FMCSA to proceed with medical examiner study

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced its intention to proceed in collecting information on a survey of medical examiners who certify the physical qualifications of commercial motor vehicle drivers.

The six-year transportation spending bill President Bush signed in 2005 calls for improving the quality of the interstate commercial driver physical qualification examination.

No research to date captures the decision making and performance of medical examiners who determine the physical qualifications of commercial drivers, FMCSA said. Nor has there been systematic consideration of medical examiners' perceptions of difficulties or uncertainties with the examination process, FMCSA said.

Results of the study will be used to develop recommendations for improving the physical qualification process.

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