![]() |
![]() |
FMCSA 09-08
Monday, December 01, 2008
Contact: Kristin Schrader
Tel.: (202) 366-9999/2309
FMCSA Improves Medical Requirements for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers
WASHINGTON – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today took
new steps toward improving standards and setting uniform requirements for
medical examiners, while also finalizing a streamlined process for combining the
commercial drivers license (CDL) and medical certificate records for commercial
truck and bus drivers operating on the nation’s roads.
“While we have made significant improvements in motor carrier safety, these
actions will support and strengthen our continuing commitment to ensure that
only medically qualified individuals are allowed to operate an interstate truck
or bus. Safety is our paramount responsibility,” FMCSA Administrator John H.
Hill said.
FMCSA today issued a final rule that will require states to merge the commercial
driver’s license (CDL) and the driver’s medical examination certificate into a
single electronic record. When fully implemented by the states in three years,
the new combined CDL will streamline record keeping obligations for the states
and CDL holders, while providing instant electronic access to the CDL holder’s
medical certificate by state and federal enforcement officials.
In addition, the rule requires states to take enforcement actions against CDL
holders if they do not provide medical certification status information within
the deadline.
FMCSA today also issued a related rulemaking that would establish a National
Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to ensure that physical qualification
examinations of CDL holders are performed by qualified medical practitioners and
are administered in a uniform and consistent manner. The Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) for the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners would
create certification standards, including a training and testing program, and a
National Registry of medical examiners who are qualified to conduct examinations
of interstate truck and bus drivers.
The proposal would require the medical examiner to electronically transmit to
FMCSA the name and a numerical identifier for each driver who is examined. The
proposal also would create a process by which medical examiners who fail to meet
or maintain the minimum standards would be removed from the National Registry.
The NPRM for the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners can be found
at www.regulations.gov, docket number
FMCSA-2008-0363. Public comments on the proposal should be submitted by January
30, 2009.
The final rule on Medical Certification Requirements as Part of the CDL is
available for review at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
###