# Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision
**AGENCY:**
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
**ACTION:**
Notice of denials.
**SUMMARY:**
FMCSA announces its denial of 60 applications from individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal vision standard applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the denials. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision 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:**
Charles A. Horan, III, Director, Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards, (202) 366-4001, *[email protected],* FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 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 vision 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 60 individual exemption requests on their merit 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 nine applicants had no experience operating a CMV:
Erica K. Boggs
Leslie L. Dana
George S. Ginder
Destin R. Huerd
Edison Joe
Miles K. Manross
Paul R. Oja
Brandon C. Shepard
Dontrell D. Williams
The following nine applicants did not have three years of experience driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:
Osman M. Adanalic
William R. Bissell
David A. Crawford
Michael J. Floyd
Carlson Koyukuk
Abel D. Ordonez
Richard A. Paplow
Stephen J. Smith
Arlyn E. Witker
The following four applicants did not have three years of recent experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:
Carl Jones III
Jim Pace
Jeffrey G. Sherrill
Veronica N. Washington
The following two applicants did not have sufficient driving experience during the past three years under normal highway operating conditions:
William L. Bowers
Bridget Johnson
The following applicant, Richard Anthony, had his CDL suspended in relation to a moving violation during the three-year period. Applicants do not qualify for an exemption with a suspension during the three-year period.
The following five applicants were unable to obtain a statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist stating that he was able to operate a commercial vehicle from a vision standpoint:
Cesar A. Guridy, Jr.
Arthur L. Mabb
Winston Merrick
Barnett K. Moss, Sr.
Donald J. Wilson
The following applicant, Larry Defrain, did not have stable vision for the entire three-year period.
The following two applicants did not meet the vision standard in their better eye:
Leonard Hixon
Ryan R. Kepford
The following nine applicants met the current federal vision standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the current regulations for vision:
John A. Ashworth
Ronaldo A. M. Curva
Robert L. Downs
Harry J. Glynn
Julian Gonzales
Linda Jones-Hawkins
Frederik J. Koning
Pedro Torres
Robert M. Walls
The following 15 applicants were denied because they will not be driving interstate, interstate commerce, or are not required to carry a DOT medical card:
Everardo G. Cantu
Gale D. Funke
Jeffrey W. Graham
Dillon L. Hendren
Noel C. Hill
Edgar I. IzquierdoGarcia
Robert Jasniewicz
Eric J. Johnson
Marion D. Kellstadt
Jeffrey E. Leisenring, Sr.
Leonard B. Mulkey
Michael K. Preslar
Vernon D. Roberts
Barbara H. Smith
Kyle O. Wrisley
Finally, the following three applicants perform transportation for the federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state.
Robert L. Bick
James L. Lockwood
Fredrick D. McCaskill
Issued on: May 29, 2015.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.