Diabetic truckers can now travel from the U.S. to Canada

Insulin-using diabetic truckers can now operate in cross-border operations between the United States and Canada, according to Land Line Magazine.

Before this move, insulin-using truckers were required to apply for a Federal Diabetes Exemption, allowing them to conduct interstate travel. The use of these exemptions was established in 2003, as insulin-using truckers were not allowed to operate commercial vehicles prior. 

To receive an exemption from the FMCSA, truckers had to be examined and evaluated by a certified medical examiner on the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and an individual’s treating clinician. 

Nevertheless, the process will no longer be necessary, as the FMCSA has eliminated the Federal Diabetes Exemption Program, and will now allow a treating clinician to decide whether a driver meets the physical standards to drive a commercial vehicle. 

Subsequently, the United States and Canada also reached an agreement, which allows insulin-using drivers in the U.S. to travel across the border to Canada. 

Here’s what Michael DeJong, director of multimodal and road safety for Transport Canada had to say about the changes, according to Land Line Magazine:

“Transport Canada and FMCSA agree that as of November 19, 2018, the standards in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Canadian National Safety Code for commercial drivers with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus are equivalent. Commercial drivers with insulin-treated diabetes qualified to operate commercial motor vehicles under the standards of one country will also be qualified to operate such vehicles in the other country.”

Nonetheless, Canadian truckers are still not able to come over to the States, as Canadian jurisdictions are still in the process of informing the appropriate individuals.

Truckers have a 50 percent higher rate of diabetes than the national average, and there are an estimated 500,000 truckers who are affected by the disease, which means this update is likely to affect many drivers currently out there.

In addition to being able to make more money from traveling to Canada, diabetic truckers will also have access to less expensive insulin when they travel to the Great White North. While they can’t legally transport it, they can take advantage of their time up north to purchase insulin for one-tenth of the price.

So, what do you think about the updated regulations? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

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