COMPLIANCE AND UPDATES
FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (FMCSA) ANNOUNCES A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S CERTIFICATION INTEGRATION
May 10, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC - FMCSA announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Medical Examiner's Certification Integration. This NPRM is a follow-on rule to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) published on April 20, 2012, and the Medical Certification Requirements as part of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) rule (Med-Cert rule) published on December 1, 2008.
FMCSA proposes that certified medical examiners (MEs) listed on the National Registry be required to report results of all completed physical examinations of commercial drivers (including those where the driver was found not to be qualified) to FMCSA by close of business on the day of the examination. For holders of CDLs and Commercial Learner's Permits (CLPs), FMCSA proposes transmitting driver identification, examination results, and restriction information electronically from the National Registry system to the State Driver Licensing Agencies. Transmittal of this information would allow authorized State and Federal enforcement officials to view the most current and accurate information regarding the medical status of the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver, all information on the Medical Examiner's Certificate, and the medical variance information (as defined above) to include dates of issuance and expiration.
For more information or to read the NPRM, the Medical Examiner's Certification Integration, visit http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket Number FMCSA-2012-0178. This NPRM demonstrates FMCSA's commitment to making our Nation's highways safer.
NEW ALABAMA CDL REQUIREMENTS
In an effort to streamline commercial driver's license (CDL) procedures throughout all states, medical cards will now be required as part of the CDL application process. The measure goes into effect January 30th, 2012.
The following update, specific to CDL holders in Alabama comes courtesy of our friends at the Alabama Truckers Association.
Beginning Jan. 30, 2012, the Alabama Department of Public Safety's Driver License Div., in accordance with new federal guidelines, will require new applicants for commercial truck and bus driver licenses to submit a photocopy of their medical certificate. This change also affects current CDL holders wanting to renew, transfer or change class or endorsement.
Current CDL holders must submit a photocopy of their medical card to DPS either in person, by fax or by mail to continue holding a commercial driver license. The final deadline to provide medical certificates is Jan. 30, 2014.
Please note this does not affect DOT physical requirements nor does it impact any DOT drug screening guidelines. For questions or more information, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health via email at cdlmedicalmerger@dps.alabama.gov ________________________________________________________________________________________
DOT has Date Extended for Mandatory Use of New Alcohol Test Form
Public Interest Exclusion (PIE)
The final rule includes a public interest exclusion (PIE) mechanism designed to protect the public from the affects of serious noncompliance by service agents.
In the Matter of: MICHAEL R. BENNETT and WORKPLACE COMPLIANCE, INC. DOT PIE No. 2009-1
DOT OFFICE OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY AND COMPLIANCE NOTICE
September 2009 Employment Down 4.4 Percent from September 2008
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.4 percent fewer workers in September 2009 than in September 2008, the 15th consecutive decrease in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the September FTE total of 380,014 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 17,380 below September 2008 and the lowest total for any month since 1993. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site at http://www.bts.gov/airline_employment/src/index.xml. All the network airlines decreased employment from September 2008 to September 2009 as did low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Regional carriers American Eagle Airlines, SkyWestAirlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, and Colgan Airlinesalso reported reduced employment levels compared to last year.
Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines.
The seven network airlines employed 254,866 FTEs in September, 67.1 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 16.4 percent and regional carriers employed 14.7 percent.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ANNUAL SUMMARY REPORT FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING
The annual summary must be completed using the form enclosed with the letter that stated you have been selected to report this year or by submitting the information on-line at
http://damis.dot.gov. Failing to submit the form or to ensure its accuracy may result in an enforcement action against your company as prescribed in 49 U.S. Code (U.S.C.) 21 (b).
To submit your data on-line, you will need to use your USDOT Number and PIN. The USDOT number serves as your username, and your PIN serves as your password. Your USDOT number is located in the upper left-hand corner of the mailing label affixed to the survey form sent to you. If you do not know your PIN, go to
safer.fmcsa.dot.govto request a PIN.
Please note that the information requested is only for those drivers associated with the USDOT number listed on the forms enclosed with the letter you received. Information should not be submitted for other related corporate entities associated with your operation, nor should you include information on drivers from other companies that belong to your testing consortium.
The annual summary must be returned by the date given in the letter either on-line at
http://damis.dot.gov, or to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, MC-RI, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. If you have any questions, please contact the
FMCSA Division Office located in your state
