Epileptic Truckers Get Green Light: FMCSA's Seizure Exemption Sparks Debate
Published Date: 3/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The FMCSA is renewing special permissions for five truck drivers with epilepsy or seizure disorders to keep driving commercial vehicles across state lines while on medication. These exemptions started March 15, 2026, and last until March 15, 2028. If you want to share your thoughts, you have until April 9, 2026, to comment—no extra costs involved, just your voice!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Five Drivers' Epilepsy Exemptions Renewed
Five named interstate commercial drivers (Andrew Anzalone (MA); Ramon Hinojosa (AZ); Richard Packer (ID); Brian Adam Runk (PA); Keith White (PA)) have had their exemptions renewed so they may operate commercial motor vehicles while taking anti-seizure medication. Each exemption is effective March 15, 2026 and expires March 15, 2028, allowing those individuals to continue driving in interstate commerce during that 2-year period.
Strict Medical Monitoring and Reporting Rules
Drivers operating under these exemptions must remain seizure-free, report any seizure to FMCSA within 24 hours, submit annual treating-physician reports and an annual medical exam by a certified medical examiner, report crashes within 7 days, report citations/convictions within 7 days, submit annual certified driving records, and keep a copy of the exemption and medical certification in their qualification file. Failure to comply, a decline in safety, or inconsistency with statutory goals may cause FMCSA to rescind the exemption before the March 15, 2028 expiration.
Federal Exemption Preempts Conflicting State Rules
While an exemption is in effect (March 15, 2026 through March 15, 2028 for these drivers), no State may enforce any law or regulation that conflicts with the exemption with respect to a person operating under it. This protects the exempted drivers from state-level rules that would otherwise prevent their interstate operation during the exemption period.
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