1594 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 2025 / Notices 

Supporting Documents,’’ (80 FR 78292) 

that established minimum performance 

and design standards for hours-ofservice (HOS) ELDs; requirements for 

the mandatory use of these devices by 

drivers currently required to prepare 

HOS records of duty status (RODS); 

requirements concerning HOS 

supporting documents; and measures to 

address concerns about harassment 

resulting from the mandatory use of 

ELDs. 

To ensure consistency among ELD 

vendors and devices, detailed functional 

specifications were published as part of 

the December 2015 final rule. Each ELD 

vendor developing an ELD technology 

must register online at a secure FMCSA 

website where the ELD provider can 

securely certify that its ELD is 

compliant with the functional 

specifications. Each ELD vendor must 

certify that each ELD model and version 

has been sufficiently tested to meet the 

functional requirements in the rule 

under the conditions in which the ELD 

would be used. 

ELD vendors must self-certify and 

register their devices with FMCSA 

online via Form MCSA–5893, 

‘‘Electronic Logging Device (ELD) 

Vendor Registration and Certification.’’ 

FMCSA expects all respondents to 

submit their information electronically. 

Once completed, FMCSA issues a 

unique identification number that the 

ELD vendor will embed in their 

device(s). FMCSA maintains a list on its 

website of the current ELD vendors and 

devices that have been certified (by the 

vendors) to meet the functional 

specifications. The information is 

necessary for fleets and drivers to easily 

find a compliant ELD for their use in 

meeting the FMCSA regulation 

requiring the use of ELDs. 

Title: Electronic Logging Device (ELD) 

Vendor Registration. 

OMB Control Number: 2126–0062. 

Type of Request: Renewal of a 

currently approved collection. 

Respondents: ELD vendors. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 94. 

Estimated Time per Response: 15 

minutes. 

Expiration Date: July 31, 2025. 

Frequency of Response: On occasion. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 71 

hours [94 respondents × 1 device per 

respondent × 3 updates per device × 15 

minutes per response]. 

Public Comments Invited: You are 

asked to comment on any aspect of this 

information collection, including: (1) 

whether the proposed collection is 

necessary for the performance of 

FMCSA’s functions; (2) the accuracy of 

the estimated burden; (3) ways for 

FMCSA to enhance the quality, 

usefulness, and clarity of the collected 

information; and (4) ways that the 

burden could be minimized without 

reducing the quality of the collected 

information. The Agency will 

summarize or include your comments in 

the request for OMB’s clearance of this 

information collection. 

Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87. 

Thomas P. Keane, 

Associate Administrator for Research, 

Technology and Registration. 

[FR Doc. 2025–00123 Filed 1–7–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2024–0158] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Renewal of an Approved 

Information Collection Request: 

Medical Qualification Requirements 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

FMCSA announces its plan to submit 

the Information Collection Request (ICR) 

described below to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and approval. The FMCSA 

requests approval to renew an ICR 

titled, ‘‘Medical Qualification 

Requirements,’’ due to updated 

information for several of the 

Information Collections (ICs) discussed. 

This ICR is needed to ensure that 

drivers, motor carriers, and the States 

are complying with the physical 

qualification requirements of 

commercial motor vehicle (CMV) 

drivers. The information collected is 

used to determine and certify driver 

medical fitness and must be collected in 

order for our highways to be safe. On 

September 17, 2024, FMCSA published 

a 60-day notice requesting comment on 

the renewal of this ICR. In response to 

this notice, no comments were received. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received on or before February 7, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be 

submitted within 30 days of publication 

of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/ 

public/do/PRAMain. Find this 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical 

Programs Division, (202) 366–4001, 

fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, 

Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64–224, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001. Office 

hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Medical Qualification 

Requirements. 

OMB Control Number: 2126–0006. 

Type of Request: Renewal of a 

currently approved collection. 

Respondents: Commercial motor 

vehicle drivers, motor carriers, medical 

examiners, testing centers. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

8,123,976. 

Expiration Date: March 31, 2025. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 

3,243,525 hours. 

This information collection is 

comprised of the following seven 

information collection activities. 

