New Federal Regulation Requires Semi Truck Drivers' Medical Certifications to be Entered Into Electronic Database
In order to ensure that semi truck drivers are physically fit and able to safely operate semi trucks and reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents caused by semi truck drivers who are not physically capable of handling the rigorous duties of an interstate semi truck driver, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a new regulation requiring semi truck drivers to have their medical certification cards stamped by a state agency and entered into an electronic database that can be accessed by inspectors.
The federal regulations that are designed to promote safety in the trucking industry and reduce serious motor vehicle accidents require that a semi truck driver be physically fit to operate a semi truck. There are certain medical conditions, such as epilepsy and insulin dependent diabetes, that disqualify a semi truck driver from obtaining the commercial driver's license (CDL) needed to professionally drive a semi truck. Before a semi truck driver obtains a CDL and starts driving, he/she needs to be examined by an appropriate medical professional and have his/her physical fitness certified. When semi truck drivers are stopped for a DOT inspection or are investigated after an injury accident, they are supposed to show proof of a valid medical certificate. However, it is not uncommon for semi truck drivers to avoid this requirement by either using out of date medical certificates, getting certified by doctors they know will rubber stamp the certification, using forged medical certificates or ignoring the requirement altogether. Hopefully, with this new regulation, it will be easier for DOT inspectors and trucking companies to enforce the requirement that semi truck drivers are medically approved and certified before driving.
