Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has again extended a temporary waiver permitting the use of paper certificates to verify that truck and bus operators are physically fit to drive.
Effective Jan. 11 and good through April 10, the Medical Examiner’s Certificate extension applies to commercial driver’s license holders, commercial learner’s permit holders and motor carriers. It allows drivers to use a paper copy of their certificate for up to 60 days after issuance.
An FMCSA final rule requiring medical examiners to electronically submit physical exam results of CDL holders and CLP applicants to the agency’s National Registry went into effect June 23. Under the rule, FMCSA will “electronically transmit examination results and medical variance information” to state driver licensing agencies once received.
The waiver states that as of Dec. 30, 42 states and the District of Columbia had implemented requirements of the electronic system, leaving eight states to continue to rely on paper copies. A previous extension issued Oct. 9 reported that 38 states and the district had instituted requirements.
“FMCSA finds that the granting of this waiver is in the public interest to ensure that the operations of interstate CDL holders, CLP holders and motor carriers are not interrupted, and drivers may continue transporting the nation’s goods to businesses, customers and communities safely, reliably and efficiently,” the agency says.
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication