Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate Application Form Page 20

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49 CFR 391.41 Physical Qualifications for Drivers
THE DRIVER'S ROLE
Responsibilities, work schedules, physical and emotional demands, and lifestyles among commercial drivers vary by the type of driving that they do. Some of the main
types of drivers include the following: turn around or short relay (drivers return to their home base each evening); long relay (drivers drive 9-11 hours and then have at
least a 10-hour off-duty period), straight through haul (cross country drivers); and team drivers (drivers share the driving by alternating their 5-hour driving periods and
5-hour rest periods.)
The following factors may be involved in a driver's performance of duties: abrupt schedule changes and rotating work schedules, which may result in irregular sleep
patterns and a driver beginning a trip in a fatigued condition; long hours; extended time away from family and friends, which may result in lack of social support; tight
pickup and delivery schedules, with irregularity in work, rest, and eating patterns, adverse road, weather and traffic conditions, which may cause delays and lead to
hurriedly loading or unloading cargo in order to compensate for the lost time; and environmental conditions such as excessive vibration, noise, and extremes in
temperature. Transporting passengers or hazardous materials may add to the demands on the commercial driver.
There may be duties in addition to the driving task for which a driver is responsible and needs to be fit. Some of these responsibilities are: coupling and uncoupling
trailer(s) from the tractor, loading and unloading trailer(s) (sometimes a driver may lift a heavy load or unload as much as 50,000 lbs. of freight after sitting for a long
period of time without any stretching period); inspecting the operating condition of tractor and/or trailer(s) before, during and after delivery of cargo; lifting, installing, and
removing heavy tire chains; and, lifting heavy tarpaulins to cover open top trailers. The above tasks demand agility, the ability to bend and stoop, the ability to maintain a
crouching position to inspect the underside of the vehicle, frequent entering and exiting of the cab, and the ability to climb ladders on the tractor and/or trailer(s).
In addition, a driver must have the perceptual skills to monitor a sometimes complex driving situation, the judgment skills to make quick decisions, when necessary,
and the manipulative skills to control an oversize steering wheel, shift gears using a manual transmission, and maneuver a vehicle in crowded areas.
(12) (i) Does not use a controlled
§391.45 PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR DRIVERS
(7) Has no established medical history or clinical
(a) A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he
substance identified in 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule
diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular,
is physically qualified to do so and, except as provided in §391.67,
I, an amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other
neuromuscular, or vascular disease which interferes with his
has on his person the original, or a photographic copy, of a medical
habit-forming drug. (ii) Exception: A driver may
ability to control and operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.
examiner's certificate that he is physically qualified to drive a
use such a substance or drug, if the substance or
(8) Has no established medical history or clinical
commercial motor vehicle.
drug is prescribed by a licensed medical
diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to
(b) A person is physically qualified to drive a motor vehicle if that
practitioner who: (A) Is familiar with the driver's
cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a
person:
medical history and assigned duties; and (B) Has
commercial motor vehicle;
(1) Has no loss of a foot, a leg, a hand, or an arm, or has been
advised the driver that the prescribed substance
(9) Has no mental, nervous, organic, or functional
granted a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate (formerly
or drug will not adversely affect the driver's ability
disease or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with his ability
Limb Waiver Program) pursuant to §391.49.
to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle; and
to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely;
(2) Has no impairment of: (i) A hand or finger which interferes
(13) Has no current clinical diagnosis of
(10) Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen)
with prehension or power grasping; or (ii) An arm, foot, or leg which
alcoholism.
in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately
interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks associated with
corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses,
operating a commercial motor vehicle; or any other significant limb
distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes
defect or limitation which interferes with the ability to perform normal
with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least 70
tasks associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle; or has
degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability
been granted a SPE Certificate pursuant to §391.49.
to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing
(3) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of
standard red, green and amber;
diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control;
(11) First perceives a forced whispered voice in the
(4) Has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction,
better ear not less than 5 feet with or without the use of a
angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other
hearing aid, or, if tested by use of an audiometric device, does
cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by
not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than
syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure.
40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz with or without a
(5) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a
hearing device when the audiometric device is calibrated to the
respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with his ability to control and
American National Standard (formerly ASA Standard)
drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.
Z24.5-1951;
(6) Has no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure
likely to interfere with his ability to operate a commercial motor
vehicle safely.

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