# 2026-03258: Old Vision Waivers Expire: Drivers Must Meet Modern Sight Standards

2026-03258, Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standards Grandfathering Provision, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published 2026-02-19, effective 2026-03-23 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03258
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-03258
- Title: Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standards Grandfathering Provision
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 7864
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Effective: 2026-03-23
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2126-AC87
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Old Vision Waivers Expire: Drivers Must Meet Modern Sight Standards

## Summary

Starting March 23, 2026, interstate truck and bus drivers who got special vision waivers between 1992 and 2022 will no longer be covered by old grandfather rules. This means all drivers must now meet current vision standards to keep driving commercially across state lines. No extra fees or costs are mentioned, but affected drivers should get ready to meet the updated vision rules or risk losing their driving privileges.

## Abstract

FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to remove the grandfathering provision under the physical qualifications standards for interstate drivers operating under the vision waiver study program administered from 1992 through 1994, and the vision exemption program operated from 1998 through 2022, as the grandfathering provision is now obsolete. FMCSA's current rules 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.

## Effects PRIA read

- Grandfather Vision Waivers Removed: benefit, low. FMCSA is removing the grandfathering provision that applied to drivers in the 1992–1994 vision waiver study and the 1998–2022 vision exemption program. The removal of 49 CFR 391.64(b) is effective March 23, 2026, but FMCSA says all drivers have been required to meet the alternative vision standard…

## Related documents

- [2026-08144](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08144): Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures, 2026-04-27
- [2026-20734](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20734): Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for Exemption From Aurora Operations, Inc (USDOT #341156), 2026-10-09
- [2026-20649](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20649): Qualification of Drivers; Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance; Application for Exemption, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20524](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20524): Agency Information Collection Activities; New Information Collection: Hours of Service of Drivers; Pilot Program To Allow Commercial Driver…, 2026-10-07
- [2026-20476](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20476): Agency Information Collection Activities; New Information Collection: Hours of Service of Drivers: Pilot Program To Allow Commercial Driver…, 2026-10-06
- [2026-20325](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20325): Clarification to the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions; Response to Petitions for Reconsideration, 2026-10-05

## Sources
- [2026-03258 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/19/2026-03258/qualifications-of-drivers-vision-standards-grandfathering-provision)
- [2026-03258 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-19/pdf/2026-03258.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-03257, Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Auxiliary Fuel Tanks](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03257)
- [Next: 2026-03259, Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; License Plate Lamps](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03259)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03258 (as of 2026-06-11).