googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Receive the latest transportation and trucking industry information about FMCSA and DOT Audits, Regulations, etc. }); Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. OSHA to crank up review panel for work violence rule, How to interpret the English language requirements for CMV drivers, Five actions to reduce driver medical qualification risks, Certified medical examiner (CME) retraining is needed to stay on the Registry. The FMCSA vision exemption program is for monocular vision. is all set up properly when you start your trucking business. These drivers must receive an exemption from FMCSA in order to operate. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. The proposed amendment would permit a driver who cannot meet either the current distant visual acuity or the field of vision standard, or both, in one eye to be physically qualified to operate a CMV in interstate commerce under certain circumstances. CNS just moved into a brand new building at 151 Koser Road Lititz, PA 17543. In addition to needing to pass the 120 degree field-of-vision test and the other vision requirements, drivers who have vision loss in one eye must be able to pass a road test before they can drive across state lines. FMCSA proposes to amend its regulations to permit individuals who cannot meet either the current distant visual acuity or field of vision standard, or both, in one eye to be physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. Why reinvent the wheel when there are so many ready-made safety observances to link up to? The board will also conduct a review of the medical assessment form for CMV drivers with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and finalize the recommendations from the MRBs April 2020 meeting on updates to the Medical Examiner Handbook. The research presented demonstrates that individuals with monocular vision can safely operate a CMV, OOIDA wrote in comments signed by President Todd Spencer. Motor Carrier Number (Operating Authority). FMCSA Passes New Plan for Drivers with Monocular Vision January 24, 2022 Luke Kibby FMCSA's final rule was published in the Federal Register on Friday, Jan. 21. to eliminate the exemption process for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers with monocular vision. The driver operated a CDL or non-CDL CMV in intrastate commerce (as allowed by a state waiver) or interstate commerce (under an exception in 390.3(f) or 391.2) and was driving with the vision deficiency for the previous three years before the medical certification for the first time, or, 2. Learn more about these changes and how they will improve highway safety. Before the driver can operate a CMV, unless an exception applies, the carrier completes a road test to verify that the lack of adequate vision in one eye does not affect the drivers ability to operate safely. FMCSA is yet to announce the intention to change the existing CDL requirements for 2021. They will be posted again when the 2022 season starts. the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specification for groundfish in the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19, 2021) and inseason adjustment (86 FR 74384, December 30, 2021). He has covered rail, trucking and maritime issues since 1993 for a variety of publications based in the U.S. and the U.K. John began business reporting in 1993 at Broadcasting & Cable Magazine. If so, we want to hear from you! Anyone currently exempted will no longer need to apply with FMCSA and can now be approved through their own vision specialist and certified medical examiner.. 23780 (May 4, 2021). }); FMCSA has long considered 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye to be sufficient. Posted December 7, 2021. The proposed change would end the agencys vision exemption program. Fuel prices rise for first time since MarchFollowing a month of decreasing but mostly flat fuel prices, the average price for a gallon of on-highway diesel increased last week for the first time since March. A field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal Meridian in each eye. Comments can be made, here. The medical examiner will certify the qualified driver, usually for one year, and issue a medical exam certificate with the vision exemption marked on the form. The agency's Medical Review Board (MRB) reviewed and analyzed the public comments from earlier this year and offered recommendations. Over $400,000 in benefits awarded after two appeals to the Supreme Court for injured worker in first ever case in $638,152 settlement recovered for worker injured at work in an automobile accident with injuries to his neck, back and spleen. Clinic dates and times are Monday, May 10, from 2-4 p.m.; and Thursday, May 13, through Sunday, May 16, from 5-8 p.m. each day. Updated Daily. The carrier must distribute documents as follows: Carriers must be clear on who is eligible for an exception to the road test for drivers medically qualifying under the alternative vision standard for the first time. Not all companies are built and operated the same, which is why you need a program customized to your commercial trucking company. This is just another push to end the trucking business. Registration will be available here in the coming days. This is nothing more than taking jobs away from AMERICANS AGAIN TO BE REPLACED WITH FOREIGNERS FROM MEXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND OUR LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS AND WILL RESULT IN MILLIONS OF DEATHS TO AMERICANS JUST LIKE UNDER OBAMA GO BACK AND CHECK THE SAFETY SCALE FROM 2010 to 2016 when FMCSA decided to kill the transportation system under Obama and check the Safety Scale under President Trump from 2017 to Jan.2021 and see which was operating the safest!! The updated CDL requirements significantly affect the Entry-level Driver Training Rule, (EDLT) for drivers who are just starting in the trucking industry, the requirements for obtaining a CDL, the category of entry-level drivers that would benefit. An official website of the United States government Here's how you know. The final report is available here: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These 5 programs fit the most common companies in the transportation industry and all the DOT Compliance and Licensing needs that come with them. The doctor would record the findings and provide specific medical opinions on the proposed Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871. Read more about former trucker Ed Miller's "A Trucker's Tale" memoir via. Michigan lifts seasonal weight restrictionsAs of Monday, May 3, the Michigan Department of Transportation has lifted the remaining spring weight restrictions on all state trunkline highways in the entire state. