FMCSA Implementing Digital Medical Certificate Sharing With State Agencies

The Transportation Department is embracing digital medical records for truck drivers in a bid to update the current paper-records system.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will implement a rule electronically linking drivers’ medical records with participating state licensing agencies, according to a June 23 release.

The rule, which was published back in 2015, mandates that certified medical examiners transmit the results of drivers’ physical qualification checks to FMCSA’s National Registry, which then shares the results with state licensing agencies.

According to the release, 37 states “are fully compliant with the new rule, and the remaining states are expected to meet all requirements in the coming months.”

Converting the paper system to electronic is expected to cut down on fraud and give roadside inspectors real-time access to medical certification records.

“This new digitalized system will make life easier for lawful truck drivers and harder for bad actors who want to commit fraud,” Duffy stated in the release. “It will also enhance safety on our roads and ensure law enforcement has access to the real time data they need to do their jobs.”