If you haven't heard, changes are coming in the way we get our medical certificates. No longer will we be able to go to our family doctor (unless they comply) to get our physical. We will have to find a certified medical examiner that has registered on the new federal program that is to go in effect May of 2014. As of the time of this writing, there is 1 examiner in my hometown of 50,000 people. There is another one 30 miles away and one more 60 miles away. You can check out who's certified in your hometown by following this link. Some industry compliance experts believe the deadline will be delayed because of the small number of medical professionals that are certified. It is my understanding that if you get a medical card at your usual doctor who isn't certified prior to the effective date of May 21, 2014, you will be in compliance until the expiration of that card. After that, you'll have to go to a certified examiner.
The following information is taken right off of the FMCSA website. You can find it and more information by following this link. The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners is a Federal program that establishes requirements for health care professionals who perform physical qualification examinations for truck and bus drivers. To become a certified medical examiner (ME) and be listed on the National Registry, health care professionals must complete training and testing on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) physical qualifications standards and guidelines. The National Registry website is accessible to carriers, drivers, enforcement officials, and the general public.
All health care professionals whose scope of practice authorizes them to perform physical examinations, as defined by the State in which they practice,and who intend to perform physical examinations and issue medical certificates for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to meet the requirements of Section 391.41 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) must be certified and listed on FMCSA's National Registry by May 21, 2014.