FMCSA updates medical exam form rules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially amended its medical examination rules this week mandating that certified medical examiners that performing truck driver physicals use a newly developed medical examination report (MER) form, dubbed MCSA-5875.

Medical examiners are also required under this rule change to report all findings from the exam – including exams where the driver is found not to be qualified – to the agency by midnight the following day.

FMCSA added in its final rule that the reporting of examination results includes commercial driver who are required to be medically certified to operate in interstate commerce, not only those who hold or apply for commercial learner's permits (CLPs) or commercial driver's licenses (CDLs).

That reporting deadline also applies to the results of any examinations performed in accordance with state-specific rules as well, the agency added.