The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that they’re granting a regulatory exemption requested by Knight-Swift. The carrier will no longer need to confirm that new drivers have passed a federally-mandated medical exam to ensure they’re fit to drive.
FMCSA published their announcement in the Federal Register. In it, they say that since Knight-Swift relies on their own “medical long form” for pre-hire screening, there is no need for them to check and make sure that the drivers have completed an FMCSA-certified medical exam. When the annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) review is done after a year, Knight-Swift would be required to use FMCSA-certified medical exams to verify fitness like everyone else.
“The FMCSA believes Knight-Swift’s exemption application has merit and with necessary terms and conditions, will allow the applicant to achieve a level of safety equivalent to what is required under the current safety regulations, provided Knight-Swift complies with the imposed terms and conditions,” writes the FMCSA.
This exemption request was first filed back in 2016, but never received a response. It was refiled in December of 2019. The exemption will go into effect on December 4th, 2020 and expire on November 4th, 2025.
Source: federalregister, FMCSA, freightwaves
How special
Have Mercy!
So…… not only will they suck at driving, they will be heart attacks waiting to happen.
LOL
Right! I worked for them and their Trainer got me violations. Headquaters could care less. Thank God for Attorneys. Not as safe as they claim.
Heart attacks? We are risk of drivers having one today anyway. Fat, inactive, fast food as the main diet. Knight / Swift isn’t changing a thing. It’s business as usual. It is the skill level of drivers that tell the story
Safety first at SWIFT
Alway safety
😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😅
What company doesn’t make that claim?
So which big government offical has an investment in these companies, btw that hire soome of the dumbest drivers ever
One in AZ. that’s in with ‘O’Bidencare
What?
Yea!! Biden. The Man!! Amen
LDS church morman church yeah
Best in crash
So people can lie to get a job. Swift gets a driver for a year generating revenue for them and then at the end of that year if the driver really wasn’t fit to be there they’re just like oh well see you later and then theyll just do it again. Isn’t that brilliant.
Where Screwed I knew there was an explanation as to the way they drive
Their medical exam is more tough than the one we normally would get. To be honest I think it was over kill, but on the flip side I have read on fb pages where drivers who passed the dot physical outside of Swift couldn’t pass their test or had to go get more testing from their doctor.
As a past employee of Swift Transportation, I can honestly say this is by far the dimmest idea to come out if the FMCSA to date
Really? Because I’ve been backed into 3 times at truck stops over the years and none were Knight or Swift trucks.
I wish I could say the same. I’ve been backed into twice by swift. 1st time in a dock. He hit my cab, while I was inside the shippers office. Security came in to tell me. Of course, he denied it.
2nd time at a truck stop. This guy couldn’t get into the parking spot without hitting my truck. He at least, owned up to it.
I have also been bumped, dinged and backed into at truck stops, docks, etc. over the years and not only were none that did this were Knight or Swift, none were mega carriers at all! Most were those independent young inexperienced guys driving Daddy’s truck like they probably always drive Mommy’s sedan; Yakking away on their phones, thinking they look cool by steering with one hand, etc…
Swift gets these exemption because they know who to grease. Are you not tired of dirty politics and trucking? Are you even surprised anymore?
Yes ,none of them are no good,it’s going to get more bad,till all trucks
Drives come together an shut off their trucks,for awhile,but you know what they will say I can’t I got family an bills,well if the rate keep going down an dot keeps getting in our pocket,,I thought the shut down in 1980
it only last about two weeks,everyone was happy to see us rolling again.
Sounds like they have someone in their pocket who loves bribes
So, what’s next, swift-knight won’t have to register in the drug/ alcohol clearing house cause they’ll be exempt from drug screening? Cause from what I’ve seen most of them drive like their under the influence. And not from stupidity…
RIDICULOUS, A COMPANY CANNOT SELF REGULATE IN THIS MANNER, SWIFT SUCKS
Worked for knight for 11 months back in may 2017, was there when they merged with swift.
But Knights physical, will give you a workout. It’s no were near just getting weighed, urine or hair test, for examples.
You have to lift 50-75 pounds of bean bags from the floor to each of the two row suited shelf.
Then push some heavy weighs a distance across the floor, from what I remember and it was more.
The physical per person could take up to 1 hr n half to 3 hrs depending on the person
It’s no joke in my opinion
Better stretch, eat healthy, and rest the night before Knights physical
Totally agree with ya! That wasn’t just a physical… it was a confirmation that you can do the job!
If you believe the FMCSA cares about anything, or stands for anything, beyond money and power you should take note of exemptions such as this. This is a case where an exemption was cut because a mega carrier that scratches the back of the FMCSA asked and had their back scratched in turn.
Not only that but contributes to certain politicians that have connections to the FMCSA.
