[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 155 (Monday, August 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45800-45803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17419]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2021-0010]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

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

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from seven 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

[[Page 45801]]

these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without 
meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA-2021-0010 using any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/, 
insert the docket number, FMCSA-2021-0010, in the keyword box, and 
click ``Search.'' Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' 
choose the first notice listed, and click on the ``Comment'' button. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Dockets Operations; 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: (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, 
DOT, 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 Dockets Operations, (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-2021-0010), 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 www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FMCSA-2021-0010. Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-
Older),'' choose the first notice listed, click the ``Comment'' 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 Comments

    To view comments go to www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 
number, FMCSA-2021-0010, in the keyword box, and click ``Search.'' 
Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose the first 
notice listed, and click ``Browse Comments.'' If you do not have access 
to the internet, you may view the docket online by visiting Dockets 
Operations in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or 
(202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets Operations.

C. Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its regulatory 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.transportation.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the FMCSRs for no longer than a 5-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 5-year period. FMCSA grants medical exemptions from the 
FMCSRs for a 2-year period to align with the maximum duration of a 
driver's medical certification.
    The seven 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 Sec.  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.
    On July 16, 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 (57 FR 31458). 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 Sec.  391.41(b)(10).
    To qualify for an exemption from the vision requirement, FMCSA 
requires a person to present verifiable evidence that he/she has driven 
a commercial vehicle safely in intrastate commerce 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 www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FMCSA-1998-3637.
    FMCSA believes it can properly apply the principle to monocular 
drivers,

[[Page 45802]]

because data from the Federal Highway Administration's 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.\1\ 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.
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    \1\ A thorough discussion of this issue may be found in a FHWA 
final rule published in the Federal Register on March 26, 1996 and 
available on the internet at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-03-26/pdf/96-7226.pdf.
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    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 3 consecutive years 
of data, comparing the experiences of drivers in the first 2 years with 
their experiences in the final year.

III. Qualifications of Applicants

Christopher W. Cochran

    Mr. Cochran, 37, has had optic atrophy in his left eye since birth. 
The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in his left eye, hand 
motion. Following an examination in 2021, his optometrist stated, ``In 
my medical opinion, the patient has sufficient vision to perform the 
driving tasks required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Cochran 
reported that he has driven straight trucks for 5 years, accumulating 
13,000 miles. He holds a Class B CDL from Missouri. His driving record 
for the last 3 years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving 
violations in a CMV.

Jon C. Dillon

    Mr. Dillon, 53, has a macular scar in his left eye due to a 
traumatic incident in 1996. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/
20, and in his left eye, counting fingers. Following an examination in 
2021, his optometrist stated, ``It is my medical opinion that Mr. 
Dillion has sufficient vision to perform the driving tests required to 
operate a commercial vehicle under guidelines.'' Mr. Dillon reported 
that he has driven straight trucks for 28 years, accumulating 14,000 
miles, and tractor-trailer combinations for 15 years, accumulating 
45,000 miles. He holds a Class A CDL from Minnesota. His driving record 
for the last 3 years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving 
violations in a CMV.

David L. Marsh

    Mr. Marsh, 59, has had amblyopia in his left eye since childhood. 
The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in his left eye, 20/
70. Following an examination in 2020, his ophthalmologist stated, ``In 
my medical opinion, David Marsh has sufficient vision to perform the 
driving tasks required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Marsh 
reported that he has driven straight trucks for 39 years, accumulating 
136,500 miles, tractor-trailer combinations for 4 years, accumulating 
14,000 miles, and buses for 10 years, accumulating 35,000 miles. He 
holds a Class A CDL from Washington. His driving record for the last 3 
years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations in a 
CMV.

Jason A. Melo

    Mr. Melo, 36, has had amblyopia in his right eye since birth. The 
visual acuity in his right eye is 20/150, and in his left eye, 20/20. 
Following an examination in 2020, his optometrist stated, ``In my 
medical opinion, Jason has sufficient vision to perform the duties 
required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Melo reported that he 
has driven straight trucks for 6 years, accumulating 117,000 miles. He 
holds a Class B CDL from New Hampshire. His driving record for the last 
3 years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations in a 
CMV.

Jeffrey S. Rockhill

    Mr. Rockhill, 30, has had amblyopia in his right eye since 
childhood. The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/400, and in his 
left eye, 20/20. Following an examination in 2021, his optometrist 
stated, ``Jeff has adequate vision to perform the driving tasks 
required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Rockhill reported that 
he has driven straight trucks for 20 years, accumulating 300,000 miles, 
and tractor-trailer combinations for 20 years, accumulating 300,000 
miles. He holds a Class A CDL from Kansas. His driving record for the 
last 3 years shows no crashes and no convictions for moving violations 
in a CMV.

Leonard J. VanVelkinburgh

    Mr. VanVelkinburgh, 74, has complete vision loss in his right eye 
due to a traumatic incident in childhood. The visual acuity in his 
right eye is no light perception, and in his left eye, 20/20. Following 
an examination in 2021, his ophthalmologist stated, ``I believe that he 
has sufficient vision in his left eye to provide the driving tasks 
required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. VanVelkinburgh reported 
that he has driven straight trucks for 13 years, accumulating 65,000 
miles, and tractor-trailer combinations for 13 years, accumulating 
58,500 miles. He holds a Class A CDL from California. His driving 
record for the last 3 years shows no crashes, and one citation for 
moving violations in a CMV; he exceeded the speed limit by 20 miles per 
hour.

Ananias E. Yoder

    Mr. Yoder, 27, has had amblyopia in his left eye since childhood. 
The visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in his left eye, 20/
150. Following an examination in 2020, his optometrist stated, ``In my 
medical opinion, Mr. Yoder has sufficient vision to perform driving 
tasks required to operate a commercial vehicle.'' Mr. Yoder reported 
that he has driven tractor-trailer combinations for 3 years, 
accumulating 150,000 miles. He holds a Class A CDL from Iowa. His 
driving record for the last 3 years shows no crashes and no convictions 
for moving violations in a CMV.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), 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

[[Page 45803]]

indicated under the DATES section of the notice.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-17419 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P