truck driver medical testing The Hart Law FirmTruck drivers are required to comply with many more rules than passenger vehicle drivers in order to be allowed to drive a truck, such as obtaining a commercial driver’s license. Because of the physical demands of driving long hours for days on end and the dangers of a catastrophic truck accident, truckers must also be medically fit to drive a big-rig truck. Here, we discuss medical certification rules that truck drivers are supposed to—but don’t always—follow that may result in the trucker causing a wreck.

Medical Certification Requirements for Truck Drivers

Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules, truck drivers are required to pass a medical exam performed by a Department of Transportation (DOT) doctor. The doctor must be listed in the FMCSA National Registry. The following rules apply:

  • In order to initially be allowed to drive a truck, a truck driver must obtain a medical certification.
  • The medical certification is valid for two years. A truck driver must receive a new certification by a DOT-approved doctor in order to continue to drive a commercial truck.
  • The trucker’s certification is transmitted and stored in the Commercial Driver’s License Information System.
  • The truck driver must submit a self-certification to his state’s driver’s license agency of his intent to drive commercially in one of four categories.

What Does a Truck Driver Physical Examination Entail?

The physical exam is conducted to ensure that the truck driver is medically fit to drive a truck and does not have a medical condition, such as diabetes, epilepsy, or high blood pressure, which would disqualify him from driving a truck. The examination includes the following:

  • Vision test
  • Hearing test
  • Blood pressure and pulse rate tests
  • Urinalysis for blood, sugar, and proteins that could indicate health problems, but not for alcohol or drug use, which is done separately
  • General examination of the trucker’s heart, lungs, limbs, and more

How Violations of Medical Certification Rules Could Affect Your Claim for Compensation Following a Truck Accident

If the truck driver who caused your accident was not medically certified or had allowed his certification to expire, this may be the basis of a claim that he was negligent in causing your truck crash. In addition, the trucker may have a medical condition that would have disqualified him from driving a truck and/or that contributed to causing your truck crash.

Trucking companies have a duty under FMCSA rules to ensure that their truck drivers have medical certifications before permitting them to drive and that a new one was obtained prior the certification’s expiration. If these rules were violated, you could have a separate claim against the trucking company. By raising all claims of negligence against both the truck driver and trucking company, you strengthen your claim and increase the likelihood that you will receive what you deserve in your settlement.

Have You Been Injured In A Texas Truck Accident?

If you've been injured in a truck accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident injury attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.

We help injured truck accident victims throughout Texas including Arlington, North Richland, Grapevine, Bedford, Hurst, Euless, Irving and all points in between.

David Hart
Connect with me
Helping victims throughout Fort Worth, Arlington, North Richland, Grapevine, Bedford, Hurst and points between
Comments are closed.