Medically unfit CDL drivers can cause dangerous bus and truck accidents putting innocent people at risk of serious personal injury or death. Even though commercial bus and truck drivers are required to take a medical test every two years, the actual rules are too loose and open the door to all types of abuses. For example the terrible accident between a truck and a school bus that happened in New Jersey last year was caused by a medically unfit school bus driver (see our previous post).
To prevent such tragedy from happening again, starting May 21st, all bus and truck drivers will be required to be examined only by a Certified Medical Examiner. Certified Medical Examiners have been specifically trained and successfully passed a test that qualifies them to assess if a CDL driver is medically fit to perform his job. The FMCSA maintains a map of Registered Medical Examiners that drivers can use to find a nearby examiner.
This new system will help prevent fraud and set the stage for the next step in which the medical record will be electronically accessible and automatically integrated to the driver’s motor vehicle record.