To operate a commercial vehicle in Texas, a driver must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Getting a CDL requires a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical certification, meaning the individual must pass a physical exam. Certain medical conditions and physical limitations can bar an individual from obtaining a CDL. Make sure to speak with an experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer for legal guidance and support.
What Are the Physical Requirements to Be a Truck Driver?
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) has rules in place regarding the physical abilities of commercial truck drivers. According to 49 CFR § 391.41, to operate a commercial motor vehicle, an individual must be “medically certified as physically qualified to do so.”
Confirming an individual’s physical fitness requires a signed Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Form MCSA-5876). This means a certified medical examiner listed in the national registry has examined the individual and confirmed that he or she meets the physical qualification standards to operate a large commercial vehicle.
An applicant must visit a physician on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to ensure that he or she is physically able to maneuver a large and heavy semi-truck safely and correctly. The exam includes a physical evaluation, vision and hearing test, pulmonary function test (blood pressure and pulse), neurological examination, and urinalysis.
What Medical Conditions Disqualify a Candidate?
To be allowed to operate a commercial truck, a driver must be able to safely operate the big rig as well as conduct safety inspections before and after trips and secure cargo loads to make sure they do not shift. Certain medical conditions are viewed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as too great a safety risk to certify the driver for a CDL.
Medically disqualifying conditions (if they are likely to interfere with the ability to safely control the vehicle) include:
- The loss or impairment of a limb (unless the person has been granted a skill performance evaluation certificate)
- Diabetes mellitus currently treated with insulin
- Several cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and thrombosis
- Respiratory dysfunction
- High blood pressure
- Certain types of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular or vascular disease
- Epilepsy or other conditions likely to cause loss of consciousness
- Mental, nervous, organic or functional diseases or psychiatric disorders
- Vision or hearing loss
- Certain prescription medications
- The use of medical marijuana, even as recommended by a licensed medical practitioner
- Clinically diagnosed alcoholism
It is possible to qualify for an exemption as someone with a medical condition that is typically disqualifying. Exemptions are granted in instances where the driver can show that his or her condition will not adversely impact safety.
What if a Truck Driver Is Not Physically or Medically Fit to Drive?ruck drivers in Texas must meet strict DOT medical requirements to obtain a CDL. Learn what health conditions can disqualify a driver, how exemptions work, and how Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers can help if an unfit truck driver caused your accident.
Commercial truck driving is a physically and mentally demanding job. It requires a certain level of health and fitness. If a CDL applicant does not pass the physical examination, he or she cannot get the license. Medical cards are valid for up to 24 months for most CDL holders, with shorter timelines for drivers with certain medical conditions, at which point the driver must recertify.
Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in San Antonio for legal guidance. If a truck driver lies about his or her health status or a trucking company hires an unqualified driver, this could result in a serious truck accident. In this case, the trucking company could be held responsible for negligent truck driver hiring or retention practices, violated federal safety standards, or knowingly allowing an unfit driver to operate the truck.