FMCSA action against 2 doctors threatens licenses of over 15,000 truckers
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has voided thousands of medical examiner certificates issued by two Houston-area doctors, putting the livelihoods of over 15,000 commercial drivers at risk.
A 'high volume' of physical examinations performed by Dr. Jenny Le (Medical Examiner National Registry No. 4762579227) and Dr. Dustin Mai (National Registry No. 7120983977) between March 2023 and March 2025 raised red flags at FMCSA, which referred the matter to the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General, according to the agency.
DOT subsequently collaborated with the FBI and the Homeland Security Department for further investigation, after which FMCSA found that Drs. Le and Mai 'failed to correctly apply required standards in determining that drivers are physically qualified to operate a CMV (commercial motor vehicle).'
On Thursday, FMCSA voided 'over 15,000 unexpired Medical Examiner's Certificates (MECs) issued by Dr. Le and Dr. Mai between March 2023 and March 2025 – an action that affected 15,225 commercial motor vehicle drivers,' the agency announced on Friday.FMCSA stated that while the decision does not immediately make an affected driver unqualified to drive a truck, drivers who received their MECs from the two medical examiners must get a new certificate by May 10 from an active medical examiner listed on the National Registry.
FMCSA warned, however, that 'if a driver fails to obtain a new certificate by the identified date, the driver's respective state drivers licensing agency (SDLA) will initiate procedures to downgrade the driver's CDL.'
'FMCSA's primary mission is to enhance safety on our nation's roadways,' said FMCSA Chief Counsel Jesse Elison, the effective leader of the agency while it awaits formal confirmation of an administrator.
'Removing non-compliant medical examiners from the National Registry is a necessary step to maintain the integrity of the medical certification process and ensure that only qualified, properly trained professionals are certifying the physical qualifications of commercial motor vehicle drivers.'780,000 driver medical exams could be missing from FMCSA database
How do trucking medical examiners stay certified?
FMCSA updates guidance for truck driver medical examiners
Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.
The post FMCSA action against 2 doctors threatens licenses of over 15,000 truckers appeared first on FreightWaves.
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