They can afford very influential lobbyists in Washington and someone in the government is getting paid somehow, there is no other explanation to grant this except for a financial contribution in some form or an other.
How stupid of them
If it’s good for one, it’s good for all.
Money just change place
New Both for 16 years now. They stand out. Their presence if felt at ang TRUCK Stop across America.
This reporting is not accurate. Here is the story with the facts, not a bunch of inflammatory trash.
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/knight-swift-gets-exemption-for-driver-medical-exams
Wow what a twist of the facts! This writer should be fired for this deliberate or incompetent deception. We do not need sensationalism we need facts and to think for ourselves, but to think for ourselves we need the facts! Shame on Truckers Report for this and hiring this BS writer.
Read the two versions of this case for yourself.
Lol, I thought when I first glanced my e-mail this morning they were given me a break on my clearing house VIOLATIONS. Thanks FMCSA for continued efforts in railroading me in false accusations on my clearing house VIOLATIONS.
Seems like its a wonderful company to work for just lacking to fill the driver positions. Just hire a newbie and send out there. They still around after all the B.S I’ve seen over the years. Im surprised their still in business. Man.. GOD’S hands are over these companies….
When change came in 2010 I thought the FMCSA was attempting to improve safety and medical standards and make the roads safer by getting rid of the rolling heart attacks.😒 When you lobby an government agency long enough they’ll give into your demands.
Part of the SMS Safety Measure System was “Driver Fitness”. When it was implemented a lot of drivers had to retire because of health reasons they just couldn’t pass the physical.
This is just like giving the fox the keys to the hen house, and installing it as a guard. Now you keep an eye on them chickens and make sure the count is right every morning – right.
This will push Knight-Swift’s driver turnover rates even higher.
I wonder how many that pass the “pre-hire” physical will fail the FMCSA-certified exam the next year.
Under existing regulations, an employer’s right to medical information on an applicant is limited to the presence or absence of a valid medical certificate provided by a medical professional of the applicant’s choosing. This establishes the precedent that employers have the right to comprehensive, detailed medical information provided by a person of the employer’s choosing. Historical medical records are now on the table, since the person accessing them can now be an employee of the carrier, so HIPAA protections are invalidated. Only the military services get this level of intrusive access to health information about it’s members. Next, it’ll be four-year employment contracts backed by Federal imprisonment for non-compliance…
Hey, MrYowler
CRST already demands their drivers to drive 18 months before they can move on to a better Trucking Company.
More than likely it is due to having the potential driver signed a contract that the carrier pays for the truck driving schooling and the 18 months is to pay it off. If you quit prior to the 18th month your credit took a hit and they filed a claim against you for the remaining portion of the debt.Standard business practice .
Of course they do they want to suck as much money from you as they possible can before you move on ?😄😭😄
Bing bing bing BONG!!!
Beyond belief. .
Swift ,night siure knows alot about trucks lil
BS
You got that right.
I lost an eye on a home accident and consequently had to give up my CDL in Oct when my current medical for expired. GEEZ I could had one more year of fighting for parking spots, waiting to load and unload with little to no pay, lying dispatchers, ad nauseum. Boy did I miss out!! NOT!!!
I had my CDL for years without a medical card (I just wasn’t operating a CDL vehicle). Pretty sure you can get one with one eye…. you just have to prove you can drive safely like that. Heck, the only reason I have a medical card now is that I drive an over 10k vehicle interstate. I haven’t used my CDL in 19 years now. I only keep in in case I end up overweight.
Friend of mine has driven for 30 years with 1 eye…. Just have to get the medical exemption.
Dont forget to mention the lowlife load brokers!
My buddy lost an eye as well. He was able to continue to drive, but with a intrastate restriction, only in his home state.
If Knight-Swift is allowed this SPECIAL EXEMPTION, then either, they are in bed with FMCSA or they own the FMCSA… Either way, all carriers should be granted this EXEMPTION since all carriers are subject to All regulations put forth by the FMCSA. That’s like saying; Knight-Swift is allowed to run paper logs but everyone else has to run ELDs…
Thats your typical Government agency. Its never about safety, but who can pay them off
Somebody took a bribe big-time!
Is swift a transportation company are urgent care facility. Job security is not in these companies. They should be invested about why they go through so many drivers
Lol knight actually has lots of drivers who have been with the company along time going back 20 years. We have just 15 drivers over a million driver just at my terminal. 28 terminals so I mean must be quite a few who like working here.
The same company that was caught selling cdl in Tennessee. They had a dmv on one side of terminal. Jerry the owner was caught selling dummy stocks to his driver’s wow the law is very strange
Different owners of swift Kevin Knight.
Next time I see one of their trucks rolled over I’ll remember that they are medically fit.
