Document
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Renewals; Vision
FMCSA, in an earlier notice, announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 34 individuals. FMCSA...
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Electronic Access
You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document Management System (FDMS) at
www.regulations.gov.
Background
Under 
49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption for a 2-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 2-year period. The notice was published on March 5, 2008 (FR 73 11989), and the comment period ended on April 4, 2008.
Discussion of Comments
FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. The comment was considered and discussed below.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) expressed opposition to FMCSA's policy to grant exemptions from the FMCSR, including the driver qualification standards. Specifically, Advocates: (1) Objects to the manner in which FMCSA presents driver information to the public and makes safety determinations; (2) objects to the Agency's reliance on conclusions drawn from the vision waiver program; (3) claims the Agency has misinterpreted statutory language on the granting of exemptions (49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315); and finally (4) suggests that a 1999 Supreme Court decision affects the legal validity of vision exemptions.
The issues raised by Advocates were addressed at length in 64 FR 51568 (September 23, 1999), 64 FR 66962 (November 30, 1999), 64 FR 69586 (December 13, 1999), 65 FR 159 (January 3, 2000), 65 FR 57230 (September 21, 2000), and 66 FR 13825 (March 7, 2001). We will not address these points again here, but refer interested parties to those earlier discussions.
Conclusion
The Agency has not received any adverse evidence on any of these drivers that indicates that safety is being compromised. Based upon its evaluation of the 34 renewal applications, FMCSA renews the Federal vision exemptions for Scott E. Ames, Otto J. Ammer, Jr., Nick D. Bacon, Mark A. Baisden, Johnny W. Bradford, Lawrence M. Daley, Clifford H. Dovel, Ray L. Emert, Arthur L. Fields, John W. Forgy, Daniel R. Franks, Glenn E. Gee, Rupert G. Gilmore, III, Albert L. Gschwind, Walter R. Hardiman, George A. Hoffman, III, Laurent G. Jacques, Michael W. Jones, Matthew J. Konecki, Duane R. Krug, Paul E. Lindon, Jack D. Miller, Eric M. Moats, Sr., Rick Moreno, Robert W. Nicks, Joseph S. Nix, IV., Monte L. Purciful, George S. Rayson, Luis F. Saavedra, Gerald M. Smith, Edward J. Sullivan, Steven Valley, Darel G. Wagner, and Bernard J. Wood.
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each renewal exemption will be valid for 2 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. 31136 and 31315.
Issued on: May 6, 2008.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.