By the looming deadline, Real Occupational will be one of very few registered certified testing sites in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for commercial drivers to receive their exams and be re-certified so they can continue to work
Ontario, CA (PRWEB) May 16, 2014
Answering the mandate by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that all DOT exams be performed by a certified medical examiner, Ontario-based Real Occupational Testing Services has announced the addition of two certified examiners who will be administering the screenings. The addition of Real Occupational to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners further distinguishes the company as a leader in employee, Federal and DOT testing and employee screening in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley.
Previously, commercial truck drivers regulated by the DOT were required to pass a pre-employment medical exam each year, which included a drug test and physical. The new, more-stringent requirements are, according to the CEO of Real Occupational “an extremely important step to force the industry to do more to assure public safety by assuring the health of drivers.” The goal is to decrease the number of accidents and fatalities involving commercial drivers of semi trucks.
“The current regulations need attention,” stated Chris Phelps, President and CEO of Real Occupational. “It has become vulnerable to fraud and as a result has stopped being effective in ensuring that commercial drivers are healthy enough to drive, as well as ensuring that those same drivers are not abusing prohibited substances.”
“The new training makes certain that examiners are highly trained and aware of the unique issues facing drivers, especially older drivers, who drive ten hours a day or more. The exams should specifically address those issues and now they will,” added Phelps.
Even as the May 21, 2014 deadline approaches for testing service companies to comply with the new requirements, only about 30% of the goal of adding 40,000 certified medical examiners to the registry has been reached. This, according to Phelps, indicates that there will be a “mass shortage” of certified testing sites to perform DOT exams and physicals.
“By the looming deadline, Real Occupational will be one of very few registered certified testing sites in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for commercial drivers to receive their exams and be re-certified so they can continue to work,” said Phelps. “Our two physicians, Dr. Gary Wall and Dr. Gary Yang will be available full time and committed to providing the level of personal service and expertise that has made Real Occupational the Southern California industry leader in employee testing.”
Appointments for DOT physicals and exams can be made by calling the testing clinic at 1-800-690-4362. Walk in appointments are accepted. The testing clinic is open on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Real Occupational Testing Services provides employee drug testing and training to employers in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, with a focus on the transportation industry, including DOT exams and DMV medical exams, as well as services for local schools, trucking companies and professional offices.