FMCSA Driver Medical Standards and Fitness for Duty 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A driver who is under the influence of a prescription drug that impairs driving is:
- Allowed to drive if the drug is prescribed
- Subject to the same penalties as if intoxicated (Correct answer)
- Exempt if they notify dispatch before driving
- Required only to reduce speed
Correct answer: Subject to the same penalties as if intoxicated
Operating a CMV while impaired by any substance — including legal prescriptions — violates FMCSA regulations and carries the same penalties as intoxication.
Question 2: Under FMCSA rules, a driver found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 or greater while on duty must:
- Be placed out of service for 8 hours
- Be placed out of service for 24 hours (Correct answer)
- Be immediately reported to law enforcement
- Have their CDL suspended for 30 days
Correct answer: Be placed out of service for 24 hours
A BAC of 0.04 or greater places the driver out of service for 24 hours; the 0.04 limit is lower than the standard 0.08 for CMV drivers.
Question 3: What must a medical examiner list on the Medical Examiner's Certificate if a driver requires corrective lenses?
- The driver's prescription strength
- A restriction stating corrective lenses are required (Correct answer)
- The optometrist's contact information
- No notation needed — just pass the exam
Correct answer: A restriction stating corrective lenses are required
If a driver uses corrective lenses to meet vision standards, the MEC must include a restriction requiring their use while driving.
Question 4: Which condition is an absolute disqualification under FMCSA medical standards, with no waiver available?
- Controlled hypertension
- Loss of a foot or leg without a prosthesis and no exemption (Correct answer)
- Diabetes managed with oral medication
- Color blindness
Correct answer: Loss of a foot or leg without a prosthesis and no exemption
Loss of a foot or leg without both a prosthesis and an FMCSA exemption is an absolute disqualification for CMV operation.
Question 5: How must a driver's medical certificate information be handled after the FMCSA Medical Registry rule took effect?
- Drivers mail their MEC to FMCSA directly
- Medical examiners electronically submit results to FMCSA's National Registry (Correct answer)
- Carriers hold all MECs on file only
- Drivers self-report annually to their state DMV
Correct answer: Medical examiners electronically submit results to FMCSA's National Registry
Certified medical examiners must electronically submit examination results to FMCSA's National Registry within 24 hours of completing the exam.
Question 6: What is the FMCSA requirement for a driver who has a medical condition that could cause sudden incapacitation?
- Allowed if medication controls the condition
- The driver is disqualified from CMV operation (Correct answer)
- The driver must have a co-driver at all times
- The driver must only do local, short-haul routes
Correct answer: The driver is disqualified from CMV operation
Any condition that may cause sudden incapacitation — such as uncontrolled epilepsy or unpredictable syncope — is disqualifying under FMCSA medical standards.
FMCSA Driver Medical Standards and Fitness for Duty 2
A driver who is under the influence of a prescription drug that impairs driving is: