The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is worried about your medical card. They’re worried that you’re healthy enough to drive safely, they’re worried that your certification is up to date, but mostly they’re just worried that it’s real. A new enforcement initiative has been launched by the FMSCA to make sure that drivers are legally certified to be driving a commercial motor vehicle.
The initiative intended to crack down on fraudulent medical certificates involves law enforcement not only asking to see your medical card, but also calling the doctor who is listed on the card. Police will attempt to confirm that the name, date of birth, and date of issuance found on the medical card are all correct.
The FMCSA wants to stress that this is not a measure to evaluate or verify a driver’s medical fitness. No additional information, including personal medical history will be asked for or accessed. In addition, officers who call have been directed to inform the medical examiner that the call is only to confirm that the medical card presented by the driver matches records maintained by the medical examiner’s office.
The good news for doctors and time-conscious drivers is that law enforcement officers will not need to speak to the medical examiner directly; any authorized staff member will be able to provide the necessary information.
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Stormy says
And when the office is closed for lunch or they are too busy with patients waiting then what is everybody going to do? Wait for how long? Maybe someday they will run out of things to over regulate. Surely we are telling the truth about something!
B. Smith says
The office front desk personel can pull the chart and verify the contents. If the office is closed for lunch, then call back.
hittman306 says
Are you kidding call back is your answer. You must not drive a truck then, you might be sitting there half a day tryin to get thru. Must be a dispatcher answer
Ron says
They already do that in my state. Works out well for everyone. It’s required to be checked within the first week that the state gets your info. The D.O.T has only two Dr. offices in my city that do D.O.T. physicals,and your sent in by the trucking company for this. Your not hire until this is done. The current drivers a notified in advance,when their cards will expire. It’s the driver,and companies responsibility to get you in before then. The first two years this was put in effect were kind of hard,as there were so many drivers being checked out by the D.O.T. now it has smooth out,and works well for everyone. The only change that was made,was the expireation was from one year to two. That help the D.O.T. to be able to keep up.
Duane says
I, for one, am fed up with the government calling me a liar, thief, criminal and blaming me for every problem that comes along on the nations roads. My family doctor does my dot physicals and isn’t going to give any info out to anyone without my express consent. And I won’t consent. To those that say call back…what about at night or on weekends or the docs that only have offices open 4 days a week? It’s time to start pushing back people, not roll over and give them one more area for them to infringe upon our privacy.
Joe says
To start with I agree with Duane and He`s right when and where will it stop? I`ve drove a truck for 50 years only to find out that truckers and 18 wheelers are to blame for any and everything that goes wrong on our roads. How often do you hear about a truck or truck driver killing or injuring someone because He was not medically fit? Watt about all the 4 wheelers that are out there driving around with heart and mental problems . you here about them having strokes and heart attacks or black outs and running over people ,though buildings, down side ,walks and more. not to mention taxi drivers don`t even have to get physicals! So what is wrong with this picture? It is time to fight back and to stop blaming trucks and truck drivers for all that goes wrong on our roads. WITH OUT TRUCKS AND TRUCK DRIVERS THE WORLD WOULD STOP!!
Bill C says
Under Federal law drivers are supposed to send in a copy of their medical exam and their medical card to the state in which he/she is registered. When you get a check that requires the officer to check on your medical card it is all ready on file with your state. The state should be verifying with the medical examiner’s office when they get your paper work. This would eliviate a driver from being unreasonably detained.
carl says
duane, i’m sure they won’t make you sit and wait while they get the doctor on the phone. especially if it’s a week end. use some common sense. they are validating the card. they have your info, you don’t have to be there for that to happen. and if your doctor refuses to verify you card, expect to get your CDL revoked. that will teach them you won’t get pushed around.
melissa kilgore says
just saying…they have to refer to the doctor as a “medical examiner”.. sorry..but if the medical examiner is called..it really don’t matter anymore does it?
Lisa says
The only people this will be a big deal for is those that have fake medical cards. No medical information is being asked for- only confirmation that the card issued is genuine and we’re not going to be put oos if the medical examiner’s office is closed. From the article quote “Police will attempt to confirm that the name, date of birth, and date of issuance found on the medical card are all correct.”
It is unfair for all of us that carry valid certification to have drivers out there that are unfit to drive and use phony medical cards.
Jim Taylor says
If they aren’t listed on my HIPPA, they aren’t allowed to have access to ANYTHING concerning me and my health care provider. So, that might not really be the thing to do. Of course, my nedical card would always be current, and legal, but if they call my doctor and request, and get, ANY information, I will sue everyone involved. PERIOD.
Jim Taylor says
Lisa, you seem to have forgotten the other group of people this will affect. he ones that believe in standing up for themselves. There is that group, too. As is evident by your post, you aren’t one of them, but we do exist.
Wayne Stewart says
Unless I am wrong, When I got my CDL they asked first for my card,long forms, etc and she scanned it into the system. Now I did my part of the political two step DMV dance and paid. Now I realize that states are overworked, underpaid, understaffed (Sorry needed my daily chuckle) but if they can’t get it right why should my doctor be inconvenienced for their stupidity.
Tim says
Bill, I am not familiar with this law. Are you sure about it?