In Business Since 1991

The January 2012 date was originally chosen because on that day drivers will also be required to submit a copy of their medical certification to their State Licensing Agency, which will incorporate the medical information into the Commercial Driver Licensing Information System (CDLIS) database used by licensing and enforcement officials. Unfortunately, many State licensing agencies will not be ready to transmit that information to DCLIS in time. Nevertheless, drivers will now need three copies of their medical certification: one on their person, one in their employer motor carrier’s driver qualification file,, and one deposited with the State Licensing Agency (when/if the State requires/requests it). Instrastate and exempted "intracity" zone drivers are not required to provide medical certification information unless State law requires them to do so.

The 2012-2016 Strategic Plan presents a new comprehensive direction to focus its efforts on outreach, oversight, and enforcement resources directed at the entire CMV transportation life-cycle. It establishes a framework that places safety as the highest priority and employs three core principles:

Raising the bar to entry

Requiring to maintain high safety standards

Removing high risk carriers and drivers

The Agency will continue to strengthen its Federal, State and local partnerships; reach out to all stakeholders, the public, industry and related associations, victims and advocacy groups, in order to eliminate severe crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving CMVs, thereby, achieving a safer transportation environment.

The commercial motor vehicle industry (CMV) is a vital part of the Nation’s economic strength and security. Commercial trucks and buses are an integral part of everyday life and livable communities. The Agency’s goal is to make our roadways safer for the public and the CMV industry.

U.S. Department of Transportation Raises the Bar for Safety with National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners Final Rule

By May 21, 2014, all certified medical examiners must be on the National Registry database, and drivers must obtain a medical examination from a certified examiner. Medical examiners that fail to maintain federal standards will be removed from the registry.

Subsequently, on December 22, 2011, FMCSA announced a final rule revising the current hours of service regulations. While several of the changes will go into effect in late February, the balance will not take effect until July 1, 2013. These changes include:

• A requirement that drivers not operate a commercial motor vehicle if 8 or more hours have passed since their last rest break/off-duty period of 30 minutes or more;
• A restriction on the use of the restart provision, limiting its use to once every 7 calendar days;
• A requirement that qualifying restarts include two nighttime rest periods (1-5 a.m.) and include at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.