A year ago, January 30th 2014, was the deadline for all commercial drivers to have submitted a copy of their current medical card and self-certification affidavit to their State Drivers License Agency.
Each State has its own process for collecting this information and getting it into the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS). The goal is that all information would be online, and commercial drivers would no longer need to carry a paper copy of their medical card.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had hoped that this goal would be achieved by January 30, 2014, but many SDLAs were not yet ready, and the date was extended to January 30, 2015.
Since May 21, 2014, medical examiners have been updating the National Registry electronic system with medical certificate information. But commercial drivers are still personally responsible for getting this information to their State Agency.
Based on the update below, it would seem that the system between the National Registry and the State Agencies is still not complete. So drivers cannot rely on the CDLIS as proof of having a current medical card.
SPECIAL UPDATE
On January 20, 2015 FