New FMCSA Action on Medical Examiners: How Negligent Hiring Leads to Semi-Truck Wrecks
In April 2025, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed a critical new rule: the removal of non-compliant medical examiners from the National Registry. This step represents an urgent move to strengthen commercial driver safety and prevent serious trucking accidents.
For the public, this change signals recognition of a dangerous reality: when trucking companies fail to ensure that drivers undergo proper medical evaluations, the risk of catastrophic semi-truck wrecks rises sharply.
At Kendall Law Group, we represent victims whose lives have been devastated by negligent hiring practices within the trucking industry. We understand how important proper medical screenings are in protecting lives on our roads, and we fight to hold trucking companies accountable when they cut corners.
The Proposed FMCSA Rule Change Explained
FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners ensures that only qualified health professionals evaluate commercial drivers. Medical examiners must meet strict training, testing, and compliance requirements to stay listed.
The newly proposed rule would allow the FMCSA to immediately remove medical examiners who fail to maintain compliance or violate required standards. This move is designed to:
- Eliminate fraudulent or incompetent medical evaluations
- Strengthen the medical certification process
- Prevent medically unfit drivers from legally operating commercial vehicles
- Improve overall road safety for all motorists
Prior to this proposal, the FMCSA’s removal process lacked clear authority for immediate action against non-compliant examiners. This regulatory gap allowed dangerous situations where unfit drivers stayed on the road longer than they should have.
Why Proper Medical Screening Matters for Truck Driver Safety
Commercial truck drivers operate vehicles that can weigh 80,000 pounds or more. Medical conditions such as untreated sleep apnea, heart disease, diabetes, vision problems, and seizure disorders can severely impair a driver’s ability to operate safely.
When a trucking company hires a driver with serious medical risks, without confirming a valid, compliant medical certification, it engages in negligent hiring. That negligence can quickly translate into catastrophic crashes, life-threatening injuries, and fatalities on highways and local roads.
FMCSA’s crackdown on non-compliant examiners highlights the simple truth: Proper medical evaluation is not optional. It is a fundamental necessity for public safety.
How Non-Compliant Medical Examiners Contribute to Trucking Accidents
When medical examiners fail to meet federal standards, the consequences can be devastating. Some examples include:
- Certifying drivers who suffer from untreated sleep apnea, leading to fatigue-related crashes
- Approving drivers with unstable cardiovascular conditions, risking sudden incapacitation at the wheel
- Falsifying medical records for unfit drivers to quickly move them into active duty
Trucking companies have a legal duty to ensure that every driver they employ holds a valid and properly issued Medical Examiner’s Certificate. Failing to verify this critical document can constitute negligent hiring.
When companies ignore red flags, hire unqualified drivers, or fail to check the authenticity of medical certifications, they expose the public to preventable dangers.
The Direct Link Between Negligent Hiring and Semi-Truck Wrecks
Negligent hiring remains a leading cause of many serious trucking accidents. Companies that rush the hiring process, overlook medical certification irregularities, or fail to investigate a driver’s history violate federal and state regulations.
Common negligent hiring scenarios include:
- Employing drivers whose medical certifications come from unverified or fraudulent examiners
- Failing to re-evaluate drivers after incidents suggesting possible medical issues
- Retaining drivers after discovering expired or revoked medical certifications
Each time a company hires or retains an unfit driver, it takes an unacceptable gamble with the lives of others on the road.
The FMCSA’s proposed rule seeks to close loopholes that allow medically unfit drivers to continue operating. By making it easier to remove non-compliant examiners, the FMCSA aims to eliminate dangerous drivers before tragedy strikes.
What Victims Need to Know About Legal Claims Involving Negligent Hiring
If you or a loved one suffered injury in a semi-truck accident, and negligent hiring or improper medical certification played a role, you may have the right to seek significant compensation.
Proving a negligent hiring claim typically involves uncovering:
- Incomplete or missing medical certifications
- Driver health histories ignored by the employer
- Employment records showing a pattern of unsafe practices
- Company knowledge of driver medical risks before the crash
Kendall Law Group conducts aggressive investigations into trucking accidents. Our team reviews every aspect of hiring, training, supervision, and compliance to build the strongest possible case for our clients.
Holding Trucking Companies Accountable: Why It Matters
Pursuing claims against negligent trucking companies does more than help injury victims recover financial losses. It also forces corporations to rethink their hiring practices and safety policies.
Trucking companies must:
- Thoroughly vet every driver’s medical fitness
- Confirm that medical certifications come from FMCSA-compliant examiners
- Perform regular checks to ensure ongoing driver health and compliance
- Remove drivers from service immediately if medical concerns arise
The FMCSA’s proposal underscores that safety starts long before a truck ever hits the road. It begins with rigorous screening, thorough evaluations, and strict adherence to federal safety requirements.
Companies that choose to ignore these obligations must be held accountable.
Kansas City Semi Accident Injury Trial Lawyers
FMCSA’s new proposal shines a spotlight on a long-standing issue: unsafe medical certification practices endanger everyone. Trucking companies must not only meet the letter of the law but also honor their moral obligation to ensure only healthy, qualified drivers operate semi-trucks.
If you believe that negligent hiring or improper driver certification contributed to your semi-truck accident injury, contact Kendall Law Group is here to help. Our attorneys fight to protect injury victims and demand full justice for the harm they have endured.
For more information, visit our TRUCK ACCIDENT practice page.
