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FMCSA Invalidates 15,225 Medical Certificates After Houston Chiropractors Removed from Registry

Two examiners in Texas failed federal standards, forcing thousands of commercial drivers to retake DOT physicals by May 10 to keep their CDLs active.

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Houston, Texas — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has effectively voided 15,225 active Medical Examiner’s Certificates after removing two chiropractors from its National Registry. The agency issued notices of proposed removal to Dr. Jenny Le and Dr. Dustin Mai, citing a failure to adequately perform U.S. DOT physical qualification examinations for interstate commercial motor vehicle operators. These two examiners, based in Houston, had conducted a volume of physicals that triggered a multi-agency investigation.

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The decision stems from a scrutiny of the unusually high number of DOT physicals issued by these two providers between March 2023 and March 2025. The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, supported by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, found that the examiners did not properly apply medical standards when determining if drivers were fit to operate commercial vehicles. This failure meant the exams did not meet the strict requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, compromising the integrity of the certification process for interstate commerce.

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Dr. Le, registered under National Registry No. 4762579227, and Dr. Mai, under No. 7120983977, are now excluded from the list of qualified professionals. FMCSA Chief Counsel Jesse Elison stated that removing non-compliant medical examiners is necessary to ensure only properly trained professionals are certifying the physical qualifications of drivers. The agency emphasized its primary mission to enhance safety on U.S. roadways by maintaining the credibility of the medical certification system used by the trucking industry.

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What This Means for Drivers

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Any CDL-A driver or owner-operator who received a medical certificate from either Dr. Le or Dr. Mai during the two-year window ending in March 2025 is currently out of compliance. Affected individuals must secure a new medical certificate from one of the more than 38,000 active certified medical examiners listed in the National Registry before the May 10 deadline. Failure to act will result in state driver’s license agencies beginning to downgrade the affected CDL holders’ licenses, potentially stripping them of their commercial driving privileges. This sudden requirement creates an urgent logistical challenge for OTR truck drivers who may be on the road and need to schedule appointments immediately to avoid losing their livelihoods.

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Industry Reaction

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The heavy-handed removal of over 15,000 certificates highlights the increasing enforcement pressure on FMCSA regulations regarding driver health. While the source does not detail specific carrier reactions, the scale of the invalidation suggests that large fleets and individual owner-operators will face immediate administrative burdens. Many trucking companies hiring new talent will likely require proof of a valid, newly issued medical card before allowing drivers back on the road. This situation underscores the importance for drivers to verify that their medical examiners are currently listed in the FMCSA National Registry to avoid similar disruptions in the future.

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Key Points

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  • 15,225 medical certificates issued between March 2023 and March 2025 are now invalid.
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  • Dr. Jenny Le and Dr. Dustin Mai were removed from the National Registry for failing to meet exam standards.
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  • Drivers must obtain a new certificate by May 10 to prevent state license downgrades.
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  • Over 38,000 other certified examiners remain active in the National Registry for valid testing.
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Pete Lindqvist
Fleet technology correspondent covering ELDs, telematics, autonomous trucking, and the gear that's changing life in the cab. Pete holds an active Class A CDL and tests equipment on working routes.