Requirements for Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has certain requirements for tractor trailer drivers. These requirements have been created to help reduce the number of truck accidents on our roadways and highways. Motor carriers (trucking companies) must assure that all drivers of commercial motor vehicles meet a set of minimum qualifications. The qualifications are detailed in FMCSR 391.
A driver must meet the following requirements to drive a commercial motor vehicle:
1. Be in good health and physically able to perform all duties of a driver;
2. Be at least 21 years of age;
3. Speak and read English well enough to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic and signals, respond to official questions, and be able to make legible entries on reports and records;
4. Be able to drive the vehicle safely;
5. Know how to safely load and properly block, brace, and secure the cargo;
6. Have only one valid commercial motor vehicle operator's license;
7. Provide an employing motor carrier with a list of all motor vehicle violations or a signed statement that driver has not been convicted of any motor vehicle violations during the past 12 months. A disqualified driver must not be allowed to drive a commercial motor vehicle for any reason;
8. Pass a driver's road test or equivalent;
9. Complete an application for employment; and
10. Possess a valid medical certificate.
In addition to the above requirements, tractor trailer drivers must meet certain physical requirements. The physical requirements are detailed at length in FMCSR 391.41. Some examples include:
1. No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes requiring insulin for control;
2. No clinical diagnosis of any disqualifying heart disease;
3. No clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure;
4. No clinical diagnosis of epilepsy;
5. 20/40 vision or better with corrected lenses;
6. Distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 in both eyes;
7. The ability to recognize the colors (red, green and amber) of traffic signals;
8. Hearing to perceive a forced whisper;
9. No history of drug (Schedule 1) use or any other substance identified in the FMCSRs; and
10. Has no clinical diagnosis of alcoholism.
As an experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer, I am happy to discuss your case with you and answer any questions you may have. If requested, I will immediately alert our truck accident team and begin taking the same action as the truck company and their insurance company.
The call and consultation are free. I can be reached 24 hours a day at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). Call me personally and I will answer all the questions and concerns you may have. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
If you don’t want to call or you can't call, you can email me at john@pagecagle.com. I look forward to speaking with you and helping you through these trying times. You can also visit my website, www.TruckAccidentLawGroup.com for more information.
