Beginning May 21, 2014, the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners will require all medical examiners (ME) who wish to perform physical examinations for interstate commercial motor vehicle drivers to be trained and certified in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) physical qualification standards. MEs who have completed the training and passed the test will be included in an online directory on the National Registry website, searchable on a national map by name or location.

To date, with almost 900,000 commercial drivers in California, there are 2,096 physicians who have registered, only 412 of whom have completed the certification process. Once the new rules take effect in May, there will be a huge demand for certified MEs, with millions of truck drivers nationwide needing DOT physical exams so they can continue to legally drive commercial vehicles.

Medical professionals who wish to become certified must register with FMCSA, take required training and pass an exam. The training will cover FMCSA regulations and guidelines, driver’s health and occupational challenges.

Find out more by visiting the National Registry website at http://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov.