Compliance with Certified Medical Examination regulations
Recently, both federal and state law enforcement officials have told MTAC that they have seen some CDL holders (and their employers) have difficulty complying with the federal regulation regarding physical examinations. These examinations are required to be administered by a Certified Medical Examiner (CME) who is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)….
Recently, both federal and state law enforcement officials have told MTAC that they have seen some CDL holders (and their employers) have difficulty complying with the federal regulation regarding physical examinations. These examinations are required to be administered by a Certified Medical Examiner (CME) who is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A physical examination performed by anyone who is not registered with FMCSA as a CME does not comply with the federal regulation.
To be sure that a CME is properly registered with FMCSA, check this website. The site can also be used to search for registered CMEs near a company’s location, for those who might need to establish a new relationship with a certified medical examiner.
Drivers required to be examined by a Certified Medical Examiner include: drivers operating vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR/GCWR in interstate commerce; intrastate drivers operating trucks over 18,000 pounds GVWR/GCWR in CT; anyone operating a vehicle which requires a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which is any vehicle over 26,000 pounds GVWR. CDL holders are required to submit proof of their certified medical examination to CT DMV.
DMV has created an email address (DMV.CDL@ct.gov) where the proof of medical examinations can be sent, and it has very much improved efficiency in complying with the regulation. After the certification has been submitted to DMV, check this website to confirm that DMV’s records reflect that they have processed the paperwork within 10 days. In the meantime, the driver may use a copy of the new medical card for 15 days after the date of the medical exam to prove compliance while DMV updates the driver’s records.
Record keeping rules require employers to have: a copy of the medical examiners certificate; a verification that the CME who conducted the medical exam was registered as required; either the MVR or the DMV printout showing that the medical examiners certificate was received by DMV and posted to the CDL driving record. These documents must be kept for 3 years after date of execution in the Drivers Qualification (DQ) file.
MTAC is having a training class on March 14, 2017 for driver file requirements, which covers this subject and the requirements for DQ files. Register to attend on the MTAC website.