DOT Physicals
New FMCSA Final Rule: Frequently Asked Questions
The FMCSA has published a new final rule- The following is strongly recommended- Please pass on to your drivers.
Medical examiners will now need to begin using new forms as part of the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule, and the changes to the forms will have an impact on truck drivers.
What follows are several changes the rule will bring.
Drivers May Want to Get in 30-45 Days Early
As part of the new form, if a medical examiner is unable to make a final determination on a driver and needs more information, such as a sleep test or information from the driver’s physician, he or she could mark the form “determination pending.” That would give the driver 45 days to submit the necessary information to the examiner or time for the examiner to request the needed information if a safety letter is required for a previous history of heart disease, diabetes etc.
If the driver has a current and valid medical examiner’s certificate (MEC), he or she may continue to operate under that MEC during the 45-day period. However, if the MEC were to expire either before or during that timeframe, the driver would no longer be qualified.
“It is tough to recommend drivers go in 45 days early for an exam, but that may be what drivers need to do in order to continue driving until they submit all of the necessary information or they will want to ensure they bring in everything they need when they go in for an exam,”
If the requested information is not provided in the allotted 45 days, a new examination will be required in order for the driver to obtain a med card.
Drivers May Need Multiple Exams
In the past, medical examiners could update or extend exam forms for a certain period, then file them without doing a complete new exam, but that is no longer the case.
“Let’s say a driver has hypertension. Today a lot of examiners would issue an extension on the medical card for 30 days, then have the driver come back to show his blood pressure has gone down or has been treated. When the driver comes back they’d sign off on the blood pressure being down and issue a card for one year,” “Now they can’t do that. They’ll have to complete a whole new exam.” Another reason Drivers May Want to get in 30-45 Days Early
This is partly due to the way the forms are transmitted. “Once you submit a form, you can’t go in and change it again,” again Drivers May Want to Get in 30-45 Days Early.
As always we are here to help, if you, your company or drivers have any questions please give us a call.
Sincerely,
Michael Tigges DC, NRCME
[contact-form to=’[email protected]’ subject=’Changes to Medical Examiner Rules Will Affect Drivers ‘][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Website’ type=’url’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]