New medical reporting rules for PEI truck drivers announced

CHARLOTTETOWN, (Sept. 21, 2004) — The P.E.I. Department of Transportation and Public Works has launched a new medical reporting system for commercial vehicle drivers.

The new medical reporting system adopts the current North American standard that jurisdictions rely upon in determining whether a person is medically fit to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Under the system, all holders of Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 driver’s licences will be required to have a medical certificate completed by their family physicians.

Current holders of commercial driver’s licences are being contacted by the department to advise of the changes.

The new time frames to file a medical certificate are as follows: Under the age of 45, a medical exam is required every 5 years; between the ages of 45 and 65, a medical exam is required every 3 years; and drivers over 65 are required to undergo an exam every year.

The system will take approximately three or four years to fully implement for all commercial drivers.

— from The Guardian (Charlottetown)