Revised Medical Form Could Add Tests to Driver Physical, ATA Says

The Federal Highway Administration is proposing changes to driver medical examination forms that trucking interests say would let physicians perform additional tests at their discretion.

Although the agency is not calling for specific changes to the medical qualifications, American Trucking Associations said the new forms would open the examination to "optional" procedures, which could include electrocardiograms, exercise stress tests and chest X-rays.

In comments filed with the agency Nov. 2, ATA also said the agency's proposal would add two pages to what is now a one-page medical exam form.

FHWA is looking to simplify the forms used by physicians and other health-care specialists who examine truck drivers during the hiring process. In an effort to reduce errors and promote a more uniform examination of commercial vehicle drivers, the agency proposed a new exam form in the Aug. 5 Federal Register.

"We think these options will, in essence, become de facto standards," said Stuart Flatow, ATA's director of occupational safety and health. "And the economics of giving physicians a carte blanche to perform these tests has not been justified."

Besides adding to the cost of the exams, he said, the benefit of optional tests has not been scrutinized.

Ron Joseph, vice president of transportation, safety and maintenance for RPS Inc., Pittsburgh, said carriers generally like the proposed medical form, but not the additional tests and paperwork that likely would result. "There's no reason for those tests to be there," said Mr. Joseph, who chairs the ATA Safety Management Council's Regulations Committee.

By law, drivers must pass a physical exam before they can get a commercial driver license. For years, the medical community has complained that the forms were cumbersome and confusing.