Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Federal Agency Urges Stricter Medical Certifications for Drivers

by Staff
September 27, 2001
2 min to read


Bus and truck drivers should be required to undergo more stringent physical examinations, according to the federal National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB), linking recent crashes to drivers with heart problems, kidney disease, and poorly controlled diabetes. In its final report on a 1999 bus crash that killed 22 people in New Orleans, the NTSB said the federal government should make sure that doctors who perform the examinations know the demands of driving a truck or bus, learn how health problems can affect drivers’ performances, and be able to find out if an applicant failed an earlier exam. The exams are given once every two years. In addition, the board said, doctors and others who have concerns about a driver’s health should be able to tell state and federal transportation officials without the risk of being sued. Despite being hospitalized 10 times in the 20 months prior to the accident for heart and kidney disease, the driver in the New Orleans crash was repeatedly cleared to renew his commercial license and doctors never reported his health problems to state or federal officials. Three months after the crash, the driver died of a heart attack. The NTSB blamed the crash on the driver’s poor health and the failure of the doctors to try to take him off the road. The board also recommended setting up a system to allow a prospective employer to find out whether an applicant has failed a drug test, and renewed its suggestions for bus-design standards that would protect occupants more effectively in crashes.

Topics:Operations

More Operations

SponsoredMay 15, 2026

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.

Read More →
Man speaking during an Automotive Fleet interview beside text reading “The 60% Driver Improvement Nobody Expected!” with blue motion graphics background.
Operationsby Chris BrownMay 14, 2026

How NOV Uses Telematics to Improve Fleet Safety Across 160 Locations

James Victory of NOV discusses how the company manages fleet safety, maintenance, and telematics across more than 150 locations supporting oilfield operations throughout the U.S.

Read More →
A graphic with Ford Pro's Steven Sanstostasi's headshot on it representing the Fleet Meets series.
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 14, 2026

Fleet Meets: Steven Santostasi

This edition of the Fleet Meets series features Steven Santostasi, the current TSP channel manager for Ford Pro.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Cover of a whitepaper titled “The Hidden Costs of Departmentally Assigned Vehicles on Your Fleet” featuring a black fleet vehicle driving on a road at sunset. Subheadline reads: “Discover how your fleet can reduce costs and minimize risk by implementing vehicle sharing.” The document focuses on fleet optimization, vehicle sharing, cost reduction, utilization tracking, and risk management for fleet operations.
SponsoredMay 13, 2026

Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools

Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.

Read More →
Three team members in shop with Chris
Operationsby Chris BrownMay 12, 2026

Soap Box Derby Challenge: Assembling the Crew

Meet Gabriel, Matthew, and Angel — the team helping bring this soap box derby build to life.

Read More →
Handshake graphic featuring BBL Fleet and Velcor Leasing Corporation logos announcing BBL Fleet’s acquisition of Velcor to expand fleet management services nationwide.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseMay 8, 2026

BBL Fleet Acquires Velcor Leasing Corporation

BBL Fleet expanded its footprint in the fleet management industry with the acquisition of Velcor Leasing Corporation of Madison through a stock purchase agreement finalized Feb. 27, 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic reading “What’s New From Lytx at Protect 2026?” over a blue digital network background highlighting Lytx fleet technology and AI-powered safety solutions.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseMay 6, 2026

Lytx Introduces New AI Fleet Technologies at Protect 2026

The company introduced new AI-driven fleet safety and operations technologies during its annual user conference.

Read More →
Cover image for the “5th Annual Market Pulse Report” by Element titled “Navigating fleet management in 2026: Data and insights shaping the future of fleet and mobility.” The design features an aerial view of a cable-stayed bridge with vehicles traveling on a highway beside a dense green forest. A teal graphic panel overlays the lower portion of the image, with the Element logo and tagline “Intelligence in motion” at the bottom.
SponsoredMay 6, 2026

Fleet Costs Are Rising: Here’s How Leaders Are Responding

Fleet leaders are under pressure to reduce costs, adapt to economic uncertainty, and make smarter decisions. See how peers across North America are responding with real data, proven strategies, and forward-looking insights. Download the 2026 Market Pulse Report to benchmark your strategy and uncover where you can gain an edge.

Read More →
A blue Automotive Fleet graphic representing the weekly AF News Recap series.
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 4, 2026

From Waffle House to AI: Fleet Trends You Need to Know

In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Fleet Operations in the Age of AI: Navigating Ethical and Legal Challenges

AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.

Read More →