Twelve Drivers With Epilepsy Get Approval to Drive Commercial Trucks
Published Date: 11/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The FMCSA is giving 12 drivers with epilepsy or seizure disorders a green light to drive commercial trucks across state lines, as long as they take their medication and stay safe. These special exemptions started on July 4, 2026, and last until July 4, 2028. This move helps skilled drivers keep working without risking safety or breaking rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
12 Drivers Cleared to Drive Interstate
FMCSA exempted 12 named individuals from the rule that bars drivers with epilepsy or seizure disorders from operating interstate commercial motor vehicles. The exemptions are effective July 4, 2026 and expire July 4, 2028, allowing those drivers to continue working in interstate commerce while the exemptions are in effect.
Annual Medical and Reporting Conditions
Each exempted driver must remain seizure-free, maintain a stable treatment regimen, and report a seizure or treatment change to FMCSA within 24 hours. They must provide annual treating-physician reports and undergo an annual medical exam by a certified medical examiner, report crashes and disqualifying citations or convictions within 7 days, submit annual certified driving records, keep a copy of the exemption while driving, and meet all CDL testing requirements.
Federal Exemption Preempts Conflicting State Law
While the exemptions are in effect (July 4, 2026 through July 4, 2028), no State may enforce any law or regulation that conflicts with the FMCSA exemption with respect to a person operating under it. This ensures the exempted drivers may operate interstate without state-level interference during the exemption period.
Eligibility Indicators Used for Exemptions
FMCSA granted these exemptions after individualized review; the 12 applicants had been seizure-free for a range of 4 to 24 years while on anti-seizure medication and had maintained a stable medication regimen for the last 2 years. FMCSA considered seizure history, time since last seizure, treatment stability, treating clinician opinions, and certified driving records when deciding to grant exemptions.
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Department and Agencies
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