Medical Certificates, what a joke!

Each state varies I guess, California requires CA licensed CDL drivers to carry with them the full "long form" from the physical, plus the CA DMV has a copy on file..how other states do theirs I don't know, but as usuall CA has to be different and difficult.

And yes that is simpler....don't try getting the US to use common sense....man thats not trucking at all...got to be difficult down here, it keeps everyone on their toes...ROFL

 

As mentioned earlier, several states now have a requirement for drivers to file their medical certificate with their home state:

1. CA: No medical CDL is suspended

2. IN: No medical CDL reverts to a drivr's license

3. WI: No medial CDL reverts to intrastate only

I have heard of other states; however, I'm not sure which other states mandate the medical to be on file.

Be safe.

 

The real problem is as Markk9 stated . There are some physicians that will simply sign the forms no matter what the driver's actual condition is . I drove a company truck localy for Dennison Mfg in Framingham , MA . They had 4 drivers and the physicals were given by a physician that was employed full time by the company in their clinic . One driver was very ill and close to retirement and would only work a couple of months at a time to maintain his benefits . Any reputable physician would have disqualified him .

 

I seriously doubt that anyone would falsify anything in todays "computered" world.Seems to be too easy to verify anything.

 

Bear: (I almost put your name on here but caught myself)....Indiana has the perspective almost right. The state required a CDL holder to forward a copy of the new physical to the state. An expired physical causes the suspension of the CDL portion of the license.

The system is good but not perfect as the long form can be fixed as well as the card and the people in Indianapolis are merely pencil pushers that do the data and don't really check them. I believe the medical facility should fax the long form to the state. The facsimile number and doctor name would relate to the doctors office. In addition, the card and long form should have a number on them as you suggest, but in addition the matching numbers should be in some way protected from tampering i.e. laminated.

But there must also be a web based database for checking these certificates as well to allow you present guys in the trenches access to the data from the unit computer. There wasn't before I retired.

Happens all the time. You can purchase a blank medical card at the truck stop.

 

The medical facility I had my physical done at did in fact fax a copy to the state.

While it's not perfect, as you stated, at least Indiana is doing a lot more than many other states for insuring a driver is healthy.

 

pa law already requires doctors to notify penndot of sleep apnea and if you have it you must use the machine 4 hours nightly and record it in order to get a medical card and cdl qualification

 

Not enforced...................it's just a feel good law.

I have a PA CDL and have sleep apnea, doctor doesn't send a thing to the DMV. Now before you go off the deep end, I do use a C-pap every night.

Mark

 

Doctor's only know what you tell them about your medical condition. Diabetes is easy to hide, if you doing it right. High Blood Pressure is very easy to hide, as long as your family doctor has your BP under control.

How to you control who is taking what medication? Only the driver really knows what medications he or she is on.

Drivers still falsify there log books......................Computers and data bases are only as good as the information put in and the information that is requested, still takes a person the read it.

Mark

 

Get my medical every year... it's thorough, comprehensive, and my company requires it. Safety department makes sure my FM routes me to a third-party clinic every year.