Physical Qualification Standards 

2,776,978 annual burden hours 

7,175,796 annual respondents 

Resolution of Medical Conflict 

11 annual burden hours 

3 annual respondents 

Medical Exemptions 

293 annual burden hours 

1,176 annual respondents 

SPE Certificate Program 

2,808 annual burden hours 

2,567 annual respondents 

National Registry of Certified Medical 

Examiners 

462,162 annual burden hours 

934,887 annual respondents 

Qualification of Drivers; Diabetes 

Standard 

654 annual burden hours 

4,906 annual respondents 

Qualification of Drivers; Vision 

Standard 

619 annual burden hours 

4,641 annual respondents 

Background: CMVs (trucks and buses) 

are longer, heavier, and more difficult to 

maneuver than automobiles, making 

them a threat to highway safety if not 

operated properly by qualified 

individuals. The public interest in, and 

right to have, safe highways requires the 

assurance that drivers of CMVs can 

safely perform the increased physical 

and mental demands of their duties. 

FMCSA’s physical qualification 

standards provide this assurance by 

requiring drivers to be examined and 

medically certified as physically and 


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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 2025 / Notices 1595 

mentally qualified to drive. Therefore, 

information used to determine and 

certify driver medical fitness must be 

collected. FMCSA is the Federal 

government agency authorized to 

require the collection of this 

information. FMCSA is required by 

statute to establish standards for the 

physical qualifications of drivers who 

operate CMVs in interstate commerce 

for non-excepted industries (49 U.S.C. 

31136(a)(3) and 31502(b)). The 

regulations discussing this collection 

are outlined in the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) at 

49 CFR 390 through 399. 

Below is a brief description of the 

included IC activities and how the 

information is used. 

Physical Qualification Standards 

The FMCSRs at 49 CFR 391.41 set 

forth the physical qualification 

standards that interstate CMV drivers 

who are subject to part 391 must meet, 

with the exception of commercial 

driver’s license/commercial learner’s 

permit (CDL/CLP) drivers transporting 

migrant workers (who must meet the 

physical qualification standards set 

forth in § 398.3). The FMCSRs covering 

driver physical qualification records are 

found at § 391.43, which specify that a 

medical examination be performed on 

CMV drivers subject to part 391 who 

operate in interstate commerce. The 

results of the examination shall be 

recorded in accordance with the 

requirements set forth in that section. 

The current provisions of §§ 391.51 and 

398.3 require that a motor carrier retain 

the Medical Examiner’s Certificate 

(MEC), Form MCSA–5876, in the 

driver’s qualification (DQ) file for 3 

years. The certificate affirms that the 

driver is physically qualified to drive a 

CMV in interstate commerce. 

Due to potential onset of new 

conditions or changes in existing 

conditions that may adversely affect a 

driver’s ability to safely operate a CMV 

and/or cause incapacitation that could 

be a risk to public safety, periodic 

evaluation and certification is required 

to assess driver physical qualification. 

MECs may be issued for up to 2 years 

after the date of examination. However, 

drivers with certain medical conditions 

must be certified more frequently than 

every 2 years. Medical examiners (MEs) 

have discretion to certify for shorter 

time periods on a case-by-case basis for 

medical conditions that require closer 

monitoring or that are more likely to 

change over time. In addition, the Safe, 

Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 

Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users 

(Pub. L. 109–59, 119 Stat. 1144, August 

10, 2005) requires MEs to transmit to 

FMCSA’s Chief Medical Officer, 

electronically and on a monthly basis, 

driver information and results of any 

CMV driver medical examinations 

conducted during the previous month. 

MEs are required to maintain records of 

the CMV driver medical examinations 

they conduct. FMCSA does not require 

MEs to maintain these records 

electronically. However, there is 

nothing to preclude an ME from 

maintaining electronic records of the 

medical examinations they conduct. 

FMCSA is continuously evaluating new 

information technology in an attempt to 

decrease the burden on motor carriers 

and MEs. Less frequent collection of 

driver data, Medical Examination 

Report Forms, MCSA–5875, and MECs, 

Form MCSA–5876, would compromise 

FMCSA’s ability to determine ME 

compliance with FMCSA’s physical 

qualification standards and guidelines 

in performing CMV driver physical 

qualification examinations, which could 

result in MEs listed on the National 

Registry of Certified Medical Examiners 

(National Registry) who should be 

removed and possibly drivers that don’t 

meet the physical qualification 

standards possessing an MEC. Less 

frequent data collection would also 

result in decreased validity of the data 

(i.e., less frequent data submission may 

increase the error rate due to 

unintentional omission of examination 

information). Therefore, less frequent 

collection of driver examination results 

is not an option. 

