For the first time in seven years, physicians have reliable guidance they can use to help determine if commercial truck drivers are physically fit to operate their vehicles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Tuesday published a draft of its new Medical Examiner’s Handbook (MEH). The handbook provides information on driver health requirements and guidelines used by medical examiners (MEs) listed on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to interpret regulations on physical qualifications for commercial drivers.
An ME is licensed, certified, and/or registered in accordance with state laws and regulations to perform physical examinations and must also be knowledgeable of the physical and mental demands associated with operating a truck.
“Other health care professionals, such as treating providers and specialists, may provide additional medical information or consultation, but the ME ultimately decides whether the driver meets the physical qualification standards of FMCSA,” according to the agency.
FMCSA also emphasized that, unlike regulations, the recommendations and guidance in the handbook “do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind MEs, drivers or the public in any way. Rather, such guidance itself is only advisory and not mandatory.”
FMCSA first posted the MEH on its website in 2008 but had to withdraw it in 2015 because some of the information was “obsolete or was prescriptive in nature,” according to FMCSA, and therefore MEs and training organizations were told not to consider the MEH as guidance to interpret federal regulations.
Potential for sleep apnea rulemaking
While federal regulations do not include specific requirements related to testing drivers for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), “the big question is whether FMCSA will use [the MEH] as a potential launchpad for a formal rulemaking on OSA,” P. Sean Garney, co-director of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, told FreightWaves.
To address the issue, FMCSA would have to go through a formal rulemaking process, Garney noted. In 2016, FMCSA and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on OSA, but the Trump administration withdrew the proposal in 2017. “The agencies believe that current safety programs and FRA’s rulemaking addressing fatigue risk management are the appropriate avenues to address OSA,” the agencies stated at the time.
Over the last decade, however, “there is a lot more data available on [OSA], and the industry’s take on the issue has evolved as well. The time could be right,” Garney said.
FMCSA addresses OSA in the handbook by providing a link to recommendations made in 2016 by the Medical Review Board, an advisory committee to the agency. It includes suggestions on risk factors, screening, testing and medical certification of drivers with OSA.
Comments on the draft handbook must be received on or before Sept. 30.
Larry
Well it appears to many drivers are using their c pap machines and getting regular check up so they need to put more regulations in so the industry will be even more short good drivers I see why all places is always trying to recruit drivers
Rocendo Quintanilla
Well in my opinion any trucker with OSA that uses a CPAP machine would be a safer driver giving that at least he will get 6hrs of recordable sleep while a non CPAP trucker can not verify he got any sleep at all and yes the government should pay for all drivers that are diagnosed with OSA to get a CPAP machine that qualifies with FMCSA standards
Kevin Pettes
Put These Lawmakers & Regulators In The Cab Foe a Shift. After They Change Their Pants They Might Change Their Minds… Or Maybe Not 40+ yrs on the road
Darryl
I have to say. That there is so much about truck drivers but in reality all drivers including the average car driver are all the same. It has nothing to do with anything but putting drivers out of work and money
You all have nothing better to do
It’s the same as road side inspections you can’t make money from cars so you pick on the trucks this is what the industry is all about how much can we take
Adamsallycat
Big carriers and the Federal Government are behind over regulating this industry. All apart of the plan. Put small companies out of business and owner operators. Control all the freight and the lanes. Pay garbage rates on freight and keep all the revenue. The last 20 years this industry has gotten harder to be involved. Cameras in the cabs to watch drivers 24/7 and endless new regulations. People and roads are not anymore safe now then a decade ago. Just more expense, red tape and cost. These big companies are running a monopoly on the industry and the government is in on it.
Next you will have to be height and weight proportionate within a very small tolerance to have a Class A. You can bet, you will see DOT medical cards only good for one year in the near future. This is the only industry that you make less today to be a professional truck driver than 30 years ago.
I’m 22 years into this profession. I wouldn’t suggest this industry to anyone. Sacrifice all your free time and family life to live out of a truck. The lifestyle takes a toll on drivers health, poor eating and sleeping. You constantly have the government trying to make a tuff job and make it more difficult. Truck drivers should demand hazard pay from these large trucking companies. The constant dangers of the road and the lifestyle that leads to poor health.
There is a driver shortage and will continue to be. No one to blame but poor wages and government beaurcracy of endless legislation on the transportation industry.
M Moore
I nearly lost my medical card because my CPAP machine, less than a year old, broke. Because of the Phillips recall and Covid, it took months to get it fixed. It lasted a week, then broke again. I had to shell out another $1000 to buy a new one just to keep my medical card. If anything happens to this machine, I’ll just let them take my license rather than go through this hassle again. Not worth it.
Jon
I’m tired of the whole damn mess! These are rules made of a bunch of damn lawyers and insurance companies, none of them is ever set foot inside a tractor and trailer but, they know all about it.. a damn shame that the only qualification the dot secretary has for his job is, like Kamala harris, the unique ability to pleasure another male! And that’s what he would like to do to the rest of the country
Jonh
Best comment 👌
JAMES A DAUPHINAIS
My regular doctor told the DOT medical examiner that i didnt need to do a sleep study.
I was told that i will be forced to do a sleep study and i will be forced to get a cpap machine or i can no longer drive. The DOT doctors are in cahoots with the slwep studies and most likely getting kickbacks from the cpap manufacturers.
After 34 years of driving. I found another career.
Joseph H Zaniewski
I am a cdl-A driver and am being forced to wear a CPAP mask at night as well and wake up every hour most nights and with a heavy head, I took a in home sleep test because the med. Examiner said I had a 1/2 in. More neck than allowed, I’m being harassed by my job,by the place that supplied the CPAP machine. I don’t snore,don’t wake up with headaches and don’t stop breathing. I NEVER HAD THIS!!! But they must be making alot of money with this forced “COMPLIANCE” I used to look forward to my bunk time and HOME!! TIME but not anymore. Sad,sad,sad world this is becoming…our grandfather’s father’s would be ashamed of people who are Tring to kill the most important part of transportation (TRUCKING) we need to get together and fight these money hungry forced rules. Class action anyone??????