US Medical Requirements For Drivers

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IN THE UNITED STATES:

A commercial vehicle in the United States is defined as the following:

Commercial motor vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle—(1) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or(2) Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or(3) Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or(4) Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C.

All applicants holding or receiving a PEI Class 1,2,3, or 4 driver’s licence are required to provide a satisfactory medical report upon initial application and on a regular cycle thereafter, corresponding with the driver’s age.

PEI drivers that hold a Class 5 driver's licence who operate a commercial vehicle (as defined above) in the United States are required to meet the same medical reporting cycles as the holders of a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4.
(PEI Class 5 drivers that meet those requirements will have a “M” endorsement on the front of their PEI driver`s licence)

Canadian commercial drivers are no longer required to carry a medical card for inspection by United States officials as proof of medical fitness but are required to have an identifier (code W) on their Canadian driver licence by February 2014 if the following medical conditions do exist.

The Code W on the driver's licence does not prevent the operation of passenger vehicles or motorcycles in the United States.

The United States has the following prohibitions:

1.  Insulin-dependent diabetic drivers are not qualified to operate in the United States.

2.  Hearing-impaired drivers who do not meet the United States standard are not qualified to operate in the United States.

3.  Drivers with a diagnosis of epilepsy are not qualified to operate in the United States.

4.  Drivers with monocular vision are not qualified to operate in the United States.


Contact Information

Telephone:
Charlottetown: (902) 368-5265
Summerside: (902) 432-2714