JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State lawmakers have sent the governor a bill that could bring Missouri in compliance with federal rules for trucker drivers and avoid a potential $30 million penalty.
The bill given final approval Wednesday night requires interstate truck drivers to provide the state proof from a medical professional that they are healthy enough to drive.
Truck drivers already carry around medical certification cards. Submitting the information to the state is intended to allow it to be entered into a nationwide database that also tracks such information as invalid licenses and driving violations.
Missouri missed a Jan. 30 deadline to be in compliance with the federal mandate. But by passing the bill now, lawmakers hope to avoid a penalty of the loss of 5 percent of its federal highway funds.
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Truck bill is SB568.
Online:
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov