The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has finalized a streamlined process for combining the commercial driver’s license and medical certificate records for commercial truck and bus drivers.
The agency also said it has taken new steps toward improving standards and setting uniform requirements for medical examiners, issuing a rule that will require states to merge the CDL and drivers’ medical examination certificate into a single electronic record.
“These actions will support and strengthen our continuing commitment to ensure that only medically qualified individuals are allowed to operate an interstate truck or bus,” FMCSA Administrator John Hill said in a statement.
When fully implemented by the states in three years, the new combined CDL will streamline recordkeeping obligations for the states and CDL holders, while providing instant electronic access to the CDL holder’s medical certificate by state and federal safety enforcement officials, FMSCA said.
In addition, the rule requires states to take enforcement actions against CDL holders if they do not provide medical certification status information within the deadline.
