Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
4 August 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51540-51541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18498]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0217]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 88 applications from individuals 
who requested an exemption from the Federal diabetes standard 
applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the 
denials. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the 
diabetes requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise 
safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions does 
not provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater 
than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the Federal diabetes standard for a renewable 2-year period if it 
finds ``such an exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that 
is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved 
absent such an exemption.'' The procedures for requesting an exemption 
are set forth in 49 CFR part 381.
    Accordingly, FMCSA evaluated 88 individual exemption requests on 
their merits and made a determination that these applicants do not 
satisfy the criteria eligibility or meet the terms and conditions of 
the Federal exemption program. Each applicant has, prior to this 
notice, received a letter of final disposition on the exemption 
request. Those decision letters fully outlined the basis for the denial 
and constitute final Agency action. The list published in this notice 
summarizes the Agency's recent denials as required under 49 U.S.C. 
31315(b)(4) by periodically publishing names and reasons for denial.
    The following 8 applicants met the diabetes requirements of 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3) and do not need an exemption:

Elbi Aguado
Neil R. Boss
Matthew A. Bunce
Harm A. Gibson
Willie Hammond
Tommy M. Harris
Burke J. Minns
Robert R. Roy

    The following 39 applicants were not operating CMVs in interstate 
commerce:

Steven G. Alvarez
Gary L. Atchley
Taja T. Barnett
David E. Benavides
John K. Bottkol
Donald L. Conklin
Timothy P. Conner
Tyrone O. Cooke
Garrett M. Cooper
Roy L. Cox
Isaac K. Danso
Robert C. Davis
Clarence Evans

[[Page 51541]]

Carmine Ferraro
Anthony P. Fortuna
Kenneth E. Fralin
Angel Fuentes
Arnulfo Garcia
Nan W. Hendley
Sharon M. Henry
Jesse D. Hensley
Christopher J. Hundt
Richard M. Jackimowicz
Thomas W. Johnson
David E. Kessling
Robert D. Knoblauch
Stephanie I. Leisure
Nelson F. Meythaler
Henry J. Mioduszewski
George K. Namauu
Nicholas Nigro
Terry J. Nihart
Wilfredo Padin
Oquilla Royster
Vincent Shanks
Donna E. Smith
Jeffrey D. Spoden
Michael T. Stremkowski
Alvin G. Welch

    The following 2 applicants had renal insufficiency:

Manuel M. Loreto
Olga N. Richards

    The following 8 applicants have had more than one hypoglycemic 
episode requiring hospitalization or the assistance of others, or has 
had one such episode but has not had one year of stability following 
the episode:

Gyorgy Kovacs
Allen Lara
John L. Moreno
William T. Phipps, Jr.
Jose L. Ramos
Michael J. Scheresky
Roger M. Smith, Jr.
Michael H. Zimmerman

    The following 4 applicants had other medical conditions making the 
applicant otherwise unqualified under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations:

Philip M. Burroughs
Conrad V. Gooding
Eugene R. Huelskamp
Santito Zamot, Jr.

    The following 2 applicants were unable to have an endocrinologist 
state the applicant is able to operate a CMV from a diabetes 
standpoint:

Kenneth B. Golden, Jr.
Michael P. Kruimer

    The following applicant, Kenneth M. Zakaib, currently resides in 
Canada. He is not eligible because the Federal exemption is for drivers 
operating only in the United States.
    The following applicant, Jeffrey W. Sgrignoli, is unable or has not 
demonstrated willingness to properly monitor and manage his or her 
diabetes, whether by personal decision or medical inability.
    The following applicant, Larry Bush, has peripheral neuropathy or 
circulatory insufficiency of the extremities likely to interfere with 
his or her ability to operate a CMV.
    The following 2 applicants did not meet the minimum age criteria 
outlined in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(1) which states that an individual must be 
at least 21 years old to operate a CMV in interstate commerce:

Ronald D. Kestner
Kyle J. Russell

    The following 20 applicants were exempt from the diabetes standard:

Guanny T. Bradley
Scott D. Butler
Bryan R. Clines
Allan J. Clune
Earl L. Combs
David A. Comeau
Robert N. Costa
Frank J. Fregoni
William Garcia
John T. Maher
Bart J. Meyer
William B. Piver
Audrey E. Platt-Carroll
Ronald W. Rein
Calvin J. Rose
Steven A. Traver
Robert C. Tucker
Wesley G. Walton
Caleb K. Whitlock
Anthony L. Wingfield

    Issued on: July 27, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-18498 Filed 8-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P