Trade, traffic, or transportation (vehicle and contents) involving the crossing of a state or national boundary.
To be considered a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), a vehicle should have a combined gross weight of ________ lbs or more.
10,0001
To be considered a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), a vehicle should be used to transport more than (a) ___ passengers (including driver) for compensation, or more than (b) ___ passengers but not for compensation.
(a) 8
(b) 15
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is one of nine administrations in which federal department?
Department of Transportation
This is the lead federal agency within the FMCSA for the regulation of CMV drivers' health and safety.
FMCSA Office of Medical Programs
A ____ is composed of subject matter experts in a particular area that reviews the evidence report developed by the FMCSA and issues their recommendations to the FMCSA for certifying drivers with specific conditions.
Medical Expert Panel (MEP)
The ______ meets 3-4 times annually to review specific topics; reviews the evidence report, MEP opinion and related information, and proposes its recommendations to the FMCSA.
Medical Review Board (MRB)
This office operates within the FMCSA. They provide analytical reports on large truck and bus crashes, of which data is used to develop countermeasures guidelines.
Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology (ART)
This law requires the Sec. of Transportation to maintain a national registry of certified medical examiners (FMCSA) to perform MEs and issue CMV certificates.
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)
The ME must complete FMCSA refresher training at least (a) every ____ years and recertify every (b) ___ years.
(a) 5
(b) 10
The ME must maintain all medical examination report forms and certificates for at least ___ years from the exam date.
three (3)
To maintain certification, the examiner must submit this form monthly to the FMCSA for each CMV driver examined during the prior month.
CMV Driver Medical Examination Results Form (Form MCSA-5850)
(T/F) There is prior FMCSA guidance that the driver is required to perform driver job requirements (e.g. inspection, coupling/uncoupling trailer, lifting tarpaulins, etc) to be certified.
FALSE. The driver is not required to do these tasks, but must know how to do them and is responsible for them being done.
FMCSA Standards describes limited exemptions for intra-city zone drivers.
49 CFR 391.62
FMCSA Standards describes grandfathering for participation in vision and diabetes waiver study programs.
49 CFR 391.64
FMCSA Standards describes regulations for medical review officers and testing procedures.
49 CFR 40
Four (4) standards are “Non-Discretionary” No examiner discretion, the medical examiner must follow regulation specifics. Deviation is not permitted. These 4 standards are:
1. Hearing
2. Vision
3. Epilepsy
4. Insulin-treated DM
(T/F) Guidelines for deciding certification are “Best Practices” and can be considered standards of care and are legally binding.
FALSE. These guidelines are NOT legally binding but are evidence-based "best practices" in order to minimize variations among examiners.
What supplementary information does the ME document on the comment area of the examination report for any "yes" answer by the driver?
1. Date of onset - ppt events
2. Clinical course - dz stable, reversible, episodic, or degenerative
3. Treatment - response to tx, treating provider contact info
4. Response to rx, OTC, herbals - recent use & regularity, S/E that may interfere with driving, sx associated with condition
Americans with Disabilities Act (a) does or (b) does not apply to the DOT certification process.
(b) does not
Safety trumps the Americans with Disabilities Act.
(T/F) The examiner is not certifying a CMV driver for a particular driving job, but for all commercial motor vehicle driving jobs.
True
When is CMV Driver Medical Certification Required?
a) When an individual has not been medically certified withi the preceding 24 months,
b) Has an exemption and not certified within the preceding 12 months
c) A driver whose ability to perform his/her normal duties has been impaired by a physical or mental injury or disease.
d) a & b
e) all the above
All the above
The carrier decides if the driver’s illness was severe enough to require recertification.
(T/F) When determining a driver's physical qualification, English language proficiency (49 CFR part 391.11: General qualifications of drivers) is factored into that determination.
False
Proficiency in the English language is not factored into the overall determination.
What is the maximum number of days required for the driver to return with required information for certification (determination pending)?
45 days
When is the only time a Medical Examination Report Form (MER), MCSA-5875?
1. While in determination pending status for situations where new information (e.g., test results, etc.) has been received; or
2. There has been a change in the driver's medical status since the initial examination, but prior to a final qualification determination.
What are the medical conditions for which a maximum one year certification interval has been recommended?
1. HTN
2. Heart disease
3. Diabetes (not appropriate for insulin users)
The recommended certification periods are considered best practice.
The examiner must disqualify a driver who does not meet one of the four non-discretionary standards. What are the four non-discretionary standards?
Vision
Hearing
Epilepsy
Insulin-taking
What should the examiner include in explaining to the driver the general guidelines for waiting periods?
Start date
Reason for restart
Length of waiting period
Conditions for waiting period (ex. time frame, symptom-free, no suicidal ideations)
Currently, what are the two formal FMCSA medical exemption programs?
1) monocular vision and
2) diabetes mellitus (insulin)
Note: Only exemptions printed on the DOT form and card can be applied to the driver.
The examiner must initially issue at least a ___ month card to a driver applying for an exemption. The driver must present an exemption or waiver letter at the recertification examination.
Six (6)
This standard allows a CMV driver with a fixed musculoskeletal deficit or an amputation the opportunity for certification.
Skill performance/alternative standard (391.49)
To qualify, the examinee must be able to meet all requirements under 391.41 except for the limb requirement. The driver may have to pass a skill performance evaluation (SPE).
Certification interval: 2 years as alternative
In the early 90s, two studies were discontinued because they were deemed illegal. Participants were grandfathered into these two waiver programs, provided they remain compliant. What are these two waiver programs?
Diabetes/Vision Waiver (391.64)
Certification interval: 1 year
Medical certification maximum one year for exemptions; FMCSA issued exemptions are for ___ years and may be renewed.
Two
What must the carrier do to request and obtain the driver's medical examination form (long form)?
The carrier must obtain written consent from the driver.
The carrier does not need written consent to receive a copy of the medical certification card.