April 20, 2012

Truckinginfo (4/19) reported that currently, “the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not really have a handle on who is doing the” truck driver medical exams. To ensure that “a national standard” exists, “truck safety regulators are about to post a new, long-awaited rule aimed at shoring up driver medical standards.” The rule will be published in Friday’s Federal Register.

The Trucker (4/19, Jones) added that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday “announced a new safety rule that requires healthcare professionals who perform medical examinations for interstate truck and bus drivers to be trained, tested and certified on the specific physical qualifications that affect a driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle.” The final rule also creates a national online database of medical examiners who have completed FMCSA’s certification process.