There are now new medical requirements for truck drivers and other commercial drivers.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services is adding a Commercial Driver's License holder's medical certificate to the driver's personal driving record.
The change will comply with new Federal Requirements.
Since January 30th, customers who apply for or renew a CDL are now required to provide medical documentation to the Department of Driver Services where it will be added to each driver's personal driving history.
Officials say truck safety is getting better each year.
"Of accidents since 1975, truck accidents where there are fatalities and it has decreased every year including last year," said Fred Taylor Company Safety VP Ray Houston.
Houston credits a big part of that to the Federal Government.
Drivers will be required to submit a medical examiner's certificate to receive a CDL, that way they are added to the Commercial Driver's License System database.
"The state of Georgia will have to digitalize your physical onto the back of your driver's license," said Houston.
Eventually this will lead to drivers no longer needing to carry a paper copy of their certificate when they are driving around.
"Most drivers will have their drivers license with them, there are quite a few that forget to carry their medical card, this cures that one problem," said Houston.
Which makes it easier for everyone to be in compliance.
"The other piece it does, is it puts it out in the digital state where carriers and police officers can check on it much easier," said Houston.
And the physical for the DOT is thorough.
"If your neck size is too large, if you are overweight, if you have a blood pressure problem, they are going to check your eyes, they don't miss much of anything," said Houston.
And knowing their medical history is imperative when operating an 80 thousand pound tractor trailer.
"Different health reasons and the safety of others while you are on the road, you want to make sure, nobody is not taking different kind of medication," said Houston.
"If you are riding down the road and have a stroke or a heart attack while you are driving that truck, you can run over somebody and kill them," said CDL Holder Darius Richardson
Ultimately making the roads safer for drivers.
The Department of Driver Services will be sending notices to CDL drivers encouraging them to submit the required information.
All CDL holders will have until 2014 to submit their self-certification to comply with the requirements.
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