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South Dakota CDL Requirements
- Effective July 1, 2011, all drivers issued a CDL must self-certify as to whether or not they are subject to the physical requirements. If they are subject to them, the driver must maintain a valid medical examiner’s certificate on file with the Driver Licensing Program.
- Effective January 1, 2014, all existing CDL holders issued a CDL prior to July 1, 2011 will be required to self-certify as to whether or not they are subject to the physical requirements. If they are subject to them, the driver must submit a valid medical examiner’s certificate to the Driver Licensing Program and must maintain a valid medical examiner’s certificate from that point forward.
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted
You are subject to state driver qualification requirements. You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements if you drive a school bus.
Submit Your CDL Self-Certification Affidavit and Medical Certificate to South Dakota Department of Public Safety
Submit the following two documents:
- Commercial Driver Licensee Medical Self-Certification Affidavit – download the form here from South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
Driver Licensing
118 West Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
By Fax:
605-773-3018
By Email:
DPSCDLMedCert@state.sd.us
Keep Your Medical Certificate Current With South Dakota Driver Licensing Program
CDL drivers are required to submit a copy of their medical examiner’s certificate to the Driver Licensing Program each time a medical examiner’s certificate is issued.
Drivers will be notified by mail 60 days prior to their medical examiner’s certificate expiration date. This will allow you ample time to submit a valid medical certificate. You must send a copy of your new medical examiner’s certificate (medical card, not the long form) to the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program before your current certificate expires.
Send the copy (enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible) by mail, fax, or email as described above.
If you do not send in a new medical examiner’s certificate prior to the expiration date of your medical examiner’s certificate, your CDL will be downgraded 60 days from the medical examiner’s certificate expiration date.
Other Information:
South Dakota DPS – Commercial Driver’s License Info
Special Information Updates Pertaining To ALL STATES
MEDICAL EXAMINERS MUST CONTINUE TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES TO ALL DRIVERS
The FMCSA has requested that all medical examiners continue providing drivers with a paper copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate – Form MCSA-5876, so that Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders can provide a copy to the State licensing agency, and the non-CDL drivers can provide the documentation to their employers and Federal and State enforcement officials.
The Agency is currently completing efforts to put into place an electronic system to enable medical examiners to transmit the medical certificate information from the National Registry system to the State licensing agencies.
Until that system is completed, which compliance date according FMCSA is June 23, 2025, medical examiners must continue to issue paper copies of the medical certificates to drivers who pass the medical exam.
ALL DRIVERS MUST CONTINUE TO CARRY A PAPER COPY OF THEIR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Commercial Drivers – You still need to carry a paper copy of your medical card, until FMCSA announces that this is no longer necessary.
Your Feedback Is Welcome
Dealing with Federal DOT Regulations across the board is tough enough!
But when it comes to State Regulations — There are 50 different sets of rules. Someone could move the goal posts at any time…
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I have a intrastate CDL in South Dakota. Can I haul propane or diesel fuel if I acquire a hazmat? And, do I need a physical card or will just the CDL and hazmat do ok? And of course this is a question for local instate hauling only. Thanks for a reply.
@ Brad
Because you are intra-state only, you fall under the states guidelines and variances. Best to check with your local drivers license department for clarification.
Does a South Dakota bus driver need a medical card?
@ Jeannie
Most states require a valid medical card. Each state is different, so check with your local drivers license department for the correct answer.
I need to get another DOT physical as my current one is about to expire. I called the clinic today to set up an appointment and was told that they are not doing them at this time due to the covid19 pandemic. Is there going to be an extension?
@ Tom
US congress has proposals in progress regarding possible extensions for medical cards, but have not put the extensions in place at this time. DOT officers may still be operating on the present rules which means that a medical card expires at midnight of the expiration date. We would all expect that extensions will be allowed, but not as of this time.
Update March 24: FMCSA has issued a Notice and a Waiver allowing a grace period for expired medical cards during the COVID-19 national emergency.
My husband has a SD class b license, however was not aware of the medical self certification statement requirement. He has not filed one. He has now applied for a driving job that will require a DOT physical. Is he Class b lience still valid?
@ Diane D
Check wit SD for the correct answer. It should be easy to rectify, if needed, just take a copy of his valid medical card in with you when you check.
I have an employee who’s CDL statis is now Medical Downgrade to Non-CDL, does that mean he can not drive truck anymore?
@ Rod P
Why was he medically downgraded to a non-cdl status? Without a cdl, then he will not be qualified to drive truck for any reaason.
What is , if any , is the grace period after receiving a stint from a heart attach to obtain a clear medical card for C D L driving in the state of South Dakota?
@ Mike Van B
No grace period. Once fully released to return to work by your cardiologist, without restrictions, you should be good. Bring medical documentation and a signed medical release from your cardiologist.
Why would I need a D.O.T. medical card if the cargo delivery van I’m driving weighs 16,000 lbs or less and never leaves the state?
@ Tracy
Most states are requiring a valid medical certificate to operate any commercial vehicle. That includes pickup trucks and small delivery trucks and cars. Your Medical certificate should be for your state only and the examiner should use the states regulations, not the FMCSA guidelines.
Why haven’t SD cdl drivers, like myself, been notified about this change. I drive strictly in SD, in one area, 200 mile radius. I have never been ask at any port,or by any dot officials when I have been checked.
Hi , my name Maxim Y I just done my Medical certification, and email it to SD state , I was wondering how to check if they got it and update it ?
@ Maxim Y
You need to check with the SD drivers license department and have them guide you through their process.
If someone has to be on crutches because of an injury to his left leg, does that mean he is not able to drive a school bus in South Dakota? The buses are all automatic and it does not interfer with driving. If he can not drive why not?
@Jerald
You fall under state variances, not FMCSA, so check with your local drivers license department to see what they have to say.
I am not currently driving Commercially but but wish keep my Class A License and endorsements.
What is the difference between an Excepted Interstate License and an Excepted Intrastate License, other than Interstate vs Intrastate driving?
This part self certification form is a bit confusing “Excepted Intrastate ……….excepted from all or part of the State driver qualification requirements.”
@Dick
Most drivers fall into the “Non-Excepted” category, which you most likely do too.
“Intrastate” – your state may have some variance allowances different from federal regulations, and these differ from state to state.
If you want to keep your CDL then you must have a current medical card, unless your local drivers license department will allow you to self-certify in an “excepted” category while you are not driving; then before you start driving commercially again you will have to change to “non-excepted” and get new medical certification.
Is there a website for employers to check the status of a driver’s medical certificate with the DMV?
@Erika
Not that we know of. You’ll need to contact SD DMV on this.
What is required of the company that employe cdl drivers with the medical cards? Does the company need to keep a copy of the driver record or the medical card?
Thanks,
Dianne
@Dianne
The company that employs the driver is required to keep a copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate (medical card) in the driver qualification file.
Some companies also keep the long form, if they maintain HIPPA compliance, but your company is not required to do this.