FMCSA to validate driver medical cards during inspection

Overdrive Staff | November 13, 2012

During enforcement and compliance inspections of trucks and drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and its state-based partners will begin conducting random verifications of driver medical cards, the agency announced Tuesday.

The purpose, it says, is to verify that a driver’s medical examination was indeed conducted and that the information on the certificate is accurate and not to evaluate the driver for “fitness to operate a CMV,” says FMCSA’s announcement.

Officers will contact the certifying medical examiner listed on a driver’s card and verify with either the medical examiner or an authorized staff member the driver’s name, driver’s date of birth, card’s date of issuance and any restrictions indicated on the medical certificate.

The goal, the agency says in the announcement, is to “eliminate the use of fraudulent [medical examiner's certificates] and to keep medically unqualified drivers off our nation’s highways.”

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driver medical card, driver medical card verification

Looking for love ‘Grandpa and the Truck’ — book 2 out now

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KSG37UTXKLDR4XTDWOF2QU2ZDI greek

If a driver can not pass the medical exam then he should be able to start colling SS Disibalty ! No wating no telling him to find some other kind of work ! We should not even have to take the dam things inthe first place , To hell with the FMCSA and the rest of the goverment to !
ilovdieselsmoke

I think time would be better spent deporting the thousands of illegals who are behind the wheel of commercial vehicles in this country. It’s amazing the FMCSA is questioning medical cards but not a peep over how someone who can’t read or speak English obtains a CDL! The way our commercial vehicle enforcement agencies leadership in Washington, DC thinks is priceless.
Chris

Good luck with that. It is a HIPPA violation to disclose any medical information without written authoization. No doctors office will verify anything over the phone. Not even if you are a patient.
MUSTANG

In the mid 60′s I had to have physicals to play sports in High school, Nov 1965 I had to have a physical when I joined the Marine Corps and had to maintain a certain physical ability during my tour of duty. When I was a police officer and a firefighter I had to pass and maintain a required physical status and when I started driving in the 70′s I had to pass a physical to get my DOT medical card and have had to get one every two years since then. Whats the big deal I have to renew my CDL every few years and get a new Medical Card every two years (I keep them both in the same slot in my wallet) and have never had a problem when DOT or police or any one required to see my card. When and if I cannot pass my physical I will not whine and complain that others should pay me a SS disability or people that cannot read or write are able to drive, I will just figure another line of work and do it to the best of my ability.
Joshua Ben-Ami

ever hear of hipa??; 4th and 8th amendments??? going to be long waits for officers to send release form, busy dr. office to receive and locate and mail back…who’s gonna pay driver down time, AZ does this for all cdl in their state average response is 48 days, that’s why they don’t suspend without 60 day notice.
BLACKHART

HUH! THIS MUST PRES. OBAMA’S MORE JOBS FOR AMERICA PROGRAM! TAKE AND PUT EVEN MORE PEOPLE OUT OF WORK! THAT’S SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD! TO THE PO-HOUSE!!!! BUT THAT’S OK ALL PEOPLE HAVE TO DO IS FIND A DIFFERENT LINE OF WORK LIKE LETS SAY AT THE AGE OF 60 WITH NO ACCIDENT ECT. AFTER 30 YEARS OR 40 YEARS DRIVING. HUH! THAT’S GOING TO BE EASY!! BEING THERE’S NO JOBS ANYWAY MUCH LESS FOR A 50 TO 60 YEAR OLD PERSON!!! WHEN THERE’S 100′S OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT EMPLOYED AND LOOKING. I THINK A PERSONS DRIVING RECORD SHOULD SPEAK FOR IT’S SELF WHY THE HELL DO YOU THINK THEY KEEP UP WITH IT ANYWAY? WHY NOT THE 4 WHEELER’S, BECAUSE WHO KNOW’S THAT THE 4 WHEELER THAT’S COMING AT US ON A DARK RAINY NIGHT ON THE CELL PHONE, TEXTING, LAPTOP, SMART PHONE, COMING BACK FROM CLUB, CHECKING HIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT. OR EMAIL OR DRUNK, HEART CONDITION, OR DIABETIC, OR 80 YEARS OLD AND CAN’T SEE CRAP AT NIGHT!!!! OR ALL THE ABOVE!!!!! SO HE PLOWS INTO TO YOU KILLING YOU OR YOU TRIED TO AVOID IT AND TAKE OUT A FAMILY OF 4 BUT THAT’S OK YOU HAVE A GOOD MEDICAL CARD. YEA RIGHT!!!! IF THE DOT WOULD GET THEIR THUMBS OUT OF THEIR ORIFICE’S AND START ISSUING POINTS AS THE SAME AS THEY DO FOR BIG TRUCK VIOLATIONS ON THEIR LICENCE. IT WOULDN’T TAKE LONG FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO GET A HOLD OF THAT!!!! I’M ALL FOR SAFETY, BUT SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. HUH! BUT WHAT DO I KNOW I JUST DRIVE A TRUCK??
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KSG37UTXKLDR4XTDWOF2QU2ZDI greek

