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Alabama CDL Requirements
All Alabama CDL holders are required to certify the type of commercial operation they’re engaged in.
Interstate Non-Excepted
If you choose Non-Excepted Interstate, you must, in addition to a completed self-certified application, provide the DPS with a current Federal DOT medical certificate.
Failure to submit the required forms to the Alabama Department of Public Safety will result in the cancellation of your commercial driver license.
Submitting your Medical Certificate to Alabama DPS
Submit a copy of your valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate – Form MCSA-5876.
By Mail:
Alabama Department of Public Safety
Driver License Division
CDL Unit
P.O. Box 1471
Montgomery, AL 36102-1471
or
Use online services to view or submit your DOT Medical Card or Self-Certification.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Drivers License Online Services
Disclaimer
Your DOT Medical Card needs to be submitted before the current one on file expires. To avoid any overlap with your driving privilege, it is recommended to submit it at least 2 weeks prior to the expiration date.
Expiration:
If your medical card expires, and you haven’t renewed it, Alabama DPS will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted Interstate commerce. If a current medical examiners certificate and if applicable the variance (waiver) is not received within 45 days all your CDL privileges will be removed from your license.
Other Information:
Link for Alabama CDL Frequently Asked Questions
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…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
Please leave your feedback about your experience in this State.
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information updated 3/15/2023
I just recently took a dot physical my doctor asked if I was still on a cpap i took a study 4 years ago and no one said i had to have it so the doctor said I had to take another study to get the physical dot card i have and the study said i was healthier now than 4 years ago but said i was on the bubble and but me on a cpap i don’t drive much because im a supervisor for a small school in Alabama my question is can i get a regular physical and only drive in state or do i have to have a dot physical and use the cpap that’s making me lose more sleep than when I didn’t have it
@ James D M
You are not a class A driver and should not have been held to a class A drivers standards, the CME should have known better. DOT/FMCSA does not require or demand a sleep study unless there are a multitude of signs and symptoms. Go else where and get your DOT physical and explain before hand that you are a school bus supervisor. You fall under the states variances and regulations, not DOT/FMCSA.
Thank you so much i haven’t been able to get a straight answer
Hey so it was time to renew my drivers license and they said they couldn’t do it because i haven’t done my DOT physical in the past few years i no longer drive a truck iv been out of a truck for 4 years… what should I do
@ Brandon T H
Best bet, if you are not going back to driving with a cdl, is to downgrade to a lower class license. If you want to keep your cdl, then you will need a DOT/FMCSA medical card.
I have tried to email a copy of an employee’s CDL Medical Certification to the email that I found on the internet. – cdlmedicalmerger@dps.alabama.gov …….It kept coming back as the domain being invalid – dps.alabama.gov. Can you give me the correct email address?
@ Tena S
You’ll have to check with the states cdl department for the most recent and useful email address.
ok, Thank you
My husband recently had an exam to renew his medical card. The doctor’s office gave him the form MCSA-5875 and his medical card. My question is what to do with the Form MCSA-5875? Was it given to him just to keep on file or am I supposed to do something with it?
@ Nancy
File it in a safe place, just in case.
Had to mail mine to the State Nancy, Doc. Doesn’t do it.Call the State DOT.
Can I email my dot physical forms to the state of Alabama
@ Resia B
Check with your local drivers license department for the answer.
Is there a list of medication that disqualifies you from obtaining your CDLs
@ Scotty S
CDL’s are state issued, check with your state drivers license department for the best answer.
I currently have a Class B license with both a passenger and school bus endorsement. I’m currently not driving but do wish to keep my license active, as I may volunteer to drive buses at church. My health card is about to expire. Does anyone know if I can change my self-certification from interstate over to excepted intrastate commerce and still have to get a new health card?
@ Jonathan V
In most states you would still need a new DOT physical. Check with your local DLD for questions regarding your states requirements.
Does a nurse practitioner who is certified to do DOT exams in the State of Alabama need a Medical Doctor’s signature on the DOT medical certificate? What other states would this apply to?
@ Ansley L
If the nurse practitioner is on the FMCSA registry, then she is certified to issue a valid medical card to drivers from all states.
HELLO I AM A NEW DRIVER AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF YOUR CDL ARE DROP FROM CLASS A TO CLASS D IF YOUR MEDICAL DOT CARD IS NOT UPDATED WHAT HAPPENS NOW
@ Tyeshia
You need to deal with your local drivers license department for your answer. In most cases all you need is a new, valid medical card to have your class A reinstated.
I have submitted my new health card via fax by the number listed on here and I got a letter from the state stating that if I didn’t send in my health card they was going to pull my cdl. So I have since sent it again. How do I follow up to make sure you got it?
