Is there a requirement for medical examiners to review beyond the 5870 form?

The statement that there is no requirement for medical examiners to review beyond the 5870 form is correct because the FMCSA provides the Medical Examination Report (MER) Form MCSA-5870 as a standardized tool that encompasses all necessary medical assessments and findings for a commercial driver. This form collects pertinent medical history, physical examinations, and other evaluations that are crucial for determining a driver's fitness for duty.

In most cases, the information contained within this form is deemed sufficient to make a decision regarding a driver's medical eligibility. Medical examiners are not mandated to obtain additional documentation unless they feel it is explicitly necessary based on specific concerns or the details provided by the driver. This streamlined process ensures efficiency while adhering to safety regulations.

Choosing to require additional documentation, or only addressing specific conditions or discrepancies, imposes unnecessary burdens on both the examiners and the drivers, contradicting the intent of creating a clear and coherent evaluation process outlined in the FMCSA guidelines.