😂
If DOT forced drivers onto elogs because we couldn’t be trusted not to lie and to not falsify the paper logs, why do they think drivers won’t lie on their medical forms? I know some drivers who were disqualified for medical reasons and would like to continue driving. One of them is starting to go blind now because of an inoperable brain tumor. He can still drive a car, but with severe restrictions placed on him. Can’t drive at night. Can’t drive in bad weather. Etc, etc. Maybe I should let him know what’s going on over at Swift. He can tell them that it was a miracle of the ages and the tumor is gone now.
This is unfair and unjust. I quit working for Knight after 2 weeks. Your not properly trained anytime the trainer forced me to cross a railroad crossing that was illegal. This was a federal violation. They wouldn’t even pay for my legal fees, only the 1 of 2 violations and that’s because I paid the lawyer. My MVR is clean and the manager a Knight told me in an ugly manner, your wasting your money, those violations are going to go on your license for the next 3 years. What an awful thing to say to an innocent person who didn’t want to cross and was forced to in my second day of training. The FMCSA should never trust them. I have proof. Thank God I prayed for God to help guide me the right way. Now I have my own authority. The FMCSA shouldn’t have ever considered the thought of this. They never wore mask in the office when it was mandated in the Gulfport, MS. That was my terminal. They don’t care about safety like that. The tables were stocked with the supplies but know one used them.
E-logs. Not for “safety”, but more control by Big Brother. People ought to know by now, that whenever government spouts “safety” it means control. When corporations do the same, it means reducing liabilities.
Keith ,,,,I have been saying that for years . Right on.
It also lets a computer check EVERY LOG EVERY DAY and report you to the law as soon as they get thier program up and running
I haven’t seen too many of them that can actually drive, much less pass a physical.
Those two companies have been out there for a very long time,and if I read comments from other drivers that think what they think about these companies,in which I also think the same, because I have been out here for awhile,then something is wrong, because those two companies have nothing to offer a driver,other than mesiery,they aren’t crap on a stick.
When the wrecks happen I’ll bet juries will be real interested in this development.
I wonder how big that bribe was and to who?
’cause we all know swift wouldn’t even think about cutting any corners on safety….
Swift isn’t the same since knight took over the company. Imagine that!
If the rest of us had as many accidents as Swift, we’d lose privileges to play with a Tonka Truck in sandbox, let alone a real truck. I just don’t see how they get by with so much. Remember the cdl license scam a few years back?
They couldn’t do stuff like this if it wasn’t for the greedy uncaring lawyers.All it takes is $$$
They, are in it to win it AT ANY COST.
drivers are we surprised ?
Sad how “we the people” can be used.
SWIFT-KNIGHT , do NOT care about drivers. They’re not the only marked carrier with that reputation!
How is simple is it to put these trucking companies we hate so much out of business?
Simple: STOP doing business with them and STOP working for them.
The leaders of these main companies dominate because we give them free advertising and tons of publicity that keeps their name in the mainstream media. We’re laughing at them while they return the favor except they’re raking in the cash as LEADERS of the industry taking FULL advantage of the pawns. Make it a checkmate and back them into a corner…financially that is.
That should not be admitted everyone should have a physical and a medical there’s families out there and here is Swift and night running around I would say like a person running around with a handgun a truck is just as bad as that handgun it’s a deadly weapon
I am so sick and tired of those companies in the ATA getting special treatment thanks to lining the political hacks and are making this industry more dangerous at every turn.
1) Warner got fed funding to force ELOG on everyone & what happens…drivers are trying to beat that damn clock
2) we had ATA go to congress and try to have all trucks gutted to 65 mph
3) now they don’t have to take a physical which will have strokes & heart attacks unless they set BMI standards. Which ain’t gonna happen seeing how they just want to fill seats.
4) its no longer about safty
No it should not be offended a truck is like a handgun it’s a deadly weapon everyone should be in good physical shape to drive and knowledge of what they’re doing I don’t understand how somebody’s big companies also put drivers on the highway with six weeks of experience so they say I’ve been Drive in 32 years and I can still learn something
Whats the real Stat on their Driver retainment ? Could they be doing this just to use up a Driver in a year ?
OMG Now only will the crappiest drivers the most unsafe the most idiotic drivers on the road (SWIFT) still be driving like idiots but now they will be unhealthy too.So now if there crappy driving does not kill you them having a heart attack and hitting you will.
So now swift can push their own drivers through even if they would have failed a federally mandated medical screening that we all have to go through.Just wow. Wonder who swift paid off to get this done for them ???
Swift is owned by knight under the knight umbrella. They have become safer as apart of our company and the ceo Kevin knight.
That is not right fmsca should put a halt to them they can’t hire drivers the hard way now anyone with a medical issue can slip by getting a dot physical I bet we will be seeing older and fat drivers behind the wheels of their trucks
Not how it works sorry! The exam you get through night is harder than the one required.
