses for three years, 
accumulating 6,648 miles. He holds a Class AMC CDL from Minnesota. His 
driving record for the last three years shows no crashes and no 
convictions for moving violations in a CMV.

Lance S. Binner

    Mr. Binner, 55, has had a retinal scar in his left eye since birth. 
The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in his left eye, 20/
400. Following an examination in 2018, his optometrist stated, ``In my 
medical opinion he has sufficient vision to perform the driving tasks 
required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Binner reported that he 
has driven straight trucks for five years, accumulating 75,000 miles, 
and tractor-trailer combinations for five years, accumulating 75,000 
miles. He holds a Class A CDL from Minnesota. His driving record for 
the last three years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving 
violations in a CMV.

Jody E. Bondi

    Mr. Bondi, 48, has had amblyopia in his left eye since birth. The 
visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in his left eye, 20/200. 
Following an examination in 2019, his optometrist stated, ``In my 
medical opinion, Jody Bondi has sufficient vision to perform the 
driving tasks required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Bondi 
reported that he has driven straight trucks for four years, 
accumulating 400,000 miles. He holds an operator's license from 
Arizona. His driving record for the last three years shows no crashes 
and no convictions for moving violations in a CMV.

Stephen L. Cornish

    Mr. Cornish, 52, has had amblyopia in his right eye since 
childhood. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/250, and in his 
left eye, 20/15. Following an examination in 2018, his optometrist 
stated, ``It is my medical opinion that Mr. Cornish has sufficient 
vision to perform the driving tasks required to operate a commercial 
motor vehicle.'' Mr. Cornish reported that he has driven straight 
trucks for ten years, accumulating 500,000 miles, and tractor-trailer 
combinations for 13 years, accumulating 1.3 million miles. He holds a 
Class A CDL from Minnesota. His driving record for the last three years 
shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations in a CMV.

Dale A. Dodson

    Mr. Dodson, 43, has a macular scar in his right eye due to a 
traumatic incident in childhood. The visual acuity in his right eye is 
20/60, and in his left eye, 20/20. Following an examination in 2018, 
his optometrist stated, ``From these findings I see no reason from a 
visual standpoint why he should not be able to safely operate a motor 
vehicle, commercially or privately.'' Mr. Dodson reported that he has 
driven straight trucks for 25 years, accumulating 625,000 miles. He 
holds an operator's license from Kansas. His driving record for the 
last three years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving 
violations in a CMV.

Jorge Estol

    Mr. Estol, 44, has a retinal scar in his left eye due to 
toxoplasmosis in childhood. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/
15, and in his left eye, 20/80. Following an examination in 2018, his 
optometrist stated, ``It is my medical opinion that Jorge Estol has 
sufficient vision to perform the task required to operate a commercial 
vehicle.'' Mr. Estol reported that he has driven straight trucks for 
five years, accumulating 750,000 miles, and tractor-trailer 
combinations for five years, accumulating 750,000 miles. He holds a 
Class A CDL from Florida. His driving record for the last three years 
shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations in a CMV.

Bret S. Graham

    Mr. Graham, 55, has aphakia in his left eye due to a traumatic 
incident in 1989. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in 
his left eye, 20/200. Following an examination in 2019, his optometrist 
stated, ``It is my opinion that Mr. Graham has sufficient capabilities 
to meet the commercial driving requirements.'' Mr. Graham reported that 
he has driven tractor-trailer combinations for 28 years, accumulating 
3.5 million miles. He holds a Class A CDL from Maine. His driving 
record for the last three years shows no crashes and no convictions for 
moving violations in a CMV.

Daniel W. Hodge

    Mr. Hodge, 40, has glaucoma in his right eye due to a traumatic 
incident in 2013. The visual acuity in his right eye

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is hand motion, and in his left eye, 20/15. Following an examination in 
2019, his ophthalmologist stated, ``As far as I can tell, he has 
sufficient vision to drive a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Hodge reported 
that he has driven straight trucks for five years, accumulating 100,000 
miles. He holds a Class A CDL from Tennessee. His driving record for 
the last three years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving 
violations in a CMV.

Russell P. Kosinko

    Mr. Kosinko, 58, has optic nerve damage in his right eye due to a 
traumatic incident in 2011. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/
600, and in his left eye, 20/25. Following an examination in 2019, his 
optometrist stated, ``In my professional opinion he has sufficient 
vision to perform the driving tasks required to operate a commercial 
vehicle.'' Mr. Kosinko reported that he has driven straight trucks for 
20 years, accumulating 2.6 million miles, and tractor-trailer 
combinations for 20 years, accumulating 2.7 million miles. He holds a 
Class AM CDL from Pennsylvania. His driving record for the last three 
years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations in a 
CMV.

Joe M. Perez

    Mr. Perez, 52, has had amblyopia in his left eye since birth. The 
visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in his left eye, 20/200. 
Following an examination in 2019, his optometrist stated, ``Mr. Perez 
has sufficient vision to perform the driving tasks required to operate 
a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Perez reported that he has driven tractor-
trailer combinations for 28 years, accumulating 280,000 miles. He holds 
a Class A CDL from Texas. His driving record for the last three years 
shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations in a CMV.

Samuel Sanchez

    Mr. Sanchez, 59, has had central serous chorioretinopathy in his 
right eye since 2014. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/80, and 
in his left eye, 20/20. Following an examination in 2018, his 
ophthalmologist stated, ``Given an excellent visual field in both eyes, 
normal color vision, perfect corrected vision with glasses in the left 
eye, and an excellent commercial vehicle driving record over the past 
five years in which he has had this eye condition, I believe he has 
sufficient vision to perform the tasks required to operate a commercial 
vehicle.'' Mr. Sanchez reported that he has driven tractor-trailer 
combinations for 35 years, accumulating 5.04 million miles. He holds a 
Class A CDL from New York. His driving record for the last three years 
shows no crashes and one conviction for speeding in a CMV; he exceeded 
the speed limit by 10 mph.

Curtis M. Tharpe

    Mr. Tharpe, 51, has optic neuropathy in his right eye due to a 
traumatic incident in childhood. The visual acuity in his right eye is 
light perception, and in his left eye, 20/20. Following an examination 
in 2019, his optometrist stated, ``It is my medical opinion that Mr. 
Tharpe has sufficient vision to perform the driving task required to 
operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Tharpe reported that he has driven 
straight trucks for 33 years, accumulating 1.72 million miles, and 
tractor-trailer combinations for 33 years, accumulating 33,000 miles. 
He holds a Class A CDL from Virginia. His driving record for the last 
three years shows one crash, for which he was not cited, and no 
convictions for moving violations in a CMV.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA requests 
public comment from all interested persons on the exemption petitions 
described in this notice. We will consider all comments and material 
received before the close of business on the closing date indicated in 
the DATES section of the notice.

    Issued on: April 12, 2019.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-07785 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P