What Is The National Registry?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will soon
propose a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). The NRCME
would provide a list of medical examiners who are authorized to examine
interstate truck and motor coach drivers and effectively determine their
physical qualifications to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in
interstate commerce. A national database of certified medical examiners who
have received training to perform such examinations would ensure that these
examiners are knowledgeable of driver qualification standards and
guidelines. The training would also help the medical examiner
better understand the physical and mental demands of driving a commercial
vehicle. The medical examiner would perform physical examinations with full
awareness of the conditions under which drivers work.
The NRCME is a program intended to produce trained, certified
medical examiners who can effectively determine the physical qualifications of
CMV drivers. Information about the certified medical examiners placed on the
NRCME would be made available to CMV drivers. The primary method of information
dissemination would be through the NRCME Web site, but a resource center with a
toll-free phone number would also be available. The NRCME Web site would also
provide program information to certified medical examiners, medical examiners
who wish to become certified, and to the interested public.
The NRCME program would require training using a standardized
curriculum, a certification examination, and recertification of medical
examiners listed on the NRCME. The NRCME Web site would disseminate information
to practitioners on new medical discoveries, policies or requirements relevant
to the examinations. The certification program would ensure that medical
examiners are qualified and educated about occupational issues for drivers,
maintain ongoing competency, and have specific guidance and readily
identifiable sources of information (via the Web site and resource center) for
questions concerning the physical examinations.
The objectives of the NRCME are to: maintain ongoing competency of
medical examiners through training, testing, certification and recertification;
ensure that medical examiners fully understand the medical standards in the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and how they apply to CMV
drivers; ensure that the list of certified medical examiners is easily
accessible; promote public confidence in the quality of the medical
examinations of CMV drivers; and disseminate information about the medical
examination of CMV drivers to meet the objectives of the President’s strategy
for e-government.
FMCSA would be involved in all facets of the NRCME program
development and implementation and maintain an oversight role. Implementation
of the NRCME program demonstrates the commitment of the Department of
Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to making our
Nation’s highways safer.
How would it affect me?
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