FMCSA Takes Action Against Non-Compliant Medical Examiners: What It Means for Compliance

Introduction

On April 11, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) took decisive action to uphold safety and compliance in the trucking industry. The agency proposed removing two Houston-area medical examiners, Dr. Jenny Le and Dr. Dustin Mai, from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) for failing to adhere to federal medical standards when certifying tens of thousands of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders. Consequently, FMCSA voided 15,225 unexpired Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MECs) issued by these examiners between March 2023 and March 2025. Affected drivers must obtain a new MEC by May 10, 2025, or face the risk of having their CDL downgraded. This development underscores FMCSA’s commitment to ensuring that only medically qualified drivers operate commercial vehicles, particularly as the industry approaches the implementation of the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule on June 23, 2025. For trucking companies and drivers, this serves as a critical reminder of the importance of compliance with federal regulations.

Details of the Incident

The FMCSA’s action stems from an investigation conducted in collaboration with the USDOT Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The investigation revealed that Dr. Jenny Le (National Registry No. 4762579227) and Dr. Dustin Mai (National Registry No. 7120983977), both chiropractors, failed to adequately perform USDOT physical qualification examinations as required by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Between March 2023 and March 2025, these examiners improperly certified 15,225 CDL holders, issuing MECs that did not meet the necessary medical standards.

As a result, FMCSA issued Notices of Proposed Removal from the NRCME for both examiners and voided all 15,225 unexpired MECs. Drivers affected by this action must secure a new MEC from a compliant medical examiner by May 10, 2025, to maintain their CDL status. Failure to do so will prompt state drivers licensing agencies (SDLAs) to initiate procedures to downgrade the driver’s CDL, effectively prohibiting them from operating commercial motor vehicles.

Impact on Drivers and Companies

The voiding of 15,225 MECs has significant implications for both drivers and the trucking companies that employ them. For drivers, the immediate priority is to determine whether their MEC was issued by Dr. Le or Dr. Mai during the specified period. Those affected must schedule and complete a new physical qualification examination with a certified medical examiner before the May 10, 2025, deadline. Failure to obtain a new MEC could result in a CDL downgrade, which would prevent drivers from legally operating commercial vehicles, potentially disrupting their livelihoods.

For trucking companies, this incident necessitates a thorough review of their drivers’ medical certifications to identify any that may be affected. Companies must ensure that their drivers comply with the deadline to avoid operational disruptions, such as drivers being sidelined due to invalid certifications. Additionally, this situation highlights the importance of robust compliance management systems to track and verify driver qualifications, as non-compliance can lead to regulatory penalties, increased scrutiny during audits, and potential safety risks.

What's Haul Is Doing

Haul has validated against our database since drivers medical certificate are digitized by AI-agent, we quickly ran and validate if the 2 medical examiners have any matched against our current database. We have taken immediate steps to notify drivers and our partners of these case.

This is especially important since these 2 physicians are still apparently active in the National Registry database.

As of April 16, 2025 8:43PM PST, the national registry still show the 2 physician as active: Drs. Jenny Le (National Registry No. 4762579227), Doctor of Chiropractic, and Dustin Mai (National Registry No. 7120983977).

FMCSA National Registry

FMCSA National Registry

Importance of Compliance

Proper medical certification is a cornerstone of safety and compliance in the trucking industry. Federal regulations mandate that all CDL holders engaged in interstate commerce meet specific physical qualification standards to ensure they are capable of safely operating commercial motor vehicles. These standards are designed to mitigate the risk of accidents caused by medical conditions that could impair a driver’s ability to drive, such as vision or hearing impairments, cardiovascular issues, or neurological disorders.

The FMCSA’s decisive action against Dr. Le and Dr. Mai demonstrates the agency’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the medical certification process. By removing examiners who fail to uphold these standards, FMCSA ensures that only qualified drivers are on the road, thereby enhancing overall road safety. This incident also serves as a reminder to the industry that compliance is not just a regulatory requirement but a critical component of protecting drivers, companies, and the public.

Upcoming Regulations

The FMCSA’s focus on medical certification integrity aligns with the upcoming Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule, scheduled to take effect on June 23, 2025. This rule aims to streamline and enhance the medical certification process by integrating it with state licensing systems, ensuring that drivers’ medical certification status is accurately reflected in their Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) records. This integration will facilitate easier verification of compliance by enforcement personnel during roadside inspections and audits.

The compliance date for this rule was extended from June 22, 2021, to June 23, 2025, due to several challenges in developing and implementing the National Registry system. Key reasons for the delay include:

• An unsuccessful attempt to compromise the National Registry in December 2017, which took the system offline until mid-2018, disrupting the implementation schedule.
• A replacement system launched in May 2019 that failed to meet performance expectations, necessitating the selection of a new contractor in December 2020 to develop a robust system by early 2022.
• The need for SDLAs to have up to three years to implement necessary IT programming changes following the release of the new National Registry system.

These delays underscore the complexity of modernizing the medical certification process, but they also highlight FMCSA’s commitment to ensuring a reliable and effective system. The recent action against non-compliant examiners reinforces the importance of this rule, as it aims to prevent similar incidents by improving oversight and standardization.

Advice for Drivers and Companies

To navigate this situation and ensure ongoing compliance, drivers and trucking companies should take the following steps:

For Drivers

• Verify Your Medical Examiner: Confirm that your medical examiner is listed in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Only certified examiners are authorized to perform USDOT physical qualification examinations.
• Check Your MEC Status: If you received your MEC from Dr. Jenny Le or Dr. Dustin Mai between March 2023 and March 2025, schedule a new examination with a compliant examiner as soon as possible to meet the May 10, 2025, deadline.
• Maintain Records: Keep your medical certification records up-to-date and readily accessible, as they may be required during roadside inspections or audits.

For Companies

• Audit Driver Certifications: Conduct a comprehensive review of your drivers’ MECs to identify any issued by the affected examiners. Create a plan to ensure all affected drivers obtain new certifications before the deadline.
• Support Your Drivers: Facilitate the process by providing resources, such as a list of certified medical examiners or time off to complete examinations.
• Leverage Compliance Tools: Utilize compliance management solutions, such as those offered by HaulCompliance, to streamline the tracking and verification of driver certifications.
• Stay Informed: Monitor FMCSA updates and prepare for the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule to ensure your compliance processes align with upcoming requirements.

Conclusion

The FMCSA’s action to remove non-compliant medical examiners and void over 15,000 driver medical certificates is a significant step toward enhancing safety and compliance in the trucking industry. This incident affects thousands of drivers and underscores the critical need for adherence to federal medical standards. As the industry prepares for the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule on June 23, 2025, drivers and companies must remain proactive in ensuring their medical certifications are valid and compliant. By doing so, they can avoid operational disruptions, regulatory penalties, and contribute to safer roadways. At HaulCompliance, we are committed to helping you navigate these challenges with effective compliance solutions. Stay informed, stay compliant, and keep safety first.

Key Citations

• FMCSA Proposes Removal of Non-Compliant Medical Examiners
• Extension of Compliance Dates for Medical Examiner's Certification Integration
• National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners
• FMCSA Medical Regulations and Guidance
• FMCSA National Registry Updates and Enhancements