FMCSA Goes For Stricter Vision Standards

ICSA has been reporting on proposals to change the vision standards for professional truck drivers evolving out of a notice of proposed rule making opened in January 2021 for public comment.  Now we can tell you that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Medical Review Board (MRB), a five-member panel of physicians that provides expert advice to the agency, has recommended that the current field-of-vision requirement for drivers with vision loss in one eye be changed from 70 degrees to 120 degrees. 

In addition to the field-of-vision requirement the recommended standard requires that drivers have at least 20/40 vision in their better eye, be able to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber, and have a vision deficiency that is stable (not worsening).

FMCSA has opened a 30-day comment period  for the public to respond to MRB’s recommendations.

If you or any of your drivers can’t meet either the current distant-visual-acuity or field-of-vision standard, or both, in one eye, they cannot legally drive in interstate commerce unless they obtain an exemption from FMCSA. ICSA recommends that you follow the rule making and submit comments during the 30-day comment period.

Under the current exemption program drivers with a vision deficiency in one eye are required to have three years of driving experience with the vision deficiency within a state. However, those who qualify under the proposed alternate vision standard would complete a road test conducted by the carrier, before operating in interstate commerce. Drivers would be waived from the road test requirement if they have three years of intrastate or excepted interstate truck driving experience with the vision deficiency, hold a valid federal vision exemption, or are medically certified.

“FMCSA finds that a road test would be an appropriate indicator of an individual’s ability to operate a CMV safely with the vision deficiency,” the agency stated.