WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 24, 2008) — Some commercial driver license holders may be operating school buses, motorcoaches and trucks even though they suffer from serious medical conditions, the Government Accountability Office found in a report to Congress.

The study, which cross-references three federal databases, found 563,000 CDL holders, or 4 percent of the drivers in the Department of Transportation’s database, were determined by the federal government to be eligible for full disability benefits. While this data does not identify which drivers had active CDLs, an analysis of 12 states showed that 85 percent had a current CDL even though they had a medical condition from which they received full disabilities benefits.

In one of the most serious of the 15 cases examined in detail, a Maryland truck driver continued operating a dump truck despite receiving disability benefits for complete deafness. The medical examiner later acknowledged error in certifying the driver.

In the only instance specifically associated with pupil transportation, a school bus driver continued working for several years while still receiving Social Security disabilities benefits.

Read the full report online [PDF].