United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-02-27 monographic deposited born digital 22 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-421R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R P0b002ee18037c36b f:d08421r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R GAO-08-421R Aircraft pilots Background investigations Coast Guard personnel Federal regulations Licenses Medical certification Medical examinations Professional drivers Reporting requirements Standards Strategic planning Testing Transportation policies Transportation safety Personnel investigations Correspondence A81095 Federal laws and regulations require that safety-related transportation professionals undergo screening to ensure that they can safely perform their jobs. Medical certification and background checks of selected pilots, vessel masters, and commercial drivers are part of the requirements for licensing these workers. Certification or licensing also includes testing workers' knowledge and skills required for the jobs. These checks are critical because physically or mentally unfit transportation workers pose a danger to themselves and to the public. Because of concerns raised by recent investigations of the reliability of pilot medical certifications, Congress asked us to first describe the requirements for medical and background checks for selected transportation workers. Accordingly, we addressed the following questions for (1) medical certification and (2) background checks: What are the regulations governing pilots, vessel masters, and commercial drivers and what role do government entities have in completing the certifications and background checks? A second report, which will be issued mid-2008, will provide information about the steps that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) takes to check the accuracy of pilot medical certificates. Federal regulations require that pilots have both pilot certificates and medical certificates prior to operating an aircraft and meet several requirements, depending on the level of certificate FAA issues the applicant. Coast Guard issues merchant mariner licenses and documents to officers such as vessel masters only after they meet certain regulatory requirements. For example, officers must meet physical requirements, pass written knowledge tests, and have specified amounts and types of experience and training, among other requirements. Vessel masters also must undergo certain background checks prior to obtaining a license or document to ensure they can safely assume the responsibilities of a credentialed mariner, do not present a threat to national or transportation security, and do not have connections to terrorism. Drivers of commercial motor vehicles must meet federal minimum requirements before operating a commercial vehicle. FMCSA develops requirements for operating commercial vehicles while states issue commercial drivers' licenses. Federal regulations also require that state driver licensing agencies check applicants' driving records for safety violations before issuing a commercial driver's license and that motor carriers check drivers' employment histories before hiring them. In addition, federal regulations require that TSA complete a security check for drivers seeking an endorsement to haul hazardous materials. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R.pdf GAO-08-421R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-421R Correspondence GAO-08-421R; Transportation Safety: Medical Certification and Background Check Requirements for Pilots, Vessel Masters, and Commercial Drivers Vary; Aircraft pilots Background investigations Coast Guard personnel Federal regulations Licenses Medical certification Medical examinations Professional drivers Reporting requirements Standards Strategic planning Testing Transportation policies Transportation safety Personnel investigations Title 14 Part 61.23 14 CFR Part 61.23 Title 14 Part 67 14 CFR Part 67 Title 14 Part 61 14 CFR Part 61 Title 49 Part 1544.230 49 CFR Part 1544.230 Title 49 Part 1540.203 49 CFR Part 1540.203 Title 49 Part 1552 49 CFR Part 1552 Title 46 Part 10.205 46 CFR Part 10.205 Title 46 Part 10.207 46 CFR Part 10.207 Title 46 Part 10.209 46 CFR Part 10.209 Title 46 Part 12-27 46 CFR Part 12-27 Title 46 Part 12-5 46 CFR Part 12-5 Title 46 Part 12-4 46 CFR Part 12-4 Title 46 Part 10.201 46 CFR Part 10.201 Title 46 Part 12-4 46 CFR Part 12-4 Title 46 Part 10.201 46 CFR Part 10.201 Title 46 Part 12-11 46 CFR Part 12-11 Title 49 Part 1572 49 CFR Part 1572 Title 46 Part 10.113 46 CFR Part 10.113 Title 49 Part 391.41 49 CFR Part 391.41 Title 49 Part 392.3 49 CFR Part 392.3 Title 49 Part 383.71 49 CFR Part 383.71 Title 49 Part 391 49 CFR Part 391 Title 49 Part 391 49 CFR Part 391 Title 49 Part 384.201 49 CFR Part 384.201 Title 49 Part 383.73 49 CFR Part 383.73 Title 49 Part 391.21 49 CFR Part 391.21 Title 49 Part 383.141 49 CFR Part 383.141 Title 14 Part 67.401 14 CFR Part 67.401 Title 49 Part 391(b) (2) 49 CFR Part 391(b) (2) Title 49 Part 384.225 49 CFR Part 384.225 Title 49 Part 284.206 49 CFR Part 284.206