Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes Mellitus, 34566-34568 [2017-15569]
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34566
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 25, 2017 / Notices
acuity in his right eye is 20/50, and in
his left eye, 20/20. Following an
examination in 2017, his
ophthalmologist stated, ‘‘Mr. Fulp has
adequate vision to perform the driving
tasks to operate a commercial vehicle.’’
Mr. Fulp reported that he has driven
straight trucks for 30 years,
accumulating 300,000 miles and tractortrailer combinations for 30 years,
accumulating 300,000 miles. He holds a
Class A CDL from North Carolina. His
driving record for the last three years
shows one crash and no convictions for
moving violations in a CMV.
Edward P. Hutton
Mr. Hutton, 60, has had amblyopia in
his left eye since childhood. The visual
acuity in his right eye is 20/20, and in
his left eye, counting fingers. Following
an examination in 2017, his
ophthalmologist stated, ‘‘His OS is
amblyopic and lifelong. If he has
performed well as a commercial driver
in the past, he should continue to do
so.’’ Mr. Hutton reported that he has
driven straight trucks for 14 years,
accumulating 175,000 miles. He holds a
Class A CDL from Idaho. His driving
record for the last three years shows no
crashes and no convictions for moving
violations in a CMV.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Stephen McLaren
Mr. McLaren, 33, has had amblyopia
in his left eye since childhood. The
visual acuity in his right eye is 20/20,
and in his left eye, 20/80. Following an
examination in 2016, his optometrist
stated, ‘‘Based on today’s examination,
it is my opinion that Stephen McLaren’s
refractive amblyopia in the left eye is
stable and will not prevent him from
driving tasks necessary to operate a
commercial vehicle.’’ Mr. McLaren
reported that he has driven straight
trucks for five years, accumulating
36,000 miles. He holds a Class B CDL
from Tennessee. His driving record for
the last three years shows no crashes
and no convictions for moving
violations in a CMV.
Robert E. Richards
Mr. Richards, 31, has had amblyopia
in his right eye since birth. The visual
acuity in his right eye is 20/100, and in
his left eye, 20/20. Following an
examination in 2017, his optometrist
stated, ‘‘In my medical opinion Mr.
Richards has sufficient vision to
perform the driving tasks required to
operate a commercial vehicle and his
visual deficiency is stable.’’ Mr.
Richards reported that he has driven
straight trucks for two years,
accumulating 50,000 miles, and tractortrailer combinations for 11 years,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:30 Jul 24, 2017
Jkt 241001
accumulating 880,000 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.
James R. Robinette
Mr. Robinette, 25, has had amblyopia
in his right eye since childhood. The
visual acuity in his right eye is 20/200,
and in his left eye, 20/20. Following an
examination in 2017, his optometrist
stated, ‘‘Based on these findings, Mr.
Robinette has sufficient vision to
operate a commercial vehicle.’’ Mr.
Robinette reported that he has driven
straight trucks for four years,
accumulating 3,120 miles. He holds a
Class B CDL from Virginia. His driving
record for the last three years shows no
crashes and no convictions for moving
violations in a CMV.
James Tucker
Mr. Tucker, 57, 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 2017, his optometrist stated, ‘‘It is our
opinion that your visual abilities are
adequate for driving a commercial
vehicle.’’ Mr. Tucker reported that he
has driven straight trucks for three
years, accumulating 63,000 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.
Alvin White
Mr. White, 61, has an enucleated left
eye due to a traumatic incident in
childhood. The visual acuity in his right
eye is 20/15, and in his left eye, no light
perception. Following an examination
in 2017, his optometrist stated, ‘‘It is my
opinion that Mr. Alvin White has
sufficient vision to perform the driving
tasks required to operate a commercial
vehicle.’’ Mr. White reported that he has
driven straight trucks for six years,
accumulating 60,000 miles and tractortrailer combinations for six years,
accumulating 600 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.
III. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
indicated in the dates section of the
notice.
IV. Submitting Comments
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
https://www.regulations.gov and in the
search box insert the docket number
FMCSA–2017–0020 and click the search
button. When the new screen appears,
click on the blue ‘‘Comment Now!’’
button on the right hand side of the
page. On the new page, enter
information required including the
specific section of this document to
which each comment applies, and
provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. If you submit your
comments by mail or hand delivery,
submit them in an unbound format, no
larger than 81⁄2 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, selfaddressed postcard or envelope.
We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment
period. FMCSA may issue a final
determination at any time after the close
of the comment period.
V. Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as any
documents mentioned in this preamble,
go to https://www.regulations.gov and in
the search box insert the docket number
FMCSA–2017–0020 and click ‘‘Search.’’
Next, click ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ and
you will find all documents and
comments related to this notice.