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Medical Review Board recommended to the FMCSA that the agency adopt Concentras standard. Based in Washington, D.C., John specializes in regulation and legislation affecting all sectors of freight transportation. November 30 has come and gone without new medical forms from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). To properly document that an exception applies to a driver described in Point 1 above, the carrier must prepare a written statement that the driver met either criterion. Present regulations disqualify drivers with distant visual acuity or field of vision standard, or both, in one eye from operating a CMV in interstate commerce. We are efficient in scheduling appointments and respect your time, preventing you from having long wait times in crowded waiting rooms. Here are some highlights. Our DOT Licensing Specialists will help you with every aspect of starting a trucking company. Currently, these drivers are prohibited from operating in interstate commerce without an exemption from FMCSA. $1,250,000 lump sum settlement for a worker who injured her liver and spleen in a work accident. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers compensation cases. Heres a Whole Year of Ideas, Health and Safety Performance Indicators: Safety Benchmark Data 2022, OSHA Record Keeping and Reporting Cheat Sheet, The Complex World of Flame-Resistant Apparel. In lieu of current regulations, the Agency is proposing an "alternative vision standard" requiring that the individual must: (1) have in the better eye distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen), with or without corrective lenses, and field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian; (2) be able to recognize the colors of Our DOT Audit Services cover a number of different types of DOT Audits that new and existing carriers will be subject to. Drivers with impaired vision in one eye could operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate transportation without first obtaining an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under a proposed rule published January 12 (86 FR 2344). Those who wish to make an appointment can do so here, but walk-ins will also be welcomed. Drivers may require a road test under the alternative vision standard, Data shows drivers have high rates of workplace injuries and illnesses. According to research the total cost of workplace injuries, fatalities, and illnesses adds up to a whopping [], OSHA Record Keeping and Reporting Cheat Sheet Use this OSHA Record Keeping and Reporting Cheat Sheet to navigate the complexities of OSHA reporting. Our DOT Compliance division is handled by Compliance Navigation Specialists, CNS Insurance handles Commercial Truck Insurance, CDL training is managed by the CNS Driver Training Center and healthcare is managed by CNS Occupational Medicine. Next, a certified medical examiner would perform an examination and determine whether the individual meets the proposed alternative vision standard and all of the FMCSAs other physical qualification standards. In January, the agency published a proposed rule to amend its regulations to permit drivers who cannot meet either the current distant visual acuity or field of vision standard, or both, in one. Freight Waves announced in August 2021 that the FMCSAs Medical Review Board had suggested changes, in early 2021, to vision standards for drivers who have vision loss in one eye. The alternate diabetes certification process has been working well, according to FMCSA officials. The changes will allow individuals who do not satisfy requirements with the worse eye, either distant visual acuity standard or field of vision standard, to be considered physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce under specific conditions. FMCSA plan would make it easier for truckers with vision loss in one eye to operate By Ashley - January 12, 2021 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is considering a proposal to change vision requirements for truck drivers to provide "enhance employment opportunities." The alternative standard was part of a rulemaking proposal that opened for public comment in January. With such a small percentage of drivers having monocular vision, this data will continue to be difficult to obtain in a statistically significant manner.. Look at what you caused the industry to suffer when you FMCSA attacked the companies in 2012 under Obama with SLEEP APNEA and Diabetes issues to cause over 150,000 experienced drivers to have to EXIT the industry with thousands of years of experience in transportation among all of those drivers that were required to turn in their CDL and causing AMERICAS FOOD SUPPLIES AND GOODS distribution wrehses to struggle in shipments!! A medical examiner (ME) would then determine if the driver meets the vision standard requirements provided the individual: Ifqualifications are met, a ME could issue a Medical Examiners Certificate (MEC),Form MCSA-5876, for a maximum of 12 months. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a proposal to amend vision standard requirements in the Federal Register on January 12, 2021. FMCSA Proposes To Delay Four Medical Examiner Final Rule Provisions To 2025, CDL Driver Preparation for a DOT Physical Exam and Possible Disqualifications, How Nurse Triage Phone Lines Keep Drivers Safe And Injury Claim Costs Down. We demand full compensation for all your damages including pain and suffering, medical bills, lost income, property damage, and wrongful death damages. For more information, contact us at 888.260.9448 or info@cnsprotects.com. Under the proposed changes, there would be a two-step process to ensure physical qualifications are met. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Medical Review Board will evaluate the vision standard for truck drivers at its next meeting, which will be held May 19-20. Monocular vision is a disqualification unless a driver goes through the waiver process, which includes a three-year period of intrastate driving without any serious offenses, suspensions or revocations of driving privileges, or involvement in a reportable crash, and no more than two convictions for moving violations in a commercial motor vehicle. Learn more! Weight restrictions on state highways are implemented during the spring frost-thaw period and are now completed for the 2021 season, according to MDOT. The Motor Carrier Program is a full-scale program managing everything related to a long haul carriers safety, compliance, licensing and more.Learn more >>>, Our DOT Essentials Program is designed to keep motor carriers compliant with the basic DOT regulations that nearly all carriers must follow.Learn more >>>, Our Short-Haul/Construction Program is a full-scale program designed for private carriers that do not haul for-hire.Learn more >>>, Our most comprehensive program and is meant to operate as your companys off-site Safety Director or to assist your current safety personnel.Learn more >>>, Our Non-CDL Program is a full-scale program managing safety, compliance, licensing and more for moving companies, couriers, landscapers, or any company subject to DOT regulations and does not employ CDL drivers.Learn more >>>, On Feb 28, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released a final rule on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards. This free white paper from Tingley examines how flame-resistant (FR) apparel for [], The Standard Of Slip Resistance Learn how EHS professionals are responding to the new ASTM F3445 slip resistance standard in different industries. The review board noted it does not have sufficient data to establish a specific waiting period for an individual who has a new vision deficiency. The Federal Register is the Federal Government's official daily publication of rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies, and provides a forum for public participation in the democratic process. Hours of Service of Drivers: Application for Exemption; Matthew Killmer, Commercial Driver's License: Pitt Ohio Express, LLC; Application for Exemption, Hours of Service: Exemption Application From Flat Top Transport, LLC, Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, Agency Information Collection Activities; Approval of a New Information Collection Request: Effectiveness of Third-Party Testing and Minimum Standards for Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Knowledge and Skills Tests, Revised Carrier Safety Measurement System, Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs), Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: 391.41 CMV Driver Medication Form, Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Information Collection Request: Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing, Safe Integration of Automated Driving Systems (ADS)-Equipped Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs). Carriers must also verify that the proper documents are given to the driver and placed in the DQ file. googletag.enableServices(); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT, MRB issues guidance for drivers and MEs regarding CPAP recall, 49 CFR 391 Subpart E Physical qualifications and examinations, Don't let Medical Examination Reports (MERs) land you in hot water, 49 CFR 391 Qualifications of drivers and longer combination vehicle (LCV) driver instructors, New regulatory changes include update to medical exam report form, Four-year delay proposed for new medical CDL process, Medical waivers and exemptions - Motor Carrier, Document your drivers use of med-card and CDL waivers. Once again the Feds are Gestopotizing our drivers with these harsh rules. We are currently open for business. Iowa 80 offering COVID vaccines next weekIowa 80 Truckstop has partnered with Hy-Vee Pharmacy to offer five COVID-19 vaccine clinics starting May 10. The driver presents to a certified medical examiner (CME) a copy of the Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871, signed and dated by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within 45 days of the Department of Transportation (DOT) medical exam; The CME reviews Form 5871 and completes a DOT medical exam, with the option to certify the driver for up to one year; and. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Individuals who have developed the skills to adapt to and compensate for the vision loss once it has been deemed stable by a medical professional should be given the opportunity to demonstrate the skills to operate a CMV safely in a road test administered by a motor carrier and drive in interstate commerce, according to the agency. The FMCSA is opening a 30-day comment period starting Tuesday for the public to respond to MRBs recommendations. Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy & Compliance Random Testing Rates 2023 DOT Random Testing Rates NOTE: Employers (and C/TPAs) subject to more than one DOT Agency drug and alcohol testing rule may continue to combine covered employees into a single random selection pool. Monday, January 11, 2021 Medical examiners would use 4-step vision qualification assessment. The field of vision issue needs to be addressed, the company stated in comments filed in March. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), though, does have a current exemption process in place. It included provisions aimed at allowing those with vision loss in one eye who meet the new standard to be deemed qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) without having to apply to the FMCSA for an exemption. The truck driver will not have to ask the FMCSA for permission to drive based on an approved exemption. 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