The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it will make its new medical examiner training specifications available to interstate fleet operators.

Updates will be posted to the National Registry Web site. FMCSA is also making available a Listserv for commercial drivers and operators to utilize for receiving updates.

This information will include the Medical Examiner Training Curriculum to provide FMCSA medical examiners with knowledge about commercial motor vehicle drivers and the physical and mental demands of their job. This will also supplement the medical examiner's general physical examination knowledge and training.

A new final rule on workplace drug and alcohol testing was published FMCSA earlier this month that gives drivers guidance on the types of drugs tested as well as the procedures and protocols to be used by approved medical examiners, or MROs. This list of providers has been opposed by the school bus industry, which has said that many school bus companies, especially those in rural areas, could be adversely affected by fewer medical choices and higher medical costs when performing due diligence on prospective new drivers.

Still, the rule goes into effect this October.

Meanwhile, FMCSA is seeking input from the perspective of medical examiners, training and testing organizations, medical professional associations and societies, and other members of the public who are interested in these medical examiner training specifications, what FMCSA this week called "an essential part of the medical examiner certification program."