The Medical Review Board (MRB) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was convened August 31, 2006, at the Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. The meeting was open to the public.

Board Members Present:

Kurt Hegmann, MD, Acting Chair
Gunnar Andersson, MD
Michael Greenberg, MD
Barbara Phillips, MD
Matthew Rizzo, MD

FMCSA Staff:

Rose McMurray, Acting Chief Safety Officer and Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development
Larry Minor, Director of the Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations
Mary Gunnels, Chief, Physical Qualifications Division
Kaye Kirby, Team Leader, Medical Review Board
Pearlie Robinson, Co-Leader, Medical Review Board

Others:

Cynthia Roscoe, U.S. DOT, Office of the Secretary
Ellison Wittels, MD, FMCSA Sr. Medical Consultant
Eric Wood, MD, ACOEM/FMCSA Fellow
Frederic Wood, FMCSA Office of Chief Counsel
John Steinhoff, FMCSA
Richard Johnson, FMCSA
Teresa Doggett, FMCSA
Christine Hydock, FMCSA
Monica Lanos, FMCSA
Shashunga Clayton, FMCSA
Linda Phillips, FMCSA
Madeline Boyd, FMCSA
Pam Pelcovits, FMCSA
Mark Johnson, FMCSA
Richard P. Johnson, FMCSA
David Goettee, FMCSA

John Sheridan, Manila Consulting Group
Laurie Conly, Manila Consulting Group
Maria Soto, Manila Consulting Group
Dave Burns, Manila Consulting Group

Raphael Warsham, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)
Peter Herbst, Yellow Transportation
Art French, United States Coast Guard
Ryan Mead, United Parcel Service
Katie Hathaway, American Diabetes Association
Christie Cullivan, American Trucking Association
Essie Wagner, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
Melissa Theriault, OOIDA
Dave Osiecki, American Trucking Association
Mitch Garber, National Traffic Safety Board
Gary Gross, Epilepsy Foundation
Amy Hanley, American Chiropractic Association
Darrel Drobnich, National Science Foundation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Rose McMurray, Designated Federal Official for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Medical Review Board (MRB), chaired the first public meeting of the MRB. The MRB is an advisory body to FMCSA on scientific and medical issues related to medical certification of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Ms. McMurray, Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development, noted that her office has lead responsibility for FMCSA's medical program, including setting standards for commercial drivers and establishing a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, as well as the Agency's rulemaking program.

Ms. McMurray said the meeting was largely administrative, describing how the MRB will conduct its business and how the public can influence the work of the MRB. As mentioned by Ms. McMurray, the second meeting will shift focus to review and development of the medical requirements for commercial drivers. Ms. McMurray referred to a goal set in 1996 to reduce fatalities involving large truck and buses by 41 percent. Although the rate of reduction is improving, she said it is "not on track."

Ms. McMurray said the MRB will play a critical role in reviewing existing medical standards to see if they are compatible with the demands of the driving and working environment while also proposing new science-based standards.

Maggi Gunnels, Chief of the Physical Qualifications Division, discussed the MRB's mission-to review the 13 medical standards and regulations for CMV operators, as well as guidelines, which offer advice to medical examiners on how to apply the rules. Dr. Gunnels said that many of the standards are out of date, and the MRB will provide advice on these. The MRB will also have a role in two other important programs-the National Registry initiative and the integration of driver medical certification data with state commercial drivers' licenses (CDLs).

Kurt Hegmann, MD, interim chair of the MRB, discussed the MRB's responsibilities, noting that the first issue to be addressed would be standards for commercial drivers with diabetes. The MRB will be supported by medical research panels that FMCSA will convene to develop the research data required to consider each issue and develop a consensus statement around the issues raised. Some research panels will be expedited and will develop a research report within a few months; others will focus on large issues and may require more than a year to complete the research report. Those reports will be the basis of review by the MRB. The MRB would like to have a member participate in these comprehensive review panels.

Dr. Hegmann said the MRB had discussed the bylaws and that he expected these would be adopted at the next meeting.

During public comment, questions were raised about epilepsy standards, coordinating expiration dates for the integration program for medical certificates and CDLs, enhancing communications with state and local jurisdictions, and the MRB's role in non-scientific issues, such as implementation of its recommendations.

The MRB's next meeting will be November 1, 2006, at DOT headquarters, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC. The MRB will deliberate on an evidence report on diabetes and recommendations of an expert panel of endocrinologists who reviewed the report.

The August 31, 2006, MRB public meeting minutes were approved by the MRB.