Deadline for drivers to comply with medical certification rule coming Jan. 30

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Truck drivers have until Jan. 30 to self-certify their operating status and provide medical examiner’s certificates to state driver licensing agencies.

On Jan. 30, 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began requiring CDL holders to identify if they conduct intrastate or interstate commerce and if they hold non-excepted or excepted status. Most truckers are classified under non-excepted interstate commerce and must furnish a current medical examiner’s certificate to state agencies.

Those who do not need to have a license renewal, upgrade or transfer during the two-year implementation process still must self-certify and provide the certificate, often called a DOT card, by the 2014 deadline.

State agencies who do not receive self-certification, medical certificates and any required variance from CDL-holders by the compliance deadline must notify drivers that they are no longer medically certified in non-excepted interstate commerce. State officials will remove all CDL privileges from their licenses.

The FMCSA 2008 final rule required CDL holders subject to federal physical qualification to provide a medical certificate to state agencies. After several states reported they could not meet the original 2012 deadline, the FMCSA extended the paper copy requirement. Interstate CDL holders must keep paper copies of the certificate with them and carriers file a paper copy until Jan. 30, 2014.

Following the 2014 deadline, the medical paper certificates will be valid the first 15 days after issuance. After the 15-day limit, certificates will be recorded on CDL holders’ driving records and will be considered the valid medical certification.

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