Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/536685
CHANGING LANES 24 JULY 2015 // WWW.CHANGINGLANESDIGItal.com Health & Well-being Office analysis of the driver medical certification process revealed that 4% of CDL holders in the DOT database were determined eligible for full federal disability benefits. Roughly 85% of that number had active licenses, and most were issued CDLs after federal approval of disability benefits. Following the analysis and sharp criticism from Congress, the FMCSA began a process of reforming its medical rules and regulations. In the past 7 years, they have created progressively tougher rules impacting drivers across the country. These rules include tougher regulations on which doctors are allowed to perform CDL medical exams. They also instituted new rules requiring interstate CDL holders to provide current copies of their medical examiner's certificates to their state driver licensing agency. Trade Groups and Associations' Response Trade groups and associations have not been silent throughout this process. These groups have worked closely with truck drivers and the FMCSA to influence new rules and regulations affecting the trucking industry. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has provided a new online resource to help truck drivers identify quality DOT-certified medical examiners. The new site contains a section emphasizing DOT exam prep, in which the association shares lessons learned from OOIDA members and regulators. The page advises that truckers visit their family physician at least 30 days ahead of their DOT physical, allowing time for potential testing. According to reports from Overdrive, Truckers for a Cause cofounder Bob Stanton calls such an approach a kind of "preventative maintenance" for a truck driver's medical certification. The OOIDA is also currently working on a response to the FMCSA's recent bulletin to medical examiners on the sleep apnea condition. Currently, truckers' medical certifications relative to sleep apnea remains the judgement of the examiner. In an interview with Overdrive, the OOIDA Regulatory Affairs Director Scott Grenerth said, "We are not happy that they are still not doing a proper rulemaking" to settle the details of how the condition should be handled. GATS Health Commitment For truck drivers visiting the Great American Trucking Show, there's good news. A new addition to the show floor is the Landstar's Fit for the Road Health and Wellness Pavilion. This new show addition allows