Issued on: July 18, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017–15571 Filed 7–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA–2017–0032]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption
Applications; Diabetes Mellitus
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM
25JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 25, 2017 / Notices
ACTION:
Notice of final disposition.
FMCSA announces its
decision to exempt 43 individuals from
its rule prohibiting persons with
insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM)
from operating commercial motor
vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
The exemptions enable these
individuals to operate CMVs in
interstate commerce.
DATES: The exemptions were effective
on May 13, 2017. The exemptions
expire on May 13, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical
Programs Division, (202) 366–4001,
fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA,
Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64–
113, Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
e.t., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Electronic Access
You may see all the comments online
through the Federal Document
Management System (FDMS) at: https://
www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and/or Room
W12–140 on the ground level of the
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
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.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
II. Background
On April 12, 2017, FMCSA published
a notice of receipt of Federal diabetes
exemption applications from 43
individuals and requested comments
from the public (82 FR 17728). The
public comment period closed on May
12, 2017 and one comment was
received.
FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility
of the 43 applicants and determined 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).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:30 Jul 24, 2017
Jkt 241001
Diabetes Mellitus and Driving
Experience of the Applicants
The Agency established the current
requirement for diabetes in 1970
because several risk studies indicated
that drivers with diabetes 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 drivers with ITDM to
operate CMVs is feasible. The
September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441),
Federal Register 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 43 applicants have had ITDM
over a range of 1 to 30 years. These
applicants report no severe
hypoglycemic reactions resulting in loss
of consciousness or seizure, requiring
the assistance of another person, or
resulting in impaired cognitive function
that occurred without warning
symptoms, in the past 12 months and no
recurrent (2 or more) severe
hypoglycemic episodes in the past 5
years. In each case, an endocrinologist
verified that the driver has
demonstrated a willingness to properly
monitor and manage his/her diabetes
mellitus, 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
requirement at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
The qualifications and the medical
condition of each applicant were stated
and discussed in detail in the April 12,
2017, Federal Register notice and they
will not be repeated in this notice.
III. Discussion of Comments
FMCSA received one comment in this
proceeding. Mark Skubik stated that he
believes ‘‘FMCSA should err on the side
of safety’’ when making an exemption
determination. He also stated that he
PO 00000
Frm 00096
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
34567
believes drivers should be required to
carry ‘‘at least $2,000,000 in liability
insurance beyond the minimal
insurance requirements for commercial
drivers,’’ citing safety concerns. FMCSA
sets minimum financial responsibility
levels for carriers, based on their
operations (general freight, passenger,
hazmat, etc.). If a carrier obtains
additional insurance, above and beyond
the minimum requirements, that is
decided by the carrier. FMCSA does not
regulate insurance levels of drivers, just
the companies and their operations,
based on their granted authority. The
Agency doesn’t feel that drivers should
carry additional insurance. FMCSA has
reviewed the medical records for each
driver in this document and has
determined that granting the
exemptions will likely achieve a level of
safety equal to or greater than that
existing without the exemption.
IV. Basis for Exemption Determination
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315,
FMCSA may grant an exemption from
the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3) if the exemption is likely to
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 endocrinologists’
medical opinion related to the ability of
the driver to safely operate a CMV while
using insulin.
Consequently, FMCSA finds that in
each case exempting these applicants
from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3) is likely to achieve a level
of safety equal to that existing without
the exemption.
V. Conditions and Requirements
The terms and conditions of the
exemption will be provided to the
applicants in the exemption document
and they include the following: (1) That
each individual submit a quarterly
monitoring checklist completed by the
treating endocrinologist as well as an
annual checklist with a comprehensive
medical evaluation; (2) that each
individual reports within 2 business
days of occurrence, all episodes of
severe hypoglycemia, significant
complications, or inability to manage
diabetes; also, any involvement in an
accident or any other adverse event in
a CMV or personal vehicle, whether or
not it is related to an episode of
hypoglycemia; (3) that each individual
provide a copy of the ophthalmologist’s
E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM
25JYN1
34568
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 25, 2017 / Notices
or optometrist’s report to the medical
examiner at the time of the annual
medical examination; and (4) that each
individual provide a copy of the annual
medical certification to the employer for
retention in the driver’s qualification
file, or keep a copy in his/her driver’s
qualification file if he/she is selfemployed. The driver must also have a
copy of the certification when driving,
for presentation to a duly authorized
Federal, State, or local enforcement
official.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
VI. Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the 43
exemption applications, FMCSA
exempts the following drivers from the
