2014 D.O.T. Changes The Department of Transportaon (D.O.T.) has recently unveiled two new iniaves. These modificaons will affect medical examiners that perform examinaons for interstate drivers and commercial drivers’ licenses. It is crical to be aware of the changes taking place so that you and your workplace stay compliant. Vice President of Clinical Services & Compliance for AllOne Health, Barbara Genle, RN, COHN has provided a concise overview of the changes below Medical Examiner changes: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administraon (FMCSA) established a Naonal Registry of Cerfied Medical Examiners. With this registry, all medical examiners who conduct physical examinaons for interstate drivers must meet the following criteria: complete training, and maintain & demonstrate competence through periodic training and tesng. Following establishment of the Naonal Registry and a transion period, FMCSA will require that employers and drivers use only those medical examiners on the Naonal Registry; and, FMCSA will only accept DOT cards issued by medical examiners listed on the Naonal Registry. The program began on May 21, 2012 and compliance is required beginning on May 21, 2014. AllOne Health Associate Medical Director Brian Morris, MD, JD, MBA, MPH, who sits on the FMCSA Medical Review Board, is in favor of the new medical requirement, “for decades, commercial motor vehicle drivers with significant medical issues have been able to manipulate their health histories and shop around for medical examiners who will acquiesce to their wishes. Finally, FMCSA has taken steps to protect the public by mandang that all medical examiners achieve a certain level of competence. These changes should be welcomed by conscienous employers everywhere.” We know medicine. We know business. We know compliance. Powered by OnCourse Technology
Transcript
2014 D.O.T. Changes
The Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) has recently unveiled two new initiatives. These modifications will affect medical examiners that perform examinations for interstate drivers and
commercial drivers’ licenses. It is critical to be aware of the changes taking place so that you and yourworkplace stay compliant. Vice President of Clinical Services & Compliance for AllOne Health,
Barbara Gentile, RN, COHN has provided a concise overview of the changes below
Medical Examiner changes:The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. With this registry, all medical examiners who conduct physical examinations for interstate drivers must meet the following criteria: complete training, and maintain & demonstrate competence through periodic training and testing. Following establishment of the National Registry and a transition period, FMCSA will require that employers and drivers use only those medical examiners on the National Registry; and, FMCSA will only accept DOT cards issued by medical examiners listed on the National Registry. The program began on May 21, 2012 and compliance is required beginning on May 21, 2014.
AllOne Health Associate Medical Director Brian Morris, MD, JD, MBA, MPH, who sits on the FMCSA Medical Review Board, is in favor of the new medical requirement, “for decades, commercial motor vehicle drivers with significant medical issues have been able to manipulate their health histories and shop around for medical examiners who will acquiesce to their wishes. Finally, FMCSA has taken steps to protect the public by mandating that all medical examiners achieve a certain level of competence. These changes should be welcomed by conscientious employers everywhere.”
We know medicine. We know business. We know compliance.
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Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) changes:On January 30, 2012 the DOT made changes to CDL requirements. The change requires all CDL holders to present a valid DOT card at the time they renew their license with the RMV. The information on the DOT card will be uploaded by the RMV to the DOT. The goal being that drivers would no longer have to carry the DOT card and the employer would no longer have to
keep a copy of the DOT card in the Driver Qualification File (DQF). The final date was moved from January 30, 2014 to January 30, 2015 as not all registrants were able to upload the information to the DOT site.
This can be a significant change for drivers. There are many drivers that do not currently use their CDL but keep it just in case they need it in the future. Most of these drivers do not have current medical exams. As they renew their driver’s license, if they do not have a DOT medical card to present, their license will be downgraded and will lose the CDL portion of their license. This is also a change for municipal workers (DPW); they were never required to have a medical exam, even though they drove vehicles that require a CDL. Municipalities, authorities and farm equipment have always been exempt from the medical exam portion of the regulation.
We know medicine. We know business. We know compliance.
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Staying up-to-date on policy changes goes a long way in keeping your workplace productive and compliant.
At AllOne Health, we help keep drivers safe, healthy, and compliant; so, you can stay moving in the right direction.
Associate Corporate Medical Director, Dr. Brian Morris, who is a member of the medical review board that recommended these changes, recently presented a free webinar on this subject. To view this webinar please click here.
