FMCSA Announcment

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that the agency, along with its state partners, will be conducting random verifications of driver Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MEC) during enforcement activities.

These validations by enforcement will seek verbal confirmation that the medical examination was conducted and the information on the MEC is accurate. It is important to note that this verification is not to evaluate the driver's medical fitness to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
Enforcement will take the following steps to validate the authenticity of MECs:

• Contact the Medical Examiner's (ME) office at the telephone number indicated on the certificate;

• Explain the inquiry’s purpose and indicate that it is intended solely to confirm that the document presented by the driver matches the records maintained by the ME. Direct contact with the actual ME is not required (an authorized staff member may provide the requested information); and

• Provide the driver’s name and date of birth, the date of issuance of the MEC, and any restrictions indicated thereon and request verbal confirmation of the information provided.

The FMCSA has indicated it appreciates the MEs’ cooperation in its effort to eliminate the use of fraudulent MECs and to keep medically unqualified drivers off the nation’s highways.