The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) this week ruled that individuals with properly controlled diabetes can be qualified to drive commercial vehicles by a medical examiner.
“We hope to see more efforts like this from the agency, where the focus is on reducing red tape and regulatory burdens to keep safe drivers on the road,” Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), said. “We look forward to working with FMCSA on other revisions to medical regulations.”
OOIDA — the largest national trade association representing small-business trucking professionals and truck drivers — adds that the decision will reduce a costly and unnecessary obstacle to truck drivers — those being actively treated are perfectly safe on the road. Previously, however, diabetic patients were prohibited from driving commercial vehicles for interstate commerce unless they got an exemption from FMCSA. That meant recurring costs for renewal and maintenance of exemptions — a tack the FMCSA has now eliminated.