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FMCSA Reverses Course on Epilepsy Exemptions for Commercial Drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has reversed its recent approval pattern for epilepsy exemptions for commercial motor vehicle operators. The agency denied 70 applications across two recent actions after nearly two years of approvals.

The agency rejected 52 applicants in a June 23 decision and denied 18 additional requests on July 17. The last prior denial occurred in September 2024, making the recent rejections a significant shift in the pattern.

FMCSA conducted individualized medical assessments of each applicant but determined they failed to meet federal safety standards. The agency cited federal qualifications requiring drivers to have no medical history of epilepsy or conditions likely to cause loss of consciousness or vehicle control.

The rejected applicants, while geographically dispersed across multiple states, were evaluated under identical criteria. FMCSA stated granting the exemptions would not provide equivalent safety levels required by federal law.