Created 09/2021
Introduction
After an amputation surgery, people are often eager to start setting goals for “getting back to normal” or “finding their new normal.” One of the most important pieces of that can be getting back to work. While your state’s department of vocational rehabilitation can offer valuable resources concerning employment and training, certain careers need specific considerations. One of those career fields includes anyone who does interstate driving or any driving that requires a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Renewing your CDL is a different process from renewing your “every day” Class-D license. A Class-D license is issued through your home state. A CDL license is issued federally through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).1
FMCSA and CDLs
To “drive in intrastate or interstate commerce, you must have passed a medical examination within the past two years, in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 49 CFR 391, Subpart E”, as defined in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Medical Examination Report.2
This examination will need to be performed by a certified medical examiner. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration certified examiners can be found through their national registry here.3
Skills Performance Review
Additionally, you will need to complete a Skills Performance Evaluation packet (found here).4 The medical evaluation portion of the skills performance evaluation packet can be performed by an orthopedic surgeon or physiatrist. The Skills Performance Evaluation (and its medical evaluation) are not required to be performed by a certified examiner. Still, if you already need to see them for the FMCSA medical examination report, it may be worthwhile to see if both exams could be completed with one visit.
Skills Performance Review Service Centers
| SPE Service Centers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Address | Territory Included |
| Eastern Service Center | 4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 300A Matteson, IL 60443 Phone: (708) 283-3577 FAX: (708) 283-3579 | CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NJ, NH, NY, PA, PR, RI, VA, VT, WV * (SPE inquiries for Eastern states are handled by the Midwestern Service Center) |
| Midwestern Service Center | 4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 300A Matteson, IL 60443 Phone: (708) 283-3577 FAX: (708) 283-3579 | IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, WI |
| Southern Service Center | 1800 Century Boulevard, N.E., Suite 1700 Atlanta, GA 30345-3220 Phone: (404) 327-7371 FAX: (404) 327-7359 | AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX |
| Western Service Center | 1800 Century Boulevard, N.E., Suite 1700 Atlanta, GA 30345-3220 Phone: (404) 327-7371 FAX: (404) 327-7359 | American Samoa, AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, Mariana Islands, MT, ND, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY * (SPE inquiries for Western states are handled by the Southern Service Center) |
Resources
Amputee Coalition
Community Connections
888-267-5669, option 1
https://www.amputee-coalition.org/limb-loss-resource-center/community-connections/
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
800-832-5660
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
800-526-7234
https://askjan.org/concerns/State-Vocational-Rehabilitation-Agencies.cfm
Requesting Accommodations for Driving
https://askjan.org/articles/Accommodations-for-Driving.cfm
References
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. FMCSA.org. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/. Published February, 2021. Accessed February, 2021.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Medical Examination Report. FMCSA.org. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/regulations/medical/63061/medicalexaminationmcsa587511302021.pdf. Accessed February, 2021.
- National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners Search. FMCSA.org. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/national-registry-certified-medical-examiners-search. Accessed February, 2021.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certification. FMCSA.org. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/New%20Driver%20Application%20Package_0.pdf. Accessed February, 2021.
For print requests, please contact:
Amputee Coalition
601 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004
888/267-5669
amputee-coalition.org.
Authors and Contributors
The Amputee Coalition is grateful to the many organizational members and individuals that have contributed to this work. The Amputee Coalition Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee (SciMAC) conducts expert peer view for the Amputee Coalition-commissioned patient education materials. SciMAC contributes clinical and scientific expertise in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Amputee Coalition program and policy initiatives.
Suggested AMA format citation for this material:
Amputee Coalition. Obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License with Limb Loss or Limb Difference Fact Sheet. https://www.amputee-coalition.org. Published September 2021. Accessed [date].
It is not the intention of the Amputee Coalition to provide specific medical or legal advice but rather to provide consumers with information to better understand their health and healthcare issues. The Amputee Coalition does not endorse any specific treatment, technology, company, service or device. Consumers are urged to consult with their healthcare providers for specific medical advice or before making any purchasing decisions involving their care.
© Amputee Coalition. Local reproduction for use by Amputee Coalition constituents is permitted as long as this copyright information is included. Organizations or individuals wishing to reprint this article in other publications, including other websites must contact the Amputee Coalition for permission to do so, by emailing a request to rc@amputee-coalition.org.