OTTAWA — Transport Canada has commenced mirroring a U.S. rule that identifies truck drivers who are barred from operating a vehicle in that country for medical reasons.

Last winter, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced plans to implement the long awaited unique medical identifier program by 2012.

The program calls for an alphabetical identifier (Code W for Canadian drivers and Code V for American drivers) to be placed on the driver’s licence of commercial operators who are not permitted to enter the other country because they’re insulin-dependent diabetics, hearing impaired, or have epilepsy.

Some of those drivers are currently allowed to drive in Canada but not in the U.S. and will have Code W placed on their licence. U.S. drivers barred Canada will get a V code.

This past summer the Canadian Council of Motor Vehicle Administrators tapped Susan McCracken of New Brunswick to ensure all jurisdictions are ready to implement these measures by 2012 as well.