Medical certificate changes begin Jan. 30

Updated Nov 9, 2011

A new law affecting medical certificates for CDL holders will begin implementation Jan. 30 and be phased in through 2014.

On Dec. 1, 2008, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a final rule to require CDL holders to provide a current original or copy of their medical examiner’s certificate to the issuing state driver licensing agency.

CDL holders will have to continue carrying a paper copy of their medical certificate (DOT medical card) and carriers also will have to keep a copy of drivers’ medical certificates until Jan. 30, 2014.

Starting Jan. 30, those applying or renewing CDLs must certify with their state driver license agencies what interstate or intrastate driving category they fall under. A few states do not require proof of medical fitness for CDL holders driving in intrastate commerce.

Also on that date, those applying or renewing CDLs under the non-excepted interstate category must provide their DMV with an original or copy of their medical examiner’s certificate. Current CDL holders under this category must self-certify and provide the medical examiner’s certificate to their DMV by Jan. 30, 2014.

The purpose of the changes is to link the medical certificate to the CDL and include driver medical record in the Commercial Driver’s License Information System, the federal electronic database.

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