For your information, when a driver's license is marked "W", this means that the driver cannot drive a heavy vehicle (class 1, 2, 3 or 4B) in the United States, since he does not meet to that country's standards for driver health. The targeted health problems are: diabetes treated with insulin, epilepsy, partial or total hearing loss.

Please note some changes to medical limitation statements for CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) holders in the United States.

Recently, the FMCSA released a decision that allows people with a stable insulin regimen and insulin-treated diabetes to qualify for a commercial driver's license. As a result of this change, the reciprocal agreements between Canada and the United States have been modified, which means that Canadian commercial drivers with insulin-treated diabetes can now drive a heavy commercial vehicle in the United States. .

The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) indicated that it is currently taking steps to inform holders of driver's licenses marked W, affected by this disease, that their ban has been lifted. However, this process can be long.

Operators and drivers are encouraged to contact the SAAQ to have the "W code" removed from their driver's license, when the license was for insulin-treated diabetes, which will allow them to drive in the United States.

• Quebec region: 418 643-5506
• Elsewhere (Quebec, Canada, United States): 1 800 561-2858

For more information: https://cms8.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/federal-motor-carrier-safety-administration-fmcsa-eliminates-federal-diabetes

A webinar was also designed to help healthcare professionals adequately certify the type of diabetes covered by the exemption: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/new-diabetes-standard- overview-webinar