This FMCSA rule, which came into effect last November, will give the decision power to the medical examiners regarding a diabetic truck driver, insulin treatments, and their qualification to operate. These medical examiners will contact the trucker treating clinician to gather more information to decide.

This rule will eliminate the current process times of 2-3 months which truckers had to wait through to become disqualified to operate or requesting an exception to the FMCSA. This makes it easier for the stable and well treated truckers to continue their interstate operations.

With the elimination of the exception process, the medical examiners and the treating clinician of the diabetic trucker still have to be convinced that driver is well treated and has his disease under control.

With the old rule, the agency counted up to six months to decide if the trucker was granted with exception or not. And while they waited, their incomes were in pause because they weren’t allowed to drive. The FMSCA considers that this new rule will offer considerable savings for the involved drivers as well as to the agency, by excluding redundant and unnecessary regulatory burdens.