49 CFR · Part 391
49 CFR 391.45 · Driver qualification

Persons who must be medically examined and certified

✓ Verbatim federal regulation (eCFR)

The following persons must be medically examined and certified in accordance with § 391.43 as physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle:

(a) Any person who has not been medically examined and certified as physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle;

(b) Any driver who has not been medically examined and certified as qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle during the preceding 24 months, unless the driver is required to be examined and certified in accordance with paragraph (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or

(h) of this section;

(c) Any driver authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle only within an exempt intracity zone pursuant to § 391.62, if such driver has not been medically examined and certified as qualified to drive in such zone during the preceding 12 months;

(d) [Reserved]

(e) Any driver who has diabetes mellitus treated with insulin for control and who has obtained a medical examiner's certificate under the standards in § 391.46, if such driver's most recent medical examination and certification as qualified to drive did not occur during the preceding 12 months;

(f) Any driver who does not satisfy, with the worse eye, either the distant visual acuity standard with corrective lenses or the field of vision standard, or both, in § 391.41(b)(10)(i) and who has obtained a medical examiner's certificate under the standards in § 391.44, if such driver's most recent medical examination and certification as qualified to drive did not occur during the preceding 12 months;

(g) Any driver whose ability to perform his or her normal duties has been impaired by a physical or mental injury or disease; and

(h) On or after June 23, 2025, any person found by a medical examiner not to be physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle under the provisions of paragraph (g)(3) of § 391.43.

Source history: 83 FR 47520, Sept. 19, 2018, as amended at 86 FR 32651, June 22, 2021; 87 FR 3419, Jan. 21, 2022; 88 FR 80192, Nov. 17, 2023; 89 FR 90623, Nov. 18, 2024

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Reproduced verbatim from the electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), the official U.S. government source. X3 Fleet Safety LLC is a compliance-services company, not a law firm; this page is regulatory reference, not legal advice. X3 is not affiliated with FMCSA or USDOT.