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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a list of frequently asked questions on their website.
You can find FMCSA FAQ at this link
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Q&A
Where can I get the new DOT physical / medical examination forms?
Which drivers are required to have a DOT medical certificate?
Does a DOT medical card have to be obtained in the same state as the CDL is from?
Is the DOT medical card transferrable or do I have to get a new one when I start a new job?
Is there a difference between a DOT medical certificate and a DOT physical card?
What are the DOT physical requirements?
Does the DOT physical exam include a drug test?
Can I get a copy of my DOT physical long form or will I have to take another physical?
What do I do if my medical card gets lost or damaged?
Do I need a medical card if I’m a local driver?
What’s involved in a DOT physical examination?
Who can I go to to get my DOT physical exam done?
What is a waiver or exemption and how can I get one?
For how long is my medical certificate valid?
Can my Company have different medical requirements than the FMCSA requirements?
What if I develop a medical condition while my current medical certificate is still valid?
What do I do with the medical certificate and long form once I get them?
Do I need to have a medical certificate if I operate a CMV only in my home state?
If a truck has a DOT# on its side, does the driver need a medical card to drive it?
If I’m working for a company is it their responsibility to pay for the DOT physical exam?
Where can I get the new DOT physical / medical examination forms?
PDF Versions of the forms are available at these links on the FMCSA website:
- Medical Examination Report (MER) Form, MCSA-5875
- Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC), Form MCSA-5876
Which drivers are required to have a DOT medical certificate?
Interstate:
All CMV drivers who operate in interstate commerce are required to have a medical certificate based on FMCSA requirements.
- If they operate a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross combination weight rating (GCWR), gross vehicle weight (GCW), or gross combination weight (GCW) of 10,001 pounds or more.
- If they transport hazardous materials, in a quantity requiring placards.
- If they operate a motor vehicle designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver).
- If they operate a motor vehicle designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers, for direct compensation, beyond 75 air miles from the driver’s normal work-reporting location.
Intrastate:
- Intrastate certification is regulated by the DMV of each state. All states have based their physical qualifications on some of the Federal requirements, but may grant waivers for certain medical conditions.
- Some carriers e.g. FedEx, UPS and DHL, are subject to interstate regulations even if they drive intrastate.
Does a DOT medical card have to be obtained in the same state as the CDL is from?
No. An Federal DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Interstate) is valid nationwide so you can get certified in any state, no matter which state you have your CDL.
See also: Who can I go to to get my DOT physical exam done?
I have a CDL and have been notified to present DMV with a medical certificate or I will lose my driving privileges. I’m not currently driving and may not drive again. Do I need to get a DOT physical just to maintain my license?
For more information see our blog post New FMCSA Medical Certification Requirements.
In order to keep your CDL, some states will allow a CDL holder to certify in a category that does not require a medical certificate e.g. Intrastate Excepted, if they are not currently driving.
You will have to check with your State Drivers License Agency (DMV) to see if they permit this option. This will give you a way to maintain your CDL without a current medical card.
If you want to start driving again, you will first have to get a new medical card, and then visit your DMV, to self-certify in the category that is appropriate for the type of driving you will be doing.
Is the DOT medical card transferrable or do I have to get a new one when I start a new job?
A DOT medical card is valid nationwide and can be used by any company so you don’t have to get a new one.
However… There are companies that have a policy in place that states they want you to have the physical exam done by their own examiner. They can require you to take a new physical exam, if is company policy. They also usually will pay for the exam if they require it.
Is there a difference between a DOT medical certificate and a DOT physical card?
No. These terms are used interchangeably. They are most often referred to as a DOT medical when referring to the DOT medical card, and DOT physical when referring to the DOT physical exam, and sometimes drivers refer to them as a CDL physical or CDL medical.
What are the DOT physical requirements?
Here are 3 ways to understand the DOT physical requirements.
- The hard way:
Read the FMCSA Rules and Regulations Part 391.41 Physical Qualifications For Drivers - The technical way:
Understand what’s on the DOT long form MCSA-5875, FMCSA DOT Medical Examination Report Form - The easy way:
Read Trucker Docs’ guidebook, How To Take The Stress Out Of Getting Your DOT Medical Card
Does the DOT physical exam include a drug test?
The DOT physical exam requirements do not include a drug test. You will still have to give a urine sample which is used for a kidney screen for potential medical conditions.
However, companies require a pre-employment drug test. So your company may request to have a drug screen done at the same time as you take your DOT physical. Not all medical examiner’s offices that conduct DOT physicals have a drug testing service.
Can I get a copy of my DOT physical long form or will I have to take another physical?
Yes, you can get a copy. Just look on your medical card and find the examiner’s phone number. Call and ask for a copy of your medical long form. They may charge you a few bucks for the service, but it’s cheaper than a new examination.