diabetes requirement in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3):
Lucas L.R. Adams (NE)
Ronald E. Allen, Jr. (CA)
Kevin N. Blair (KS)
Justin D. Bodily (ID)
George C. Burbach (CA)
Paul T. Caputo (IN)
Frederic J. Conti (PA)
Joshua L. Crider (MN)
Culley R. Despain (MO)
Mitchell F. Durkan (CO)
Ray A. Espinoza (CA)
Christopher J. Fisher (OR)
Jacob L. Flatt (OK)
Terry Fleharty (NM)
Kevin P. Fulcher (MA)
Michael F. Fulton (AZ)
Ivan R. Grove (PA)
Nathaniel M.I. Hicks (OR)
Daniel J. Lacroix (MA)
Kenneth S. LeColst (MA)
John G. Liebl (MN)
William E. McClain (IL)
Kevon T. McCray (NC)
Rodney G. Moore (WA)
Brian M. Morel (NJ)
Keith E. Newbauer (IN)
Herbert L. Redd (IN)
Quentin M. Rembert (WI)
Philip J. Richard (PA)
Lars A. Sandaker (MN)
John E. Sargent, Jr. (MA)
Kevin R. Sewell (NC)
Donald J. Smith (VT)
Larry D. Smith (TN)
Warren A. Smith (NJ)
Daniel J. Spauling (ID)
Russell D. Swanson (SD)
Scot D. Thompson (NY)
Wayne F. Todd (NE)
Harold W. Trombly, III (MA)
Steven L. Welker (IA)
Christopher U. Williams (LA)
Craig L. Woodard (OH)
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315 each exemption is valid for
two years unless revoked earlier by
FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked
if the following occurs: (1) The person
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:30 Jul 24, 2017
Jkt 241001
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.
31136(e) and 31315. 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: July 18, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017–15569 Filed 7–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2017–0045]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Extension of a CurrentlyApproved Information Collection
Request: Revocation of Authority
Granted
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
FMCSA announces its plan to submit
the Information Collection Request (ICR)
described below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval. FMCSA requests
approval to extend an ICR titled,
‘‘Request Extension for Revocation of
Authority Granted.’’ This information
collection supports the DOT strategic
goal of safety by enabling registrants to
voluntarily request revocation of
operating authority, or some part of that
authority. A completed Form OCE–46 is
filed with FMCSA by the registrant for
requesting that all, or a part, of its
operating authority be revoked. The
information contained on the form is
used by FMCSA in deciding on the
revocation request. The use of Form
OCE–46 has proven to be an easy and
effective means by which a registrant
can request revocation of its operating
authority. No comments were received
in response to the 60-day notice
published in the Federal Register on
March 22, 2017 (82 FR 14792).
DATES: Please send your comments by
August 24, 2017. OMB must receive
your comments by this date to act
quickly on the ICR.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00097
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
All comments should
reference Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) Docket Number
FMCSA–2017–0045. Interested persons
are invited to submit written comments
on the proposed information collection
to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget. Comments
should be addressed to the attention of
the Desk Officer, Department of
Transportation/Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration, and sent via
electronic mail to oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov, or faxed to (202) 395–
6974, or mailed to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget,
Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th
Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tura
Gatling, Office of Registration,
Information and Licensing, Department
of Transportation, OA, West Building
6th Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:
202–385–2412; email tura.gatling@
dot.gov. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal Holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Request for Extension for
Revocation of Authority Granted.
OMB Control Number: 2126–0018.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: For-hire motor carriers
or regulated commodities, surface
freight forwarders, and property brokers.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
3,501.
Estimated Time per Response: 0.25
hours.
Expiration Date: July 31, 2017.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 875
hours [3,501 responses × 0.25 hour =
875].
ADDRESSES:
Background
FMCSA registers for-hire motor
carriers of regulated commodities under
49 U.S.C. 13902, surface freight
forwarders under 49 U.S.C. 13903, and
property brokers under 49 U.S.C. 13904.
Each registration is effective from the
date specified under 49 U.S.C. 13905(c).
Subsection (d) of 49 U.S.C. 13905 also
provides that on application of the
registrant, the Secretary may amend or
revoke a registration, and hence the
registrant’s operating authority. Form
OCE–46 allows registrants to apply
voluntarily for revocation of their
operating authority or parts thereof. If
the registrant fails to maintain evidence
of the required level of insurance
coverage on file with FMCSA, its
E:\FR\FM\25JYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34566-34568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15569]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2017-0032]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes
Mellitus
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT
[[Page 34567]]
ACTION: Notice of final disposition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 43 individuals from its
rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM)
from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate
commerce.
DATES: The exemptions were effective on May 13, 2017. The exemptions
expire on May 13, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief,
Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA,
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-113,
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Electronic Access
You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document
Management System (FDMS) at: https://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov and/or Room W12-140 on the
ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
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
On April 12, 2017, FMCSA published a notice of receipt of Federal
diabetes exemption applications from 43 individuals and requested
comments from the public (82 FR 17728). The public comment period
closed on May 12, 2017 and one comment was received.
FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of the 43 applicants and
determined 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 requirement for diabetes in 1970
because several risk studies indicated that drivers with diabetes 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 drivers with ITDM to
operate CMVs is feasible. The September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441), Federal
Register 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 43 applicants have had ITDM over a range of 1 to 30 years.
These applicants report no severe hypoglycemic reactions resulting in
loss of consciousness or seizure, requiring the assistance of another
person, or resulting in impaired cognitive function that occurred
without warning symptoms, in the past 12 months and no recurrent (2 or
more) severe hypoglycemic episodes in the past 5 years. In each case,
an endocrinologist verified that the driver has demonstrated a
willingness to properly monitor and manage his/her diabetes mellitus,
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 requirement at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
The qualifications and the medical condition of each applicant were
stated and discussed in detail in the April 12, 2017, Federal Register
notice and they will not be repeated in this notice.
III. Discussion of Comments
FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. Mark Skubik stated
that he believes ``FMCSA should err on the side of safety'' when making
an exemption determination. He also stated that he believes drivers
should be required to carry ``at least $2,000,000 in liability
insurance beyond the minimal insurance requirements for commercial
drivers,'' citing safety concerns. FMCSA sets minimum financial
responsibility levels for carriers, based on their operations (general
freight, passenger, hazmat, etc.). If a carrier obtains additional
insurance, above and beyond the minimum requirements, that is decided
by the carrier. FMCSA does not regulate insurance levels of drivers,
just the companies and their operations, based on their granted
authority. The Agency doesn't feel that drivers should carry additional
insurance. FMCSA has reviewed the medical records for each driver in
this document and has determined that granting the exemptions will
likely achieve a level of safety equal to or greater than that existing
without the exemption.
IV. Basis for Exemption Determination
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption
from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) if the exemption
is likely to 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 endocrinologists' medical opinion related to the
ability of the driver to safely operate a CMV while using insulin.
Consequently, FMCSA finds that in each case exempting these
applicants from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) is
likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the
exemption.
V. Conditions and Requirements
The terms and conditions of the exemption will be provided to the
applicants in the exemption document and they include the following:
(1) That each individual submit a quarterly monitoring checklist
completed by the treating endocrinologist as well as an annual
checklist with a comprehensive medical evaluation; (2) that each
individual reports within 2 business days of occurrence, all episodes
of severe hypoglycemia, significant complications, or inability to
manage diabetes; also, any involvement in an accident or any other
adverse event in a CMV or personal vehicle, whether or not it is
related to an episode of hypoglycemia; (3) that each individual provide
a copy of the ophthalmologist's
[[Page 34568]]
or optometrist's report to the medical examiner at the time of the
annual medical examination; and (4) that each individual provide a copy
of the annual medical certification to the employer for retention in
the driver's qualification file, or keep a copy in his/her driver's
qualification file if he/she is self-employed. The driver must also
have a copy of the certification when driving, for presentation to a
duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement official.
VI. Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the 43 exemption applications, FMCSA
exempts the following drivers from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3):
Lucas L.R. Adams (NE)
Ronald E. Allen, Jr. (CA)
Kevin N. Blair (KS)
Justin D. Bodily (ID)
George C. Burbach (CA)
Paul T. Caputo (IN)
Frederic J. Conti (PA)
Joshua L. Crider (MN)
Culley R. Despain (MO)
Mitchell F. Durkan (CO)
Ray A. Espinoza (CA)
Christopher J. Fisher (OR)
Jacob L. Flatt (OK)
Terry Fleharty (NM)
Kevin P. Fulcher (MA)
Michael F. Fulton (AZ)
Ivan R. Grove (PA)
Nathaniel M.I. Hicks (OR)
Daniel J. Lacroix (MA)
Kenneth S. LeColst (MA)
John G. Liebl (MN)
William E. McClain (IL)
Kevon T. McCray (NC)
Rodney G. Moore (WA)
Brian M. Morel (NJ)
Keith E. Newbauer (IN)
Herbert L. Redd (IN)
Quentin M. Rembert (WI)
Philip J. Richard (PA)
Lars A. Sandaker (MN)
John E. Sargent, Jr. (MA)
Kevin R. Sewell (NC)
Donald J. Smith (VT)
Larry D. Smith (TN)
Warren A. Smith (NJ)
Daniel J. Spauling (ID)
Russell D. Swanson (SD)
Scot D. Thompson (NY)
Wayne F. Todd (NE)
Harold W. Trombly, III (MA)
Steven L. Welker (IA)
Christopher U. Williams (LA)
Craig L. Woodard (OH)
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 each exemption is
valid for two years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will
be revoked if the following occurs: (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. 31136(e) and 31315. 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: July 18, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-15569 Filed 7-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P