The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended more stringent medical oversight of commercial drivers, including closing the loophole of “doctor shopping,” which allows disqualified drivers to find a doctor who will sign off on medical forms.
“In the absence of a mechanism to track all medical certification examinations, a commercial driver with a serious medical condition who is denied a medical certificate by one examiner may be able to obtain a medical certificate from another examiner, thus subverting the purpose of the medical certification process,” the NTSB report noted. “The failure of the medical certification process to remove unfit drivers is a systemic, not an isolated, problem.”
NTSB's findings were part of a report on the causes of a May 9, 1999, bus crash outside of New Orleans that killed 22 passengers and seriously injured 15 others. The Board's investigation established that the 46-year-old driver, who had a current CDL and medical certificate, suffered from several life-threatening medical conditions of the kidneys and heart that caused him to lose consciousness while driving.
Other recommendations:
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Make sure that individuals performing medical examinations for drivers understand the occupational issues involved.
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Establish a tracking mechanism that ensures prior applications by an individual for medical certification are recorded and reviewed.
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Update medical certification regulations to permit trained examiners to clearly determine whether drivers with common medical conditions should be issued medical certificates.
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Establish a way for enforcement authorities to identify invalid medical certification during safety inspections and routine stops.