@ David
Call your local drivers license department and ask if they got it and did they put it into the system.
Type 1 diabetic since age 5, 31 now, can I get a CDL for Alabama?
@ Pete C
You will want to check with the states drivers license department for the cdl portion of the question. You will either be limited to driving within the states borders or you will need an insulin weaver from the FMCSA if you plan on driving interstate. Getting the weaver takes a long time and is not guaranteed. Driving intra-state would be your best option, if your state has guidelines for your condition.
Being diabetic and not being able to obtain a cdl is no different than being discriminated against especially if your up in age and that’s all you know look at all the obese truck drivers that can’t walk across the parking lot they even have handicap parking spots if your diabetic and can’t get a cdl sounds like a free disability check thanks to the great state that says you can’t drive
@ Mark
There are lots of diabetic OTR drivers, just not insulin dependent diabetic.
Hello, I currently have My CDL and it is time to renew my medical card. Went to my DOT DR and was told since I had a PFO Closure it is required that I have to wait 3 months before I can renew my medical card. My CDL will expire before my 3 month period. So if I loose my CDL Certification what will I have to do to get them back.
Thanks Terry
@Terry
You want to check with your local drivers license department and explain your situation. You should not have to do anything if the state has a policy in place for circumstances like yours.
If you take a AL DOT physical does it include drug and alcohol testing if you have already had a pre-employment drug screen and you aren’t CDL.
@Cg
The DOT physical exam does not include drug and alcohol testing.
Drug and alcohol testing is a separate process that may be requested by the employer.
how after I sent my new medical card, my CDL will be reintalled?
@Kate
You need to check with your local drivers license department to make sure that it is reinstated. There may be a fee, or something else you need to do depending on how long ago it was downgraded, and what the Alabama DLD process is.
Do u have to have a health card to drive a grain truck for a farmer I work for the City government have class A CDL but we are exempt from dot health card
@Derrick
You’ll need to check with your local drivers license department to be sure since this will be a state-related requirement.
I submitted, by fax, my husband DOT physical 4 days before his current medical card expired. I have the confirmation showing that the fax went through. My father in law just gave us a letter, that was put in his mailbox by mistake dated in March. It says they never received my husband medical papers (we faxed) and his CDL is suspended indefinitely. What should we do? We did send it in before it was due.
@Confused
The only person who can help you with this is someone in your local drivers license department.
Take the new medical card, and the fax confirmation to dld and someone there should be able to rectify this situation for you.
I had this problem in Alabama. I showed up at the DMV to renew my CDL and was told it was suspended because of not renewing my medical card. I produced the medical card and confirmation of fax. They got it corrected for me. BUT NOW I suggest taking your medical card to the DMV and let them check to see if it’s been entered. My friend says he takes his medical card to the DMV and lets them submit it for him to make sure it happens. It’s a scary situation. Don’t chance any future ones.
I do not drive a CDL required Vehicle anymore but I would like to keep my CDL endorsement . Do I still have to take a CDL physical to keep my Endorsement ?
@Tim
If you don’t keep your medical card current DMV will either downgrade or suspend your drivers license.
I drive a Church bus for Church related activities. If I want to drive the bus out of Alabama do I need to have a physical and get a medical card? Or do I file an excempt self certification?
@Brenda
You need to check with your local drivers license department for the best answer to your question.
I am from New York State, moving to Alabama, will Alabama DMV require me to take a new medical exam, or can I send my current medical card to the state?
@Kevin
Your current medical card will be fine as long as it is “interstate” not “intrastate”.
Out on sick leave. Medical cert. expired. Do not know when I can return to work but hope in a few weeks. How can I keep CDL’s.
@Terry
Contact your local drivers license department and let them know your circumstances. They should have a process to take care of this.
I leave in Alabama, i have sleep apnia and using c pap nightly, do I have to have sleep study every year,
@Mike
No you don’t need to repeat the sleep study. You just need to show good compliance from the cpap report and have a medical release form from your doctor.
I’ve had report done on CPap it showed 32% use Dr office said it had to be at 70% denied my med card how long do I have to wait after I get it to 70% to get medical card back
@ Robin B
Once you can provide a 30 day report with 70% compliance, then you can do a new DOT medical examination.
Can you get a medical examiners certificate in Al for a crane operator if you have a defibrillator? This is not for cdl. This is just for medical examiners certificate. Health card only.
@Debra
Check with the state on this one. There may be guidelines within the state that would allow it. As a cdl holder it’s one thing but as a medical certificate with the states approval, you may be in luck.
I faxed my medical examiner’s certificate in and they have me listed as a class D driver. What’s going on? My License No is (deleted for privacy). Please give me a call @ (deleted) ASAP! Thank you!