Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes, 17943-17945 [E6-5056]

Agencies

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17943-17945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5056]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2005-22905]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to exempt six individuals from 
its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus 
(ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate 
commerce. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs 
in interstate commerce.

DATES: The exemptions are effective April 7, 2006. The exemptions 
expire on April 7, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Chief, Physical 
Qualifications Division, (202) 366-4001, maggi.gunnels@fmcsa.dot.gov, 
FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Document Management 
System (DMS) at: https://dmses.dot.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://dms.dot.gov and/or Room PL-401 on the 
plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of DOT's dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, or other 
entity). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register (65 FR 19477, Apr. 11, 2000). This statement is also 
available at https://dms.dot.gov.

Background

Authority to Grant Exemptions

    Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998) (TEA 21) amended 49 
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) to provide FMCSA with authority to grant 
exemptions from its safety regulations. On December 8, 1998, the 
Federal Highway Administration's Office of Motor Carriers, the 
predecessor to FMCSA, published an interim final rule implementing 
section 4007 (63 FR 67600). On August 20, 2004, FMCSA published a Final 
Rule (69 FR 51589) on this subject. By this rule, FMCSA must publish a 
Notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR part 
381), provide the public with an opportunity to inspect the information 
relevant to the application to include any safety analyses that have 
been conducted, and provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
request.

[[Page 17944]]

    The Agency must then examine the safety analyses and the public 
comments, and determine whether the exemption would achieve a level of 
safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved 
by complying with the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The Agency's 
decision must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). 
If the Agency denies the request, it must state the reason for doing 
so. If the decision is to grant the exemption, the Notice must specify 
the person or class of persons receiving the exemption, and the 
regulatory provision or provisions from which an exemption is being 
granted. The Notice must also specify the effective period of the 
exemption (up to two years), and explain the terms and conditions of 
the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).

Establishment of FMCSA's Diabetes Exemption Program

    FMCSA published a Notice of intent to issue exemptions to drivers 
with ITDM on July 31, 2001 (66 FR 39548). On September 3, 2003, the 
agency published a Notice of final disposition announcing its decision 
to issue exemptions to certain insulin-using diabetic drivers of CMVs 
from the diabetes mellitus prohibition under 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3). [68 
FR 5241] (``2003 Notice''). The 2003 Notice explained that in 
considering exemptions, FMCSA must ensure that the issuance of diabetes 
exemptions will not be contrary to the public interest and that the 
exemption achieves an acceptable level of safety. The agency indicated 
it will only grant exemptions to insulin-using diabetic drivers that 
meet the eligibility criteria provided in its Notice of final 
disposition.
    Because FMCSA established eligibility criteria for use in 
determining whether the granting of a diabetes exemption would achieve 
the requisite level of safety, the agency only publishes for public 
comment, the names of exemption applicants that satisfy the eligibility 
requirements, based upon the information provided by the applicant. 
Applicants who do not meet the requirements are notified by letter that 
their applications are denied and the agency periodically publishes the 
names of those individuals to satisfy the statutory requirement for 
disclosing such information to the public.

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

    Section 4129 of SAFETEA-LU (Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat.1728, August 
10, 2005) required FMCSA to begin, within 90 days of enactment, to 
revise the 2003 Notice to allow drivers who use insulin to treat 
diabetes to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. The revision must 
provide for individual assessment of drivers with ITDM, and be 
consistent with the criteria described in section 4018 of TEA-21.\1\ 
Section 4129 required two substantive changes to be made in the 
exemption process set out in the 2003 Notice.
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    \1\ Section 4129(a) refers to the 2003 Notice as a ``final 
rule.'' However, as indicated above, the 2003 Notice did not issue a 
``final rule'' but did establish the procedures and standards for 
issuing exemptions for drivers with ITDM.
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    In response to section 4129, FMCSA made immediate revisions to the 
diabetes exemption program established by the 2003 Notice. FMCSA 
discontinued use of the 3-year driving experience criterion and 
fulfilled the requirements of section 4129. The changes are: (1) The 
elimination of the requirement for three years of experience operating 
CMVs while being treated with insulin; and (2) the establishment of a 
specified minimum period of insulin use to demonstrate stable control 
of diabetes before being allowed to operate a CMV. Section 4129(d) also 
directed FMCSA to ensure that CMV drivers with ITDM are not held to a 
higher standard than other drivers, with the exception of limited 
operating, monitoring and medical requirements that are deemed 
medically necessary. FMCSA concluded that all of the operating, 
monitoring and medical requirements set out in the 2003 Notice, except 
as modified, were in compliance with section 4129(d). All of the 
requirements set out in the 2003 Notice, other than those modified in 
the November 8, 2005 (70 FR 67777) Federal Register Notice, remain in 
effect.
    On December 19, 2005, FMCSA published a Notice of receipt of 
diabetes exemption applications from six individuals, and requested 
comments from the public (70 FR 75236). The six individuals are: Daryle 
W. Belcher, William H. Gardner, Roy G. Hill, Anthony D. Izzi, Ronald D. 
Paul, and Kenneth L. Pogue. The public comment period closed on January 
18, 2006. One comment was received, and fully considered by FMCSA in 
reaching the final decision to grant the exemptions.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of the six applicants and made 
a determination that granting the exemptions to these individuals would 
achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level 
that would be achieved by complying with the current regulation 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3).

