Need A CDL Medical?

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Some CDL operators need a medical.  

"Effective May 21, 2014 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will require all healthcare professionals performing medical exams for commercial drivers to complete a training program and successfully pass a certification exam. "

Going down to the local doc may be off the table soon.  Pilots have had to go to special docs for a long time.  Pilots are required to start their medical on a computer that is hooked up to the FAA.  Once you start, you can't stop or it is a failure.  Do truckers have this to look forward to?  No such thing as "oops, let's hold off on the medical for a month or two till the blood pressure goes down".

Well, I haven't heard of that happening yet for truckers.

[rawhide]

starts in april from what i've heard

[buckfarmer]

I keep getting crap that says I need to use this and that service to comply with DOT drug testing. I think one of the local hospitals has what I need. Fist say I need to use their service since I'm my only employee. Then I get a call saying I have to have training to administer my drug testing of my employees. All for fees of course.

[rawhide]

yeah buck but it's all about safety. we can't have you running around recklessly trying to beat out a living all the while endangering those 75 year olds driving their 45 foot motorhomes with 400 cummins' now can we.

[k-289]

having a 39' with a 350 cummins gets me the exemtion on the matter

[rawhide]

as long as you pull a 24 ft. toyhauler trailer behind it