FMCSA proposes to establish the Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse), a database under the Agency's administration that will contain controlled substances (drug) and alcohol test result information for the holders of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The proposed rule would require FMCSA-regulated motor carrier employers, Medical Review Officers (MROs), Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs), and consortia/third party administrators (C/TPAs) supporting U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) testing programs to report verified positive, adulterated, and substituted drug test results, positive alcohol test results, test refusals, negative return-to-duty test results, and information on follow-up testing. The proposed rule would also require employers to report actual knowledge of traffic citations for driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. The proposed rule would establish the terms of access to the database, including the conditions under which information would be submitted, accessed, maintained, updated, removed, and released to prospective employers, current employers, and other authorized entities. Finally, it would require laboratories that provide FMCSA-regulated motor carrier employers with DOT drug testing services to report, annual, summary information about their testing activities. This rule is mandated by Section 32402 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.
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Friday, February 21, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
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.
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
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Spotlight on Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a problem all truck drivers should be concerned about. The trucking industry seems to be leaning towards making this a part of our DOT physical. The FMCSA has a lot of information on this subjects.
Below you will find a link to this information.
Staying awake means staying alive. Sleep apnea is a major contributor to daytime drowsiness—a condition that could prove deadly for commercial truck drivers and everyone sharing the road with them. It is a condition where, during sleep, a narrowing or closure of the upper airway causes repeated sleep disturbances leading to poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness. Since excessive sleepiness can impact a driver’s ability to safely operate the commercial vehicle, it is important that drivers with sleep apnea are aware of the warning signs. Read More
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