Document ID: FMCSA-2008-0201-0001
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Request for Applications for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Medical Review Board
Posted Date: 2008-06-30T04:00Z

[Federal Register: June 30, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 126)]
[Notices]               
[Page 36953-36954]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn08-143]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 
Request for Applications for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration Medical Review Board

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for applications for the Medical Review Board.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA solicits applications from interested physicians to 
serve on the Agency's Medical Review Board (MRB). The MRB, authorized 
by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), provides scientific advice to the 
Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) and the FMCSA Administrator 
on medical issues relating to the physical qualification standards for 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. In 2006, the Secretary 
appointed five physicians for 2-year terms to serve on the MRB. In 
2008, the Secretary reappointed the physicians to the MRB, with the 
chairperson currently serving a 2-year term, and the other four members 
serving staggered 1-year terms. In 2009, the Secretary will appoint 
three new members to a 2-year term, and reappoint one of the current 
members to a 1-year term to ensure the MRB will operate continuously 
with five active members. As a result, the chairperson's and one of the 
members' terms will expire in 2010 and the other three members' terms 
will expire in 2011.

DATES: Applications must be received by July 30, 2008. FMCSA will 
periodically call for applications as deemed necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director, Medical 
Programs, 202-366-4001, FMCSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 
a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    FMCSA has current statutory authority under 49 U.S.C. 31502 and 
31136 to determine the physical qualifications of interstate CMV 
drivers. The physical qualifications regulations for commercial motor 
vehicle (CMV) drivers in interstate commerce are found in 49 CFR 
391.41. Section 391.43 contains instructions to medical examiners for 
performing physical examinations of CMV drivers. FMCSA medical 
standards and guidelines are critical medical program components in 
accomplishing FMCSA's mission to reduce crashes, injuries, and 
fatalities involving large trucks and buses.
    In 2005, Congress passed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 
109-59). Section 4116(a) of SAFETEA-LU (codified at 49 U.S.C. 31149) 
required FMCSA to establish the MRB to provide scientific advice on 
matters related to CMV driver health and safety. The Charter for the 
MRB was originally approved and filed with the General Services 
Administration on September 20, 2005 [FR 70 57642], and renewed on 
November 2, 2007.
    The MRB promotes CMV safety by providing science-based medical 
expertise on the medical qualification of CMV drivers, reviewing and 
revising medical standards, and interpreting medical research. These 
activities address the appropriateness and

[[Page 36954]]

viability of the medical standards in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations, the framework that relates driver health to safe CMV 
operation. The MRB assesses and provides recommendations to FMCSA about 
regulations that may need to be changed or updated. FMCSA's MRB 
provides information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of 
Transportation and the FMCSA Administrator on the development and 
implementation of science-based physical qualification standards 
applicable to interstate CMV drivers, and implementation of a national 
registry of medical examiners. The MRB does not hold regulatory 
development responsibilities, manage programs, or make decisions 
affecting such programs. The MRB provides a forum for the development, 
consideration, and communication of information from a knowledgeable, 
scientific perspective. The MRB began operations in February 2006, with 
formal deliberations beginning in August 2006. The MRB meets quarterly 
each year and has issued many recommendations on cardiovascular 
diseases, seizure disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, and other topics 
pertinent to the certified driver medical examination.

II. Request for Applications

    FMCSA seeks physicians from many different medical specialties to 
develop science-based CMV physical qualification standards, medical 
advisory criteria and safety policies. As members of the Agency's MRB, 
physicians will provide expert guidance on medical guidelines and 
standards. The Agency is committed to appointing physicians with 
diverse professional backgrounds and taking into account gender, 
ethnicity, demographic and socioeconomic factors. To be eligible for 
appointment, physicians must (a) Be a U.S. citizen; (b) not be a 
Federal government employee; (c) have a U.S. medical license (as a 
Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy) and is in good standing with a 
State medical licensing authority; (d) be able to attend three to four 
face-to-face meetings a year and three to five 1 hour teleconferences, 
and spend approximately 5 hours per month providing additional 
consultation. Interested physicians should have a commitment to 
transportation safety and health, an understanding of evidence-based 
medicine and research methods, knowledge of transportation medical 
issues, history of excellence in original medical research demonstrated 
through publications in peer-reviewed journals, experience on panels 
that develop medical standards and a record of leadership activities in 
transportation safety and medical professional organizations.
    MRB members are special government employees under the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act of 1972, Public Law 92-463. While attending 
meetings or conducting business of the Committee, expenses for travel 
and subsistence or per diem allowances will be paid by FMCSA.
    Applications should be submitted online at http://
www.mrb.fmcsa.dot.gov. For additional information, please contact 
Jennifer Musick at 703-998-0189, extension 237, or via e-mail at 
contactmrb@fmcsa.dot.gov. FMCSA will accept applications through July 
30, 2008, and will periodically call for applications as the MRB work 
continues.

    Issued on: June 20, 2008.
John H. Hill,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-14758 Filed 6-27-08; 8:45 am]

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