No Texting Rule Fact Sheet

 No_Texting_Rule_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Overview and Background

FMCSA has published new rules that restrict texting and the use of hand-held mobile phones by truck and bus drivers while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).

Research commissioned by FMCSA shows the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional lane deviation) are 23.2 times greater for CMV drivers who text while driving than for those who do not. Texting drivers took their eyes off the forward roadway for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, this equates to a driver traveling 371 feet, or the approximate length of a football field (including the end zones)—without looking at the roadway!

What exactly is “Texting”?

Texting means manually entering text into, or reading text from, an electronic device.

Texting includes (but is not limited to), short message services, e-mailing, instant messaging, a command or request to access a Web page, pressing more than a single button to initiate or terminate a call using a mobile telephone, or engaging in any other form of electronic text retrieval or entry, for present or future communication.

What does this rule mean to you?

Fines and Penalties - Texting while driving can result in driver disqualification. Penalties can be up to $2,750 for drivers and up to $11,000 for employers who allow or require drivers to use a hand-held communications device for texting while driving.

Disqualification - Multiple convictions for texting while driving a CMV can result in a driver disqualification by FMCSA. Multiple violations of State law prohibiting texting while driving a CMV that requires a CDL is a serious traffic violation that could result in a CDL driver being disqualified for up to 120 days. 

What are the risks? - Texting is risky because it causes the driver to take his/her eyes off the roadway. Dispatching devices that are part of a fleet management system can be used for other purposes, but texting on a dispatching device is indistinguishable from texting on another text-capable device, and is therefore prohibited.

Impact on Safety Measurement System (SMS) Results - Violations negatively impact SMS results, and they carry the maximum severity weight.

Compliance

Simply do not type or read a text message while driving a CMV!

No Call, No Text, No Ticket!

Updated: Thursday, March 13, 2014

Reference: FMCSA website

CMV drivers must obtain medical certificates from certified medical examiners listed on the National Registry

Effective May 21, 2014: 

CMV drivers must obtain medical certificates from certified medical examiners listed on the National Registry

• Drivers are required to obtain physical examinations and a medical examiner’s certificate from a certified medical examiner listed on the National Registry.

• Interstate CMV drivers can find certified medical examiners in their area, or anywhere in the country, on the National Registry website.

• Drivers will still receive a medical certificate from the medical examiner after passing their examination; however, medical certificates will now include the certified medical examiner’s National Registry Number.

Currently all interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are required to have a valid medical certificate signed by a healthcare provider. The only change created by the implementation of the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners is that, within 2 years of the rule's effective date, all CMV drivers must be examined by a ME who is listed on the National Registry.

The National Registry provides CMV drivers and carriers with a convenient list of medical examiners in their area who have been certified as having the knowledge to determine if a driver can safely handle the medical demands of driving a CMV.

Certified medical examiners will begin to be listed on the National Registry within 4 months of the publication of the rule.

Additional information and updates for CMV drivers and carriers will be posted here as they become available.

4 months after the rule is published, drivers may search for certified medical examiners by entering search criteria here: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/Drivers.seam