The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced a final rule revising federal regulations permitting individuals with a stable insulin regimen and properly controlled insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) to be qualified to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.

Previously, individuals with ITDM were prohibited from driving CMVs in interstate commerce unless they obtained an exemption from FMCSA.  The action removes major administrative and financial burdens for this population of CMV operators while maintaining a high level of safety.

The rule enables a certified medical examiner (ME) to grant an individual with ITDM a Medical Examiner's Certificate, MCSA-5876, for up to 12 months.  To do so, the treating clinician - the healthcare professional who manages, and prescribes insulin for, the treatment of the individual's diabetes - provides the ITDM Assessment Form, MCSA-5870, to the certified ME indicating that the individual maintains a stable insulin regimen and proper control of his or her diabetes.  The certified ME is then responsible for determining if the individual meets FMCSA's physical qualification standards and can operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

"This final action delivers economic savings to affected drivers and our agency, and streamlines processes by eliminating unnecessary regulatory burdens and redundancy," said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez.  "It's a win-win for all parties involved."

The final rule will eliminate the exemption program that currently requires individuals with ITDM to incur recurring costs to renew and maintain their exemptions.  FMCSA estimates this will save the nearly 5,000 individuals with ITDM that currently have exemptions more than $5 million per year more than what they would endure under the exemption program.  The final rule will also save new ITDM exemption applicants and their associated motor carriers approximately $215,000 annually in opportunity and compliance costs related with the exemption program's waiting period.

As an agency, FMCSA will save more than $1 million per year over the next three years in costs associated with administering the diabetes exemption program.