Medical examiner

Scope

Medical professionals who perform DOT-required physical evaluations of drivers are required to meet Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements.

Regulatory citations

• 49 CFR 390.5T — Definitions

Key definitions

• Medical examiner (ME): A person who is certified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). The term includes, but is not limited to, Advanced Practice Nurses, Doctors of Chiropractic, Doctors of Osteopathy, Medical Doctors, and Physician Assistants.

Summary of requirements

Only medical examiners who are listed on the National Registry are authorized to conduct DOT-required physical examinations for interstate commercial motor vehicle drivers. Additionally, medical examiners are required to know and apply the FMCSRs, DOT protocols, medical guidelines, studies, and Medical Advisory Criteria. This is found in 391.43(c).

ME vs. MRO. Many confuse the term medical examiner with medical review officer (MRO). A medical review officer is a licensed physician who is responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory results generated by an employer’s drug testing program and evaluating medical explanations for certain drug test results. They are not interchangeable terms.