{"abstract":"FMCSA amends its regulations to permit individuals who do not satisfy, with the worse eye, either the existing distant visual acuity standard with corrective lenses or the field of vision standard, or both, to be physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce under specified conditions. Currently, such individuals are prohibited from driving CMVs in interstate commerce unless they obtain an exemption from FMCSA. The new alternative vision standard replaces the current vision exemption program as the basis for determining the physical qualification of these individuals.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","name":"Transportation Department","id":492,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/transportation-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/492","parent_id":null,"slug":"transportation-department"},{"raw_name":"Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration","name":"Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration","id":181,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-motor-carrier-safety-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/181","parent_id":492,"slug":"federal-motor-carrier-safety-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2022/01/21/2022-01021.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"391","title":49}],"citation":"87 FR 3390","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule is effective March 22, 2022.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0049"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"McKnight et al. The visual and driving performance of monocular and binocular heavy-duty truck drivers. 1991","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0024"},{"title":"FHWA. The Seventh Monitoring Report on the Drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicles Who Receive Vision Waivers. February 29, 1996","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0023"},{"title":"Sheridan et al. (Conwal). Qualification of Drivers - Vision, Diabetes, H...","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0022"},{"title":"Decina et al. (Ketron). Visual Disorders and Commercial Drivers.","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0021"},{"title":"DRAFT 391.31 Road Test Requirement ICR Supporting Statement","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0020"},{"title":"DRAFT Medical Qualification Requirements ICR Supporting Statement OMB Control No 2126-0006","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0019"},{"title":"DRAFT Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0018"},{"title":"FMCSA. Medical Review Board. Meeting Minutes. July 15-16, 2019","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0017"},{"title":"FMCSA Waivers, Exemptions, and Pilot Programs Annual Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2016. October 2017","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0016"},{"title":"FMCSA. Waiver, Exemptions, and Pilot Programs Annual Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2017. September 2018","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0015"}],"agency_name":"FMCSA","documents":[{"comment_count":12,"comment_start_date":"2022-01-21","updated_at":"2026-05-13T11:57:11.934-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FMCSA-2019-0049-0136","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0136","comment_end_date":null,"regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":21,"id":"FMCSA-2019-0049","title":"Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standard"}],"document_number":"2022-01021","effective_on":"2022-03-22","end_page":3419,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2022/01/21/2022-01021.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/21/2022-01021/qualifications-of-drivers-vision-standard","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2022-01021?publication_date=2022-01-21","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2022-01-21/2022-01021/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":30,"page_views":{"count":15118,"last_updated":"2026-08-24 16:15:16 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-01-21/pdf/2022-01021.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-01021.pdf?1642686326","publication_date":"2022-01-21","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2022/01/21/2022-01021.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2126-AC21":{"issue":"202110","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2126-AC21/driver-qualifications-revising-the-vision-standard","title":"Driver Qualifications; Revising the Vision Standard","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202110&RIN=2126-AC21&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2126-AC21"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"McKnight et al. The visual and driving performance of monocular and binocular heavy-duty truck drivers. 1991","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0024"},{"title":"FHWA. The Seventh Monitoring Report on the Drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicles Who Receive Vision Waivers. February 29, 1996","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0023"},{"title":"Sheridan et al. (Conwal). Qualification of Drivers - Vision, Diabetes, H...","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0022"},{"title":"Decina et al. (Ketron). Visual Disorders and Commercial Drivers.","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0021"},{"title":"DRAFT 391.31 Road Test Requirement ICR Supporting Statement","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0020"},{"title":"DRAFT Medical Qualification Requirements ICR Supporting Statement OMB Control No 2126-0006","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0019"},{"title":"DRAFT Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0018"},{"title":"FMCSA. Medical Review Board. Meeting Minutes. July 15-16, 2019","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0017"},{"title":"FMCSA Waivers, Exemptions, and Pilot Programs Annual Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2016. October 2017","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0016"},{"title":"FMCSA. Waiver, Exemptions, and Pilot Programs Annual Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2017. September 2018","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0015"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2126-AC21/driver-qualifications-revising-the-vision-standard","title":"Driver Qualifications; Revising the Vision Standard"},"comments_count":12,"agency_id":"FMCSA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=FMCSA-2019-0049","supporting_documents_count":21,"docket_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049","document_id":"FMCSA-2019-0049-0136","regulation_id_number":"2126-AC21","title":"Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standard","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2026-05-14T14:55:05Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":3390,"subtype":null,"title":"Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standard","toc_doc":"Vision Standard","toc_subject":"Qualification of Drivers:\n","topics":["Alcohol abuse","Drug abuse","Drug testing","Highway safety","Motor carriers","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Safety","Transportation"],"type":"Rule","volume":87}