There is a lot of things wrong with trucking.It is not just drivers , It is not just one or two carriers. We as drivers can spend the week end complaining and ranting and raving about the injustices thrust up on us. It wont fix a thing.The question is this. What have YOU the driver done to reduce or eliminate these injustices to our industry? Have you made the phone calls and sent letters to your elected representatives? Contacted the FMCSA with your complaints and explain to them why what they are thrusting upon the motoring public is bad and how to fix it? Don’t sit there and complain until you have tried to fix it.Not doing anything is a major part of the problem drivers are working under today. Here this. The govt leaders Representatives and FMCSA management know that today’s drivers do not, will not stick together for any reason especially ones that are a disservice to the whole of the industry. That problem is one that the drivers can fix them selves. They won’t.But will continue to complain and place blame elsewhere. .
But . . . but Mousekiller . . . isn’t that what truck drivers do . . . sit around and b!+ch? It’s so much easier to whine and complain, especially about Swift, the All-Time favorite company to point your finger and laugh at! You mean we should stop being keyboard rambo’s and actually DO something, something meaningful . . . something that may actually affect change in OUR industry . . . what a novel idea!!!
Upon, reading all this comment, I drove a little time over the road, before I got a local driving job, I enjoy the driving across our great country, and see many things, different states, city’s, and how things operate are differently, weather’s, yea, be ready, everyday is a challenge, but we DRIVERS must support one another no matter what, all lives matters, only the good Lord knows our weakness, so DRIVERS do not judge, but encourage each other’s on the road thru messages, God bless all of my truck drivers brothers and sisters, and your family’s, Jesus is Lord and saviour, God bless our family’s, jobs, friends, neighbors, and God bless America in Jesus name.
Sure
We’re
Insured
For
This
LMFAO
I have also been bumped, dinged and backed into at truck stops, docks, etc. over the years and not only were none that did this were Knight or Swift, none were mega carriers at all! Most were those independent young inexperienced guys driving Daddy’s truck like they probably always drive Mommy’s sedan; Yakking away on their phones, thinking they look cool by steering with one hand, etc…
How sweet now they can falsify medical exams
Lol honestly they have one of the toughest exams! They turn away people all the time! But say what you want haters are gonna hate!
FFFFF the FMCSA. I sent them videos and extended details re my trainers ineptitude and inability to drive his own truck. A TN state trooper put him out of service outside Jackson. Neither K/S safety nor training dept did anything. I brought the truck to the terminal, got off, he picked up another trainer. 4 days later after waiting on another trainer, I got on a bus, emailed my notice, the videos and my detailed experience with him to all. I now have his name on a google search setup so that if one day he kills someone I’ll have everything on record I sent to both K/S and the FMCSA to hopefully send to lawyers of any victims he affects with his inability to drive a truck. Be safe out there. These people exist.
How much in campaign contributions and donations to non-profits (with family members as bag men) did this cost?
Sorry, could you say that again……in English?
I don’t know if it’s just me or what but I don’t see that many swift accidents anymore, most videos are old accidents people trying make fun of swift. I guess that drivecam thing working lol
I’m a driver trainer for Swift everyone has the right to their opinions Swift isn’t as bad as some are saying. I encounter drivers daily that aren’t safe drivers they speed and they tailgate others including 4 wheelers you’ll harp on Swift cause your probably one of those who thinks speeding and tailgating is all apart of the job. There is no load or customer ithat is worth risking safety. Follow the speed limits quit tailgating and think of Safety when your behind the wheel of a 80,000 lb load. You think Safety and practice Safety daily maybe just maybe you’ll see what Swift is about we’re all about Safety not speeding and tailgating others.
Talk about safety I wonder what the general public thinks
There are more than enough attorneys advertising their services if anyone is involved in an accident with a CMV please call 555-55-5555. This will just add fuel to fire because motorists are already looking to get rich overnight at a CMV driver’s expense.
Just an observation….. The chances of a older, experienced driver having an incident due to health seems a lot lower than a younger inexperienced driver. We are all on the job too much to have a proper health check. Our doctors don’t know us, and many people are “non typical” in other words the cookie cutter or rubber stamp approach has massive failings trying to quantify our individual health conditions.
I hope if they can skip this rule….at least they learn how to drive and back up too.
Discrimination among trucking companies and drivers. Sad
WTF?
We have a Constitution that requires EQUAL PROTECTION
This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Whatever exemption they receive, we receive.
SIMPLE!
If yo have an issue with the FMCSA, make sure you save this for your lawyer.
WOW WOW. Damn people .. judge much?
1. DOT medical card is a joke.
2. Swift has huge percentage of good drivers.
3. Super truckers, and the rest of asshole regardless of experience are the real problem.
4, less government more personal responsibility.:, take a drivers career away for repeated bs
5, for Christ sake quit asking for more government. Regulation
They should be off the road. Permanently