Diabetes Mellitus and Driving Experience of the Applicants

    The Agency established the current standard for diabetes in 1970 
because several risk studies indicated that diabetic drivers had a 
higher rate of crash involvement than the general population. The 
diabetes rule provides that ``A person is physically qualified to drive 
a commercial motor vehicle if that person has no established medical 
history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring 
insulin for control'' (49 CFR 391.41(b)(3)).
    FMCSA established its diabetes exemption program, based on the 
Agency's July 2000 study entitled ``A Report to Congress on the 
Feasibility of a Program to Qualify Individuals with Insulin-Treated 
Diabetes Mellitus to Operate in Interstate Commerce as Directed by the 
Transportation Act for the 21st Century.'' The report concluded that a 
safe and practicable protocol to allow some insulin-treated diabetic 
drivers to operate CMVs is feasible. The 2003 Notice in conjunction 
with the November 8, 2005 (70 FR 67777) Federal Register Notice 
provides the current protocol for allowing such drivers to operate CMVs 
in interstate commerce.
    These six applicants have had ITDM over a range of 5 to 30 years. 
These applicants report no hypoglycemic reaction that resulted in loss 
of consciousness or seizure, that required the assistance of another 
person, or resulted in impaired cognitive function without warning 
symptoms in the past 5 years (with one year of stability following any 
such episode). In each case, an endocrinologist has verified that the 
driver has demonstrated willingness to properly monitor and manage 
their diabetes, received education related to diabetes management, and 
is on a stable insulin regimen. These drivers report no other 
disqualifying conditions, including diabetes-related complications. 
Each meets the vision standard at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
    The qualifications and medical condition of each applicant were 
stated and discussed in detail in the December 19, 2005, Federal 
Register Notice (70 FR 75236). Because there were no docket comments on 
the specific merits or qualifications of any applicant, we have not 
repeated the individual profiles here.

Basis for Exemption Determination

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the diabetes standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) if the exemption is 
likely to

[[Page 17945]]

achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety than would be achieved 
without the exemption. The exemption allows the applicants to operate 
CMVs in interstate commerce.
    To evaluate the effect of these exemptions on safety, FMCSA 
considered medical reports about the applicants' ITDM and vision, and 
reviewed the treating endocrinologist's medical opinion related to the 
ability of the driver to safely operate a CMV while using insulin.
    Consequently, FMCSA finds that exempting these applicants from the 
diabetes standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) is likely to achieve a level 
of safety equal to that existing without the exemption. The agency is 
granting the exemptions for the 2-year period allowed by 49 U.S.C. 
31315 and 31136(e) to Daryle W. Belcher, William H. Gardner, Roy G. 
Hill, Anthony D. Izzi, Ronald D. Paul, and Kenneth L. Pogue.

Conditions and Requirements

    The terms and conditions of the exemption will be provided to the 
applicants in the exemption document.

Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. The comment is 
considered and is discussed below.
    Charles A. Johnson commented that he is an insulin dependent 
diabetic who wanted to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and 
found out the FMCSRs include a blanket prohibition against him doing 
so. He is shocked that the regulation exists when the advancements in 
diabetes management are rapid and constant. He is of the opinion that 
quarterly visits to a diabetes specialist in which the review of 
Glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) tests and blood glucose levels are 
evaluated is sufficient and that copies of A1c information should be 
required to be forwarded to the state of licensure.
    FMCSA is responsible for the establishment and enforcement of 
physical qualifications standards applicable to drivers who operate 
CMVs in interstate commerce. The Agency is also responsible for CDL 
testing and licensing procedures used by the states in issuing CDLs. 
Drivers who operate CMVs in interstate commerce must meet the Federal 
physical qualifications standards to obtain a CDL. Drivers who operate 
exclusively in intrastate commerce are required to comply with the 
applicable State rules concerning physical qualifications to obtain a 
CDL.
    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to allow 
drivers who are not qualified under section 391.41(b)(3) to apply for 
an exemption from the Federal standard. The Agency must ensure that 
each exemption would achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or 
greater than, the level achieved without the exemption. This means that 
drivers who intend to apply for an exemption should have sufficient 
medical data, to include a review of blood glucose measurements and 
hemoglobin A1c information by the treating endocrinologist, and any 
other relevant information necessary to support a determination by the 
Agency that granting them exemptions from 391.41(b)(3) would achieve 
the required level of safety.

Conclusion

    After considering the comments to the docket and based upon its 
evaluation of the 6 exemption applications, FMCSA exempts Daryle W. 
Belcher, William H. Gardner, Roy G. Hill, Anthony D. Izzi, Ronald D. 
Paul, and Kenneth L. Pogue from the ITDM standard in 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3), subject to the conditions listed under ``Conditions and 
Requirements'' above.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), each exemption 
will be valid for two years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The 
exemption will be revoked if: (1) The person fails to comply with the 
terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has resulted 
in a lower level of safety than was maintained before it was granted; 
or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the 
goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136. If the exemption is 
still effective at the end of the 2-year period, the person may apply 
to FMCSA for a renewal under procedures in effect at that time.

    Issued on: March 29, 2006.
Rose A. McMurray,
Associate Administrator, Policy and Program Development.
 [FR Doc. E6-5056 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
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