FMCSA is seeking public comments by October 26 on renewing voluntary Form MCSA-5872, which medical examiners may use when evaluating CMV drivers with non-insulin-treated diabetes.
FMCSA published the notice on August 25
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a notice and request for comments in the Federal Register on August 25, 2026. The agency plans to seek Office of Management and Budget approval to renew the information collection titled Non-Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form, MCSA-5872. This is an information-collection renewal, not a new final medical qualification rule.
Comments are due October 26, 2026
FMCSA will accept comments identified by docket FMCSA-2026-1783 through October 26, 2026. The notice asks for feedback on whether the collection is necessary, whether the burden estimate is accurate, how the form's usefulness and clarity could be improved, and how the burden could be reduced without lowering the quality of the information.
Use of Form MCSA-5872 is voluntary
The notice states that certified medical examiners may choose to use Form MCSA-5872 when evaluating a commercial motor vehicle driver diagnosed with diabetes that is not treated with insulin. There is no required collection frequency because use is voluntary and remains at the medical examiner's discretion. The notice does not say that every driver with Type 2 diabetes must bring this form to every examination.
What the form is designed to do
A medical examiner may use the form to communicate in a standardized way with the healthcare provider who manages the driver's diabetes. The information can help the examiner assess treatment, management, control, complications, and symptoms relevant to the physical qualification standards in 49 CFR 391.41. The medical examiner—not the treating provider or the form by itself—makes the federal certification determination.
The notice distinguishes non-insulin treatment
FMCSA explains that section 391.46 specifically addresses medical certification for individuals whose diabetes is treated with insulin, while the federal regulations do not separately prescribe an equivalent diabetes-specific process for non-insulin therapy. Drivers should not confuse MCSA-5872 with the insulin-treated diabetes assessment process. The correct documentation depends on treatment and the examiner's evaluation.
Why medical examiners may request more information
The notice identifies potential complications that can affect existing qualification standards, including limb impairment, cardiovascular conditions, neuromuscular or vascular issues, and loss of consciousness. It also notes that a medical examiner may find consultation useful when evaluating matters such as severe hypoglycemia. A diagnosis alone is not described as an automatic disqualification; the examiner evaluates whether the driver meets the applicable standards.
Privacy and record retention
Information collected on MCSA-5872 is used by the medical examiner who requests it and is not made available to the public through this collection. The completed form becomes part of the driver's physical-examination records maintained by the medical examiner for at least three years from the examination date. Anyone submitting a public docket comment should separately remember that the notice warns comments may be posted online without change, including personal information provided.
FMCSA estimates more than one million respondents
The agency estimates 1,011,520 treating-healthcare-provider respondents, an average of eight minutes per response, and a total annual burden of 27,913 hours. FMCSA anticipates that about half of the forms will be sent electronically. These are Paperwork Reduction Act estimates for the proposed renewal; they are not a count of newly disqualified drivers or new mandatory examinations.
What CDL drivers can do before a DOT physical
A driver with non-insulin-treated diabetes can ask the certified medical examiner in advance whether recent records or Form MCSA-5872 may be requested. Bring an accurate medication list and relevant clinical information, but do not stop or change treatment merely to prepare for an examination. Allow enough time for the treating provider to respond, and use the National Registry to verify that the examiner is currently certified.
Primary-source note
This report summarizes the Federal Register notice published August 25, 2026, docket FMCSA-2026-1783. The notice concerns renewal of a voluntary information collection and does not itself create a new mandatory form for every driver with non-insulin-treated diabetes. The Federal Register document, current regulations, official forms, and an individual medical examiner's lawful certification process control.
Continue with CDL Truck Pro
Official sources
Federal Register notice: Form MCSA-5872 renewal, August 25, 2026eCFR: 49 CFR 391.41 physical qualification standardsFMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical ExaminersCDL Truck Pro provides educational information. Confirm licensing, safety, tax, and regulatory requirements through current official sources and qualified professionals.