If you payed into the system and can,t pass then you are disabled . And you still sound like a cop
haulina

Hippa does not apply here because technically you have to carry your long form with you, I have been asked if I have it. Also as far as the info on the examiners for it is required by law enforcement to operate cmv. The big issue here really is….. what happened to the multi million dollar computer system that was being set up to hold this info so LEO’s can just point and click and get it in seconds, like they can your MVR? More fmcsa wasted money!
http://www.facebook.com/cwharrill Charles William Harrill

First of all LEARN HOW TO SPELL….before you go ranking on those that can’t speak ENGLISH….second the PRESIDENT ain’t got a damn thing to do with DOT trying to fuck over us truck drivers………the dot tryed to pass a new regulation this summer in reguards to medical cards and quali……they were trying to make your BMI AKA Body Mass Index…..determine if you could drive or not, all of us who are over our BMI’s number would be disqualifyed……from driving…..this didn’t pass……so now they are trying something new to get it on record all those drivers that are grossly out of shape…heart attacks waiting to happen ….the question is how did they pass a physical….when they can’t walk straight and are 450 lbs??those are the ones they will be aiming at not the guy who is 6′ tall and 200lbs……..but the guy who is 5’10″….and 450lbs……watch and learn don’t be so quick to judge…..
http://www.facebook.com/people/Don-Shipley/100002699363912 Don Shipley

One more way to screw with Truck Drivers! And like the one man said it will not work with the medical community.
http://twitter.com/OTRDriver Patrick

HIPPA will prevent this from happening unless they change the law. So, don’t get your panties all in a bunch over this… And as for the comment re: Obamas’ idea, get a clue moron..
Mark Y

they will claim your card is invalid so you have to retest so they can suck more money out of you
BLACKHART

WELL I THINK THAT BLACKHARTS COMMITS WERE CORRECT!!!! GOVERNMENT IS GOVERNMENT! IT DOES NOT MATTER DOT OR OBAMA OR CONGRESS MEN THEY ARE ALL THE SAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING THE JOBS THAT THE REST OF US HAVE BEEN DURING ALL OUR ADULT LIVES!!!! THEY HAVE MONEY THEY HAVE A PAVED WAY TO COLLAGE!!! WHY BECAUSE MOM AND DAD, GRANDMA AND GRAND PAW HAVE LOTS OF MONEY!!!! THEY DON’T KNOW HOW THE COMMON MEN LIVE! IS THERE ANYONE IN CONGRESS OR REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAD TO ACTUALLY WORK FOR WHAT THEY HAVE???? ITS LIKE WHEN THEY DECIDED TO INFLICT US WITH THE C.D.L, DID WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS GET TO VOTE ON THE BILL FOR THAT? NO! WE DID NOT! DID WE GET TO VOTE ON THE NEW LOG BOOK REG.! NO WE DID NOT! ARE WE GOING TO AS AMERICAN PEOPLE AND VOTERS GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE NEW PREPOSED BILL FOR OBAMACARE? NO!!!! WHY YOU ASK? ITS BECAUSE THEY THINK WE ARE MERE SHEEP AND WE WILL DO WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR US!!!!!! AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN HIS COMMENT THAT WAS RACIAL IN HIS COMMITS WE IN THE SOUTH CALL IT THE PO-HOUSE. BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE MOST OF US ARE WEATHER WE DRIVE A TRUCK OR NOT! WE NEED TO REMEMBER THIS COUNTY’S CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES!!!! WE THE PEOPLE? I’M THROUGH NOW! GITER DONE!
BLACKHART

I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU THINK SPELLING IS WRONG? GOVERNMENT IS GOVERNMENT!!!
I DID NOT SAY A WORD ABOUT PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT SPEAK OR READ ENGLISH YOU NEED TO READ IF YOU CAN!!!!
MUSTANG

Greek , I have payed into the system and when I became disabled I didn’t use it as an excuse to sit on my dead ass and draw what little SS Disability pays you and then complain and whine about not getting enough. I did what many americans with disabilitys and handicaps do, I found what I could do with my disability and continued to work to take care of my family. There are people that are collecting disability and deserve every penny and there are people on disability (that have a good lawyer) and don’t deserve it, they could work at something they just want you and I to pay their check and all their free medical. If I fail a DOT physical then I’ll do something else until then I’ll follow the law and keep my CDL, my DOT physical card, and the physical long form in the truck at all times. And if I still sound like a cop Thank You that was 40 years ago and unlike you I don’t want to endanger the public because you don’t think it’s their business if you have a disability

Subject: [overdriveonline] Re: FMCSA to validate driver medical cards during inspection
Marty Marsh

Being an excop that gives you a lot consideration with inspectors that the rest of us don’t get, so it is not as easy as just go along with it and you will be fine. You have to remember these guys have to justify their job, and how do they do that?
http://twitter.com/howddydutytime Mike Smith

Either the FMCSA just wants more power, or they’re just plain stupid. This so called government has its priorities way out of line, as everyone should know.

If you fail to get a medical, & fail take the medical exam document to the DMV for direct submission and observation, your CDL will be suspended immediately. FMCSA should ask states to VERIFY this information. The DMV rep could have made a quick ph call to the doctors office right then.

As ilovedieselsmoke says, the GOVERNMENTS time would be better spent rounding up and deporting illegal aliens/Mexicans.

Side note: Mexicans BIRTHING & getting medical, in our country, is costing $500 billion A YEAR. A YEAR. Since 2002, years that’s 10 years. A 1,000 billion is a TRILLION dollars. Over 10 years Mexicans have cost us $5 trillion of the 16 trillion dollar DEBIT, in medical to Mexicans in our country.
http://twitter.com/dotdoctor dotdoctor

The company the driver is working for or the O/O is leased is (whoever has the DOT # on the door) is responsible for this verification. Why not hold the company accountable for doing it’s job instead of tying up drivers on the road and running them tighter against their 14 hr window?
MUSTANG

Marty I get no more consideration at an inspection than you or anyone else because I was a cop over 40 years ago because they don’t know and I don’t tell them because the only people that are impressed by that are my grandchildren (maybe). I was a cop for a short period of time in the early seventys then became a firefighter after I discovered that everyone like you and the greek hate cops. I just try to follow rules and passing a physical and having my DOT physical card up to date and available is part of the rules

Subject: [overdriveonline] Re: FMCSA to validate driver medical cards during inspection
Joe

law
enforcement (HIPAA)

A covered entity may disclose protected health information (PHI) for a
law enforcement purpose, to a law enforcement official, under several sets of
circumstances.

A law enforcement official, is
defined as “an officer or employee of any agency or authority of the United
States, a State, a territory, a political subdivision of a State or territory,
or an Indian tribe,” who is empowered by law to:

investigate or conduct an official
inquiry into a potential violation of law; or

prosecute or otherwise conduct a
criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding arising from an alleged violation
of law.
Jeff

To all the ones that think that HIPPA does not apply here you are wrong! I hold a medical license in the state of Pennsylvania and I also drive. If I would receive a phone call from some one stateing that they are an officer I could not legally release any patient information to them because I can not verify who they are or for what reason(s) that they are calling for. Your medical recods in any state are confidential and that is why it is called doctor patient confidentiallity. As an Emergency Medical Technician I have to abide by the same laws as the medical examiners that perform the DOT physicals. Also the offices and doctors that are performing the physicals are not going to take the time to dig through the millions of records that they have in their offices to find one drivers records.
jdeed

you can be 6 ft 200 lbs and have a heart attack
jdeeds

the problem is the drivers are so busy fighting among themselves that the dont see the government about to lop off their heads
j deeds

ya,ll u dont know what you,ll do you can only say what u think you,d do
jdeeds

of course the gov /dot is outta line most gov agencies are the freaking country was collapsing and congress was worried about baseball players on steroids
Marty Marsh

Hate is a pretty strong word, I would prefer dislike. My only dealing in life with cops has been getting speeding tickects back when it was 55 nation wide, and there was a lot of them that treated me like I just killed their mother and that was without me saying a word.
I drove for 39 years and I could tell you things you would not believe, so I won’t mention them. But what I can tell you is these people are going way to far to weed out a few bad apples, and every time they come up with something new it cost someone more money, which is another reason drivers are under paid to begin with.
I don’t drive anymore and I wouldn’t with all the new gimmicks these clowns are coming up with, so have fun.
But you can’t tell me that if you mentioned you where a cop some of these people wouldn’t take it easier on you. Like the old saying goes, I was born at night but not last night.
Good luck, God Bless and keep the shiny side up.
Demitrius

I dont agree with these medical cards or all the damn regulations on Truck Drivers. Long as we are fit to drive and not on drugs thats the way it should be. The Government needs to quit poking their nose in our damn business and how we make a Fucking Dollar.
Marty Marsh

What about probable cause?

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