What do I do if my medical card gets lost or damaged?
Call the doctors office that did the original DOT exam and find out what the process is to get a duplicate made and sent to you. The medical office has to keep this information on file for at least three years, so they will have it.
Do I need a medical card if I’m a local driver?
Requirements for local drivers (intrastate) are regulated by the DMV of each state. You will need to check with your state DMV if you are a local driver. All states have based their DOT physical qualifications on some of the Federal requirements, but may grant waivers for certain medical conditions. If you’re a local driver you can still get your medical card from a certified medical examiner. (Find a CME in your state)
In some cases e.g. FedEx, UPS and DHL, drivers are subject to interstate regulations even if they drive intrastate.
What’s involved in a DOT physical examination?
To best understand what’s involved in a DOT physical, read Trucker Docs™ guidebook, How To Take The Stress Out Of Getting Your DOT Medical Card.
See also the FAQ – What are the DOT physical requirements?
Who can I go to to get my DOT physical exam done?
New federal regulations state that starting May 21, 2014, CMV drivers can get medical certificates only from a medical examiner who is FMCSA National Registry Certified.
(Find a registered CME)
Updated: May 2014
Starting May 21, 2014 you can only get medically certified by a federally certified medical examiner – called a CME or Certified Medical Examiner. That examiner will have a National Registry Number, which must be included on the information on the medical certificate issued to a driver.
Medical professionals who participate in the CME program may be MD, DO, DC, APN, or PA.
The caution here is that even though these professionals are certified by FMCSA, some states will not recognize certain categories of medical professional to qualify drivers within that state. The information we have at this time is: Michigan and Washington do not qualify chiropractic physicians to issue medical certificates for their drivers.
What is a waiver or exemption, and how can I get one?
A waiver or exemption gives a driver temporary relief from a regulation; one of more of the FMCSRs.
FMCSA Exemption Programs are for drivers of CMVs that intend to operate in interstate commerce. A driver may apply for an exemption from any of the standards where the driver can show that safety would not be diminished by granting the exemption. The exemption is granted for up to two years, and may be renewed.
See the FMCSA Driver Exemption Programs for more information and details of how to apply.
Intrastate commerce: FMCSA does not have statutory authority to grant waivers/exemptions to drivers from states’ intrastate requirements. Therefore, the FMCSA waivers/exemptions do not permit regulatory relief for drivers who plan to limit their operations to intrastate commerce.
For how long is my medical certificate valid?
- 2 years if the driver meets all the FMCSA standards (see DOT physical requirements)
- If the driver meets standards, but periodic monitoring is required for certain conditions, a medical certificate will be issued for a limited time period. Depending on those conditions the period could be 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, or some other time limit. e.g. Medical conditions stable, on treatment include hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, sleep disorder, conditions qualified under exemption.
- If the driver does not meet FMCSA standards, then medical certification is disqualified. e.g. Disqualified due to medical condition and/or medication, stage 3 hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes. “Does not meet FMCSA standards” means the driver is not medically qualified at the time of the examination. Until a certified medical examiner makes a determination that the driver is medically qualified the driver is not able to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.
My medical certificate only expires in nine months. What if I recently developed a medical condition that I couldn’t drive. Can I drive truck again now?
Even if you currently have a ‘current’ medical certificate, you are prohibited from driving a CMV with any medical condition that would be disqualifying or may interfere with the safe operation of a CMV. Once a disqualifying medical condition is resolved, and before resuming operation of CMVs, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
Can my Company have different medical requirements than the FMCSA requirements?
A company must a least meet the FMCSA medical requirements. However, company policy may impose stricter standards than those required by FMCSA.
Can my new employer make me get a DOT physical even if my current medical certificate is still valid for another 18 months?
Yes, the employer can require you to take a new physical exam, if is company policy. They also usually will pay for the exam if they require it.
What if I develop a medical condition while my current medical certificate is still valid?
If you develop a medical condition that may interfere with the safe operation of a CMV, you are disqualified from driving while you have that condition. Once a disqualifying medical condition is resolved, and before resuming operation of CMVs, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What do I do with the medical certificate (MEC) and long form (MER) once I get them?
The Driver:
- Carry the original medical card (Medical Examiner’s Certificate, form MCSA-5876) with you at all times you are driving.
- Keep a copy of the long form (Medical Examination Report, form MCSA-5875) for your records. Even though DOT regulations state that you only need to carry the medical card with you, you’ll save yourself hassle if you carry the long form as well.
- It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that they have a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate on file with their CDL, so make sure you renew the copy of your Medical Examiner’s Certificate together with your Self-Certification affidavit at your State Drivers License Department. (more info on Self-Certification)
The Company:
- The motor carrier is required to keep a copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate in the driver qualification file. Drivers, make sure you provide a copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate to the company that employs you.
Certified Medical Examiners:
- The medical examiner is required to provide the driver with a paper copy of the original Medical Examiner’s Certificate, form MCSA-5876.
- The medical examiner is required to keep the original long form and a copy of the medical certificate on file for a least three years.
- The medical examiner is required to enter driver examination results online to the National Registry system for each interstate driver examination. The examination results information is reported whether the examination is completed or not i.e. If a driver leaves the examiner’s clinic during the examination because they do not wish to continue, the medical examiner will report the results as “Incomplete Examination”.
Do I need to have a medical certificate if I operate a CMV only in my home state?
Requirements for intrastate drivers are regulated by the DMV of each state. You will need to check with your state DMV. All states have based their DOT physical qualifications on some of the Federal requirements, but may grant waivers for certain medical conditions. If you drive intrastate you can still get your medical card from a certified medical examiner. (Find a CME in your state)
In some cases e.g. FedEx, UPS and DHL, drivers are subject to interstate regulations even if they drive intrastate.
If a truck has a DOT# on its side, does the driver need a medical card to drive it?
Yes, the driver must have a medical certificate to operate a vehicle being used for commerce. So the truck/trailer and driver must be DOT approved, DOT numbers on the truck and trailer and medical card for the driver. You may want to also check you state DMV regulations.
If I’m working for a company is it their responsibility to pay for the DOT physical exam?
That varies from company to company. Some see it as part of the job and some see it as, “if you don’t have a medical card, you don’t have the job.” These is no set in stone answer.
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Your comments are also welcome.
My cdl clas A was issued in the estate of florida i just found out that my cdl license was disqualified for not up dating my renew medical card am in the state of indiana can i go to any DMV in i diana and show that my medical card is uptodate and can they be able to take the disqualification off my license and put it up to date?
State of fl gave me.ticket for driver after alabama supend my lic said I did not have med card on file and I have my med card right there that I had just got four mos early can they do that
@Theophis
You’ll need to contact your local drivers license department to sort this out.
My cdl license was disqualified for not updating my medical card in the state of Florida can I go to any state and get medical form updated or do I have to be in Florida to get it updated and what are the fines I have to pay
I live in Mississippi and is there a grace period for adding my new health card to my cdl’s?
@Terry
No grace period, and you cannot drive on an expired medical card. Each state has a different process as far as downgrading or suspending your drivers license so contact your local drivers license department as soon as possible to take care of this.
Boyfriend was let go from his job of 7 years. He tested positive for marijuana on a random drug scree. They sent him to SAP course which he began immediately. After 4-5 sessions with his Counselor, she did a SWAB test on him in her office and came back negative. He told her he was going to schedule the appointment to retest for work so he could get back on road as it had already been 7 weeks. He took urine test at work and it came back positive. He contacted both the SAP & Counselor and was advised that there was nothing they could do for him he would have to take the program again and was let go from his job.
Can you offer any suggestions or advice on what the next step is to get him back on the road?
@Karin
Depending on the length of time he has been a user will depend on the length of time the THC takes to get out of the system. Best bet is to continue not using and retest in a few weeks. You can request a DOT standard urine screen with the results going just to you to make sure you’re ready to test negative on the next pre-employment drug screen.
I recently misplaced my Medical card for DOT I have my long form, I am having trouble getting in touch with the place where I had it completed. Can I drive with my long form until I can get the card replaced.
@Kris
Yes, just be aware that the long form is a copy of your medical history. In most cases that is not an issue, but try to get a copy of your medical certificate anyway.
Question. Is there any way a cdl driver can be “grandfathered” in from needing a valid medical card?
@Chris
You would need to check with your state drivers license department for this question. It’s a state thing not a federal thing.
I had a dot card from my truck school. Upon my graduation I received a temporary license because my was not in my state. I got hire that next week by my company which I had to take another physical and my temporary license no. is on this card. So what do I need to do to get my present license no. now. Do I need to get a new medical card if I have my temporary license no. On it
@Antonio
Keep your old temporary drivers license, it matches your medical card.
Then when you have your new CDL license you might ask the original CME to change it or wait until you go for your next medical examination and have them issue the medical certificate with the new license numbers.
Do i need to have an DOT physical before taking a my CDL class A permit in Ohio?
Can my employer say my current medical card isnt valid. They trying to be racist and fire me for not having a medical card when I did have a valid medical card. They saying I was hurt and disabled when i wasnt and they telling unemployment that I lost job for losing medical card. If i was injured wouldnt they have to sent me to a doctor to know if i was disqualified? Thanks mike
@Mike
If you were injured and there is supporting information, then your medical card went invalid at the time of the injury.
If there is no supporting information of an injury, then you may want to talk to a workers-comp attorney.
