90 FR 58 pgs. 13987-13989 - Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 58Pages: 13987 - 13989
Pages: 13987, 13988, 13989Docket number: [Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0010]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-05250 Filed 3-26-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0010]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders
AGENCY:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION:
Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
DATES:
Comments must be received on or before April 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket Management System Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0010 using any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/, insert the docket number (FMCSA-2025-0010) in the keyword box and click "Search." Next, choose the only notice listed, and click on the "Comment" button. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the "Public Participation" portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical Programs Division, FMCSA, DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Dockets Operations, (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation
A. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0010), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. 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/docket/FMCSA-2025-0010. Next, choose the only notice listed, click the "Comment" button, and type your comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit.
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8 1⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.
B. Confidential Business Information (CBI)
[top] CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to the notice contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to the notice, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission that constitutes CBI as "PROPIN" to indicate it contains proprietary information. FMCSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the Freedom of Information Act, and they will not be placed in the public docket of the notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Brian Dahlin, Chief, Regulatory Evaluation Division, Office of Policy, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or via email at brian.g.dahlin@dot.gov. At this time, you need not send a duplicate hardcopy of your electronic CBI submissions to FMCSA headquarters. Any comments FMCSA receives not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this notice.
C. Viewing Comments
To view comments, go to www.regulations.gov/, insert the docket number (FMCSA-2025-0010) in the keyword box and click "Search." Next, choose the only notice listed, and click "Browse Comments." If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by visiting Dockets Operations on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets Operations.
D. Privacy Act
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments from the public on the exemption request. 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 (Federal Docket Management System), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices, the comments are searchable by the name of the submitter.
II. Legal Basis
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant exemptions from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, including the applicant's safety analysis. The Agency must provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.
The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1). The Agency must publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If granted, the notice will identify the regulatory provision from which the applicant will be exempt the effective period, and all terms and conditions of the exemption (49 CFR 381.315(c)(1)). If the exemption is denied, the notice will explain the reason for the denial (49 CFR 381.315(c)(2)). The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)). FMCSA grants medical exemptions from the FMCSRs for a 2-year period to align with the maximum duration of a driver's medical certification.
III. Background
The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding seizures and loss of consciousness provides that a person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person has "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause the loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control" a CMV (49 CFR 391.41(b)(8)). To assist in applying this standard, FMCSA publishes guidance for medical examiners (ME) in the form of medical advisory criteria in Appendix A to 49 CFR part 391. 1 In 2007, FMCSA published recommendations from a Medical Expert Panel (MEP) that FMCSA tasked to review the existing seizure disorder guidelines for MEs. 2 The MEP performed a comprehensive, systematic literature review, including evidence available at the time. The MEP issued recommended criteria to evaluate whether an individual with a history of epilepsy, a single unprovoked seizure, or a provoked seizure should be allowed to drive a CMV.
Footnotes:
1 ?49 CFR part 391, app.A.II.G, available at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-391/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Part%20391.
2 ?"Expert Panel Recommendations, Seizure Disorders and Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety," Medical Expert Panel (Oct. 15, 2007), available at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2020-04/Seizure-Disorders-MEP-Recommendations-v2-prot%2010152007.pdf.
On January 15, 2013, FMCSA began granting exemptions, on a case-by-case basis, to individual drivers from the physical qualification standard regarding seizures and loss of consciousness in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8) (78 FR 3069). The Agency considers the medical advisory criteria, the 2007 MEP recommendations, and each individual's medical information and driving record in deciding whether to grant the exemption.
The 11 individuals listed in this notice have requested an exemption from the epilepsy and seizure disorders prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8). Accordingly, the Agency will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant to determine whether granting the exemption will achieve the required level of safety mandated by statute.
IV. Qualifications of Applicants
Tyson Bridgeman
Tyson Bridgeman is a 39-year-old class B commercial driver's license (CDL) holder in Indiana. They have a history of epilepsy and have been seizure free since 2004. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2013. Their physician states that they are supportive of Tyson Bridgeman receiving an exemption.
Matthew Bouy
Matthew Bouy is a 36-year-old class C license holder in Pennsylvania. They have a history of seizure disorder and have been seizure free since 2010. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2022. Their physician states that they are supportive of Matthew Bouy receiving an exemption.
Austin Goad
Austin Goad is a 24-year-old class C license holder in North Carolina. They have a history of complex partial seizures and have been seizure free since January 1, 2016. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since January 8, 2020. Their physician states that they are supportive of Austin Goad receiving an exemption.
Jeffery Hodges
Jeffery Hodges is a 50-year-old class E license holder in Missouri. They have a history of epilepsy and have been seizure free since 2013. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2013. Their physician states that they are supportive of Jeffery Hodges receiving an exemption.
William Lewis
William Lewis is a 49-year-old class C license holder in Kansas. They have a history of generalized seizure disorder and have been seizure free since 2006. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2001. Their physician states that they are supportive of William Lewis receiving an exemption.
Efren Medrano
Efren Medrano is a 21-year-old class A CDL holder in California. They have a history of Synapsin-I related focal epilepsy and have been seizure free since January 2, 2016. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since July 21, 2016. Their physician states that they are supportive of Efren Medrano receiving an exemption.
Aaron McEuen
[top] Aaron McEuen is a 53-year-old class D license holder in Utah. They have a
Melissa Mohr
Melissa Mohr is a 40-year-old class DM regular license holder in Wisconsin. They have a history of seizures and have been seizure free since 2017. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since October 31, 2016. Their physician states that they are supportive of Melissa Mohr receiving an exemption.
Joshua Parente
Joshua Parente is a 47-year-old class DM license holder in New York. They have a history of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and have been seizure free since November 21, 2016. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2016. Their physician states that they are supportive of Joshua Parente receiving an exemption.
Jeffrey Schultz
Jeffrey Schultz is a 38-year-old class ABCD CDL holder in Wisconsin. They have a history of seizure disorder and have been seizure free since May 2016. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since May 2016. Their physician states that they are supportive of Jeffrey Schultz receiving an exemption.
Christopher Wetherell
Christopher Wetherell is a 37-year-old class D license holder in Massachusetts. They have a history of idiopathic generalized epilepsy and have been seizure free since 2011. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since October 30, 2022. Their physician states that they are supportive of Christopher Wetherell receiving an exemption.
V. Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA requests public comment from all interested persons on the exemption petitions described in this notice. We will consider all comments received before the close of business on the closing date indicated under the DATES section of the notice.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2025-05250 Filed 3-26-25; 8:45 am]
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