Both the federal and Connecticut Departments of Transportation recognize a responsibility to make the roads as safe as possible for all who use them. A special license is required to operate vehicles that pose a special risk because of their size or cargo. Part of the requirement for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is to pass a medical examination. The system of medical examination is overseen by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA. Until 2014, the FMCSA allowed any practitioner with an acceptable license (physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of chiropractic) to perform these exams. Now exams can only be done by persons who have taken a special course, passed an exam, and joined the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

The State of Connecticut requires a Public Passenger Endorsement for drivers of school buses, taxicabs, and shuttles. This Endorsement requires the same medical evaluation as a CDL license. For more information, see the Connecticut DMV website.

We keep a supply of the necessary forms, but you can save time by downloading, printing, and completing the first two pages from the FMCSA site (you do not need to print the other pages). If you do not bring the completed pages with you, please arrive 15 minutes early so you can complete the form.

Our division offers medical evaluations for CDL licensure at our Occupational Medicine clinic in Farmington. Maria Clement, APRN, is registered with FMCSA.

Please note that the clinician performing the examination is not functioning as the treating physician; the examiner’s role is to protect the safety interests of the general public. Any medical conditions identified during the exam will be referred back to your own physician for further evaluation and treatment. The examiner is obligated to immediately enter the results of the exam into the FMCSA’s on-line database, stating whether the driver is qualified, disqualified, or temporarily disqualified.

In some cases your employer may have an agreement with UConn Health to cover the cost of the examination. If you think your employer does so, advise the scheduler at the time you make the appointment so we can confirm that the agreement is valid. Otherwise, you must pay for the exam at the time of service, by cash, credit card, or check. As of August 2017, our charge is $110, which includes the exam, urinalysis, vision testing, completion of forms, and entry of the results into the federal on-line database.