Is it my employers responsibility to notify me that my medical card is or is soon to be expired?
@Rick
No. It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure his/her medical card is kept current. It is also the driver’s responsibility to make sure their local drivers license department has a current medical card on file with their driver’s license.
I am going to trucking school and i have question about shunts…. i have had a shunt since i was four months old, and i am 43 now…. I have never had epileptic ceisures… only the one convulsion at 4 moths old… they removed the cyst i had at 4 months old… i havent had a problem in almost 29 years… will this disqualify me for a CDL… ive been driving regularly for 24 years without any problems… i want to know what i can do to pass the dot physical
@Noel
Get a medical release form from your primary doctor explaining your situation and you should be fine. The CME may want some additional information, but over-all you should be OK if everything else works out.
If a medical card has expired, does an interstate CDL driver have 45 to 60 days to get it renewed? The driver is based in TX but drivers interstate.
@Kathleen
You may not drive on an expired medical card.
You’ll need to check with your local drivers license department in TX to determine their process and timeframe for renewal. Each state is different.
I have an offer to drive a lease tractor tractor from Florida to Maryland for a person who wants to transport their own personal property. Does this make the haul into a “PRIVATE CARRIER – NOT FOR HIRE” situation, or simply a personal haul involving a tractor trailer loaded to max.
I have a valid CDL-A to operate the lease company vehicle. The guy wanting to transport his property intends to rent a vehicle for about 1 week and return it. Do I also need a current DOT MEDICAL CARD as well?
It is not interstate commerce. It is not a commercial for hire carrier. This is a person who wants to transport their personal items and property which will fit into a tractor trailer van to about 80,000 pounds and is NOT hazardous materials. Just general commodity items. They want to go to a truck rental place to rent a tractor trailer for about 1 week, then return it.
They do not have a CDL or want to dive it. I would be the hired paid driver to operate that tractor trailer from Florida to Maryland and back.
Hence – the Hours of Service rules would not apply?
The DOT medical card would not be required?
Only a valid CDL-A license needed?
@ Florida Delivery
We suspect a valid medical card and valid CDL is all you will need.
And you would be best served to confirm the HOS and other requirements of a ‘not for hire’ vehicle with the DOT.
Our company has a couple F-550 pick up trucks which require a class D but NOT CDL. Do we need a medical card or not?
@Jim
Vehicles used for commerce, in most states, require a medical card, even if a class D license.
My dot physical expires tomorrow. I was just wondering what the grace period is on getting it renewed.
@Raymond
You cannot drive on an expired medical card.
The timeframe to DMV to downgrade your license differs from state to state. Just get your new medical card to DMV asap.
I moved from PA to CA and am attempting to transfer my CDL. For some reason, the DMV is not willing to accept my med card and long form because they are the old style. I read that they should still be acceptable. I have over a year left on the current card so I would hate to the spend the money on a new exam. Any advice?
@Brian
CA did not accept the older Federal forms – they had their own form DL51 which you don’t have. This is why there is a problem. Now CA is using the new Federal forms.
So, yes, it seems the only way around this is to get a new exam.
If my current medical card does not expire for six months, but I have taken a DOT physical for a new job, will not passing the physical effect my current card?
@Michael
Yes. The FMCSA database is updated, and the new physical overrides the previous.
Hi, I recently got a CDL and my Med Card on my own 1 month ago and it was good for 1 year. I got hired by a new company and they made me go retake my Med Exam again. This time my Blood pressure was little high 148/98 I have white coat syndrome and only would issue a 3 month card. Anyways am I still now stuck with the 3 month card?
@Jr
Yes, the new information would have been put into the FMCSA database and overrides your previous medical certificate.
Work on getting your BP down below 140/90 and you should be OK.
For white coat syndrome see our article – Blood Pressure Tips during the DOT Physical Exam.
I have a question My husband works for an oil company and drives a work truck that has dot numbers on the side does he need a dot physical. is a regular truck not a tractor.
@Pam
Yes, anyone driving for commercial purposes needs a medical card.
However he should tell the examining doctor the type of driving he is doing.
my card 3 month card expires next week…i was giving 3 months cause i was told i didnt have 70 percent compliance of 3 months..this was told to me from concentra…im still short of the 3 months…can i go to another dot doctor or do i have to go back to concentra..
@Mikey
You are welcome to go to any one who is on the NRCME registry.
Make sure beforehand that you can show that are in compliance.
but im gonna be short of compliance…can they give me another 3month card…
@Mikey
No.
Is there a grace period from the time your medical card expires to the time to renew it?
I’ve heard you have a 30 day grace period, is this true?
BRC
I’m wanting to know the same thing
No. Your medical card must be valid in order to drive
i am a non cdl driver been with co over two years will i have to do a drug screen for health card renewel
@Scott
Drug screens are done at the companies request.