Exam Key
Driver Search
How to use it:
The Driver Search function allows you to make use of the most current Medical Examiner library of driver/patient intake entries. This way you don’t have to go through the tedious process of manually entering contact information with every new exam. This also helps to prevent meaningful errors in the ID / Verification section which can impact driver certification:
Look up the driver’s entry by filling in the two fields shown:
- Last Name
(important: the last name and email must match the driver’s entry but are not case sensitive)
Thats it! Once completed, the majority of page one will be populated with the driver entry data:
I don’t have any driver entries yet:
Even if you have yet to utilize the driver registration/intake form in your clinic, you can look up the driver’s existing entry by following the instructions above.
My patient has not completed their intake form:
Have the patient scan the following QR Code or URL below to complete their intake:
simplephysical.com/driver
How do I refresh my patient’s data?
Refreshing your patient’s data is as simple as clearing either of the search fields and then re-entering them. It is recommended to clear the Last Name field rather than Email.
All of the fields that have been modified by the driver since their last examination will be updated. This can be helpful in the case of a change of address or new employer contacts.
My patient doesn’t have an email address…
No problem! You can skip the driver search fields and complete the health history form manually if you prefer. Pressing ‘Continue’ will save the exam record to your account.
Simply resume the exam from the dashboard or directory listing. You can now progress through the remaining pages normally and on re-exams.
Why Do I Need Their SSN?
The Social Security Number field is not required but will aid in preparing documents for reporting to State licensing agencies. Each State handles recertification differently.
The last 4 digits of the SSN may be applied to self certification affidavits or be requested to complete state portal forms. In rare instances, some states may require the entire number be entered on their secure site.
What if I don’t provide it?
If the state of issuance (CDL) requires an SSN, the patient will need to complete the self certification process independently.
Driver Clearance Types
Non-Excepted INTERstate (Most Common):
– Cross state lines driving a commercial vehicle.
– Transport cargo that isn’t from your state or is leaving your state.
– Deliver cargo to ports.
– Deliver goods, including logs, to ports.
– Deliver goods across state lines.
– Drive a school bus with passengers crossing state lines to events.
Excepted INTERstate:
– Drive a school bus with students crossing state lines to and from school.
– Occasionally transport personal property without compensation.
– Operate a government vehicle or emergency response vehicle.
– Make emergency deliveries of propane or home heating oil.
– Drive across state lines for city, county, or state-owned and operated transit organizations.
– Haul or deliver mail, supplies, or other goods as an employee of federal, state, or local government.
Non-Excepted INTRAstate:
– Don’t cross state lines while operating a commercial vehicle.
– Transport cargo that originated in and stays in my state.
– Drive a school bus that only transports passengers within my state.
– Drive trucks that only transport and deliver goods to and from addresses in my state.
Excepted INTRAstate:
– Do not operate a commercial motor vehicle.
What if they don’t know what type of commercial driving they’ll be doing?
The most flexible option is to certify as a Non-Excepted INTERstate driver and submit a medical certificate. This allows them to accept jobs that require you to operate across state lines.
The driver is not a CLP/CDL applicant/holder?
Choose ‘none’ from the drop down options.
Save My Progress (Toggle)
At any point during an exam you can elect to exit and save your progress. The best way to do this is to scroll to the bottom of the current page and deselect the progress toggle as seen here:
After deselecting the toggle you can press ‘Continue’ to save your exam entry.
On returning to the dashboard, your exam entry will appear in the ‘ IN PROGRESS ‘ category as shown here:
When you are ready to resume the exam, select ‘Ready‘ to reset all progress toggles to green. Then click ‘ > ‘ to begin…
All progress toggles will now default to ‘On’.
Notices
Exam notices are meant to be a helpful reminder of elected options when making your exam determination.
Some examples are:
- wearing corrective lenses
- wearing hearing aids
- including an SPE application
Any notices will already be reflected in the appropriate area of generated federal documents. They require no further action by the examiner to take effect.
Alerts
Exam alerts serve as a reminder of conditions which may have an associated clearance letter.
You can click on the clearance letter icon ( ) at any time to access the appropriate document in a new tab.
Applicable conditions may require further testing and/or evaluation by a specialist to determine whether the patient is safe to operate a CMV.
Some examples are:
- Seizures
- Cancer
- Certain medications
In addition, some alerts will clarify what the recommended certification interval might be (according to the FMCSA’s Medical Review Board / Expert Panel).
– Medical Review Board
– Medical Expert Panel
WAIT – Waiting period (recommendation)
CERT – Maximum certificate interval (recommendation)
Conditions listed in this area are not disqualifying but might require some additional work on the part of the examiner and driver.
Algorithms
Algorithms will only be suggested if certain conditions or exam results are met for a driver. Some examples include:
- Seizures
- Hypertension
- Sleep Apnea Screening
You can click on the algorithm icon ( ) at any time to access it in a new tab.
Simply follow the line of questioning to reach the appropriate recommendation (according to FMCSA guidelines).
If you are at all unsure about the condition in question, it is valuable to use the algorithms since it can mean the difference between certifying or disqualifying a driver.
WAIT – Waiting period (recommendation)
CERT – Maximum certificate interval (recommendation)
Warnings
Exam warnings are less common but are meant to protect you, the examiner, from certifying a driver who does not meet the core criteria set in place by the FMCSA.
In rare cases, it may be outside of the discretion of the examiner to certify a driver. Some examples include:
- Narcolepsy
- Significant hearing deficits
- Some vision impairments
disregarding warnings may put you at risk during audits by the National Registry