Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) now requires commercial drivers to be examined by specifically authorized medical examiners. Dr. Brown is a physician in Snohomish, authorized by the FMCSA to issue CDLs.
Bus Drivers
These CDL medical examiners must have taken a specific training course and have passed an examination with a score of at least 80% correct answers. The NRCME has a database of all medical examiners qualified to issue CDLs.
Long Haul Truck Drivers
The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) maintains a record of all medical examiners who meet the necessary qualifications to issue CDLs to commercial drivers.
School Bus Drivers
You can find an examiner in your area by visiting the NRCME website and inputting either a city and state or a zip code for a list of all examiners within a 10-25-50-75-100-500 mile radius.
Ambulance Drivers
Ambulance drivers often require CDL Medical Certification. Check with your employer.
Public Transportation Drivers
All commercial drivers involved in transporting the general public require a CDL issued by an FMCSA-authorized medical examiner.
CDL Applicants will need to complete the Driver History portion of the CDL Exam form. This form can be filled out before your appointment for your DOT Physical Exam at: DOT Insight.
Note: If you are unable to fill this form out online, you can also do it at my office, either on the computer or on a paper form by hand.
DO NOT TO THE FAA Website (MedXPress.faa.gov) to complete the pilot's form unless you are also a pilot needing an FAA Medical Certificate.
Please bring a current list of any medications you are prescribed.
Any notes or medical records from your doctor are also very helpful.
You can visit the Fees page for relevant details about the fee schedule.
What Medications Disqualify a CMV Driver?
A driver cannot take a controlled substance or prescription medication without a prescription from a licensed practitioner.
If a driver uses a drug identified in 21 CFR 1308.11 (391) or any other substance such as amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other habit-forming drug, The driver is medically unqualified.
There is an exception: the prescribing doctor can write that the driver is safe to be a commercial driver while taking the medication. In this case, the Medical Examiner may, but does not have to certify the driver.
Any anti-seizure medication used for the prevention of seizures is disqualifying.
The Medical Examiner has 2 ways to determine if any medication a driver uses will adversely affect the safe operation of a CMV:
Driver Exemption Programs
General Exemptions
The Federal Diabetes and Vision Exemption Programs have specific requirements, as well as requests for hearing and seizure exemptions.
These requests may include medical exams, employment history, driving experience, and motor vehicle records which must be submitted with the application. The Agency will make a final decision within 180 days of receipt of the complete application.
Vision Exemption
If you can't meet the vision requirements, you may be qualified under the FMCSA Vision Exemption Package. For details about these requirements, please visit the FMCSA website by clicking on the link above.
Medications
Medications can have a profound impact on the mental status and alertness of drivers. Many medications impair a driver's ability to control a motor vehicle.
The FMCSA has information on Disqualifying Medications you can read about by clicking the link above.
How Medical Issues Impact Driving
There are several FAQs available on the FMCSA website that detail answers to questions about issues such as Diabetes, Traumatic Brain Injury, Hearing Impairment, and others that may be viewed directly on their website by clicking on the above link.
The FMCSA Resources also quite a bit of useful information about drivers and safety issues.
Diabetic Requiring Insulin?
If you are an insulin-dependent diabetic, you may not be issued a CDL until you have received authorization for the Federal Diabetes Exemption Program from the FMCSA.
Please see 49 CFR 391.46 for more detailed information.
I've summarized the items required for issuing a CDL to a driver with insulin dependent diabetes here: Summary 391.46