Resolution of Medical Conflict 

The medical conflict provision 

provides a mechanism for drivers and 

motor carriers to request that FMCSA 

make a final decision to resolve 

conflicting medical evaluations when 

either party does not accept the decision 

of a medical specialist. If two MEs 

disagree about the medical certification 

of a driver, the requirements set forth in 

§ 391.47 mandate that the applicant 

(driver or motor carrier) submit a copy 

of a report including results of all 

medical testing and the opinion of an 

impartial medical specialist in the field 

in which the medical conflict arose. The 

applicant may, if they choose to do so, 

submit the information above using fax 

and/or email. FMCSA uses the 

information collected from the 

applicant, including medical 

information, to determine if the driver 

should or should not be qualified. 

Without this provision and its 

incumbent driver medical information 

collection requirements, an unqualified 

person may be permitted to drive and 

qualified persons may be prevented 

from driving. 

Medical Exemptions and Skill 

Performance Evaluation (SPE) 

Certificates 

FMCSA may, on a case-by-case basis, 

grant a medical exemption from a 

physical qualification standard set forth 

in § 391.41, if the Agency determines 

the exemption is in the interest of the 

public and would likely achieve a level 

of safety that is equivalent to, or greater 

than, the level that would be achieved 

by complying with the regulation. 

Individuals with limb impairments are 

permitted to operate a CMV, but only 

when they are otherwise qualified and 

are granted an SPE certificate by 

FMCSA. Section 381.310 establishes the 

procedures that persons must follow to 

request exemptions from the FMCSRs. 

Without an exemption, individuals who 

do not meet the requirements in 

§ 391.41 would not be qualified to 

operate a CMV in interstate commerce. 

The application process for all medical 

exemptions currently provides for 

electronic collection of the application 

information by FMCSA for those 

applicants that choose to do so. They 

are able to fax or scan and email 

documents to FMCSA. In addition, the 

SPE Certificate Program maintains a 

database of application information and 

the Medical Programs Division 

maintains a database of application 

information for hearing and seizure 

exemptions. FMCSA must collect 

medical information about the driver’s 

medical condition in order to determine 

eligibility to receive a medical 

exemption or an SPE certificate. The 

Agency requires all medical exemptions 

be renewed every 2 years to ensure that 

the granting of the exemption does not 

diminish safety under § 381.310. 

Exemption holders are required to 

submit annual medical information for 

review to ensure the driver continues to 

meet the physical qualification 

requirements. In the interest of highway 

safety, the medical examination, 

medical exemption, and SPE certificate 

renewal should not be performed less 

frequently. 

The National Registry requires MEs 

who perform physical qualification 

examinations for interstate CMV drivers 

to complete training concerning 

FMCSA’s physical qualification 

standards, pass a certification test, and 

maintain competence through periodic 

training and testing, all of which require 

information collection. ME candidates 

submit demographic and eligibility data 

in order to register on the National 

Registry website to begin the 

certification process. This data is used 

to provide the public with contact 

information for those medical 


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1596 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 2025 / Notices 

professionals who are certified by 

FMCSA to perform interstate CMV 

driver physical qualification 

examinations. Less frequent collection 

of ME candidate test results and identity 

and eligibility information would mean 

fewer healthcare professionals 

attempting to become certified which 

would result in fewer certified MEs 

being available to the CMV driver and 

motor carrier population. This could 

place a huge burden on drivers and 

motor carriers to find certified MEs to 

perform their physical qualification 

examinations. Therefore, less frequent 

collection of ME candidate test results 

and identity and eligibility information 

is not an option. MEs must provide 

specific driver physical qualification 

examination information for every 

driver they examine on driver 

examination forms required by FMCSA 

and into the National Registry. Drivers 

must provide identification and health 

history information on the driver 

examination forms required by FMCSA. 

The purpose for providing this 

information is to enable the ME to 

determine if the driver meets the 

physical qualification standards under 

§ 391.41 and to ensure that there are no 

disqualifying medical conditions that 

could adversely affect their safe driving 

ability or cause incapacitation 

constituting a risk to the public. If this 

information were not required, the 

threat to public safety would be 

immense and unacceptable. 

The National Registry also requires 

motor carriers to verify the National 

Registry number of the MEs who certify 

their drivers and place a note in the DQ 

file. Less frequent verification of the 

National Registry numbers by motor 

carriers would mean drivers may not 

have been examined by a certified ME 

listed on the National Registry and they 

may no longer meet the physical 

qualifications standards of the FMCSRs 

even though they were previously 

certified as physically qualified. 

As a follow-on rule to the National 

Registry, the final rule titled ‘‘Medical 

Examiner’s Certification Integration’’ (80 

FR 22790), modified several of the 

requirements adopted in the National 

Registry final rule, some of which had 

a scheduled compliance date of June 22, 

2018. Specifically, it requires (1) 

FMCSA to electronically transmit from 

the National Registry to the State 

Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) the 

driver identification information, 

examination results, and restriction 

information from examinations 

performed for holders of CLPs/CDLs 

(interstate and intrastate); (2) FMCSA to 

transmit electronically to the SDLAs the 

medical variance information for all 

CMV drivers; and (3) SDLAs to post the 

driver identification, examination 

results, and restriction information 

received electronically from FMCSA. 

However, as the Medical Examiner’s 

Certification Integration final rule 

compliance date approached, FMCSA 

concluded that the information 

technology infrastructure necessary to 

implement the portions of the final rule 

that required the electronic transmission 

of data would not be available on June 

22, 2018. FMSCA extended the 

compliance two additional times, and 

that date is now June 23, 2025, for 

several provisions of the final rule. 

Since the compliance date for these 

provisions occurs during this renewal 

period, the annual burden hours and 

costs are now being covered as part of 

this ICR. 

Qualifications of Drivers; Diabetes 

Standard 

Under 49 CFR 391.41(b), drivers with 

a stable insulin regimen and properly 

controlled Insulin-Treated Diabetes 

Mellitus (ITDM) are permitted to 

operate CMVs in interstate commerce. 

An individual with ITDM is able to 

obtain an MEC from a certified ME for 

up to a maximum of 12 months if the 

(1) Treating Clinician (TC), the 

healthcare professional who manages 

and prescribes insulin for the treatment 

of the individual’s diabetes, completes 

the Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus 

Assessment Form, MCSA–5870, and 

attests to the certified ME that the 

individual maintains a stable insulin 

regimen and proper control of their 

diabetes, and (2) the certified ME 

determines that the individual meets 

FMCSA’s physical qualification 

standards. 

FMCSA allows TCs to provide the 

Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus 

Assessment Form, MCSA–5870, to the 

certified MEs, if the TCs choose to do 

so, using electronic communication 

such as fax or email. Consistent with 

OMB’s commitment to minimizing 

respondents’ recordkeeping and 

paperwork burdens, and the increased 

use of secure electronic modes of 

communication, the Agency anticipates 

that approximately 25 percent of the 

forms will be transmitted electronically. 

Qualifications of Drivers; Vision 

Standard 

Under 49 CFR 391.41(b), drivers who 

do not satisfy, with the worse eye, either 

FMCSA’s existing distant visual acuity 

standard with corrective lenses or the 

field of vision standard, or both, in 

§ 391.41(b)(10) are permitted to be 

physically qualified to operate a CMV in 

interstate commerce under specified 

conditions. The alternative vision 

standard adopted in the final rule uses 

a collaborative process for physical 

qualification. Before an individual may 

be medically certified under the 

alternative vision standard, the 

individual must have a vision 

evaluation conducted by an 

ophthalmologist or optometrist. The 

ophthalmologist or optometrist records 

the findings and provides specific 

medical opinions on the Vision 

Evaluation Report, Form MCSA–5871. 

Then, an ME performs an examination, 

considers the information provided on 

the Vision Evaluation Report, Form 

MCSA–5871, and determines whether 

the individual meets the alternative 

vision standard, as well as FMCSA’s 

other physical qualification standards. If 

the ME determines the individual meets 

the physical qualification standards, the 

ME may issue an MEC for up to 12 

months. 

FMCSA allows ophthalmologists and 

optometrists to provide the Vision 

Evaluation Report, Form MCSA–5871, 

to the certified MEs, if they choose to do 

so, using electronic communication 

such as fax or email. Consistent with 

OMB’s commitment to minimizing 

respondents’ recordkeeping and 

paperwork burdens, and the increased 

use of secure electronic modes of 

communication, the Agency anticipates 

that approximately 25 percent of the 

forms will be transmitted electronically. 

On September 17, 2024, FMCSA 

published a 60-day notice (89 FR 76177) 

requesting comment on the renewal of 

this ICR. No comments were received in 

response to that notice. 

Public Comments Invited: You are 

asked to comment on any aspect of this 

information collection, including: (1) 

whether the proposed collection is 

necessary for the performance of 

FMCSA’s functions; (2) the accuracy of 

the estimated burden; (3) ways for 

FMCSA to enhance the quality, 

usefulness, and clarity of the collected 

information; and (4) ways that the 

burden could be minimized without 

reducing the quality of the collected 

information. 

Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87. 

Thomas P. Keane, 

Associate Administrator, Office of Research 

and Registration. 

[FR Doc. 2025–00122 Filed 1–7–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 


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