Indiana Crashes Involving Large Trucks
What is done to make sure that our families are not injured in Semi Tractor Trailer accidents? How do we balance that with making sure that one of the greatest suppliers of goods to the country. One thing is to make sure that drivers of the big trucks are fit to operate these multiple ton machines. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations establish the minimum physical and mental requirements for allowing a driver to qualify to operate the big rigs. Companies are allowed to make the qualifications more stringent, but the minimum standards must be met. Below is a small sampling of the requirements that are part of the FMCFRs guidelines designed to make the operation of the Semi Tractor-Trailers safe during operation.
Section 390.3(d) of the FMCSRs allows employers to have more stringent medical requirements.
391.41(b)(1)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no loss of a foot, leg, hand, or arm, or has been granted a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate pursuant to Section 391.49. and
391.41(b)(2)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person has no impairment of:
(i) A hand or finger which interferes with prehension or power grasping.
(ii) An arm, foot, or leg which interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle.
(iii) Any other significant limb defect or limitation which interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle.
391.41(b)(3)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control.
391.41(b)(4)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis.
or
Any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure.
391.41(b)(5)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with the ability to control and drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.
391.41(b)(6)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with the ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.
391.41(b)(8)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy;
or
Any other condition which is likely to cause the loss of consciousness, or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle.
391.41(b)(9)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with the driver’s ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.
391.41 (b)(10)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has a distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye with or without corrective lenses, or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses;
and
distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses;
and
field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye;
and
the ability to recognize the colors of traffic control signals and devices showing standard; red, green, and amber.
391.41(b)(11)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial vehicle if that person:
First perceives a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than five feet with or without the use of a hearing aid.
or
If tested by use of an audiometric device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid when the audiometric device is calibrated to the American National Standard, [formerly American Standard Association (ASA)] Z24.5-1951.
391.41(b)(12)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial vehicle if that person:
Does not use a controlled substance identified in 21 CFR 1308.11, Schedule I, an amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other habit-forming drug.
Exception: A driver may use such a substance or drug, if the substance or drug is prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner who is familiar with the driver’s medical history and assigned duties; and has advised the driver that the prescribed substance or drug will not adversely affect the driver’s ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
391.41(b)(13)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism.
If you know anyone who has been injured in a crash with a semi tractor-trailer, and have questions about their rights and responsibilities, please know that we can help. Contact Us.