FMCSA SEEKS COMMENTS ON REQUESTS FOR VISION REQUIREMENT EXEMPTION

According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules, the Agency may grant an exemption from various Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for a two-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 ruling would be evaluated every two years going forward. FMCSA has received applications from 22 individuals who are asking for exemptions from the vision requirement which applies to drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) operating in interstate commerce, because they are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons.

FMCSA has announced a request for comments in the Federal Register, asking stakeholders to participate by reviewing the applicants’ qualifications, all posted in the federal notice, and determining whether excusing them from the requirements would be acceptable, and would permit the candidates to drive a CMV.

Comments can be submitted and viewed online by going to the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Enter the docket number FMCSA-2015-0351 in the “Keyword” box and click “Search.” When the new screen appears, click on the “Comment Now!” button and enter your comments into the text box. The comment period will end as of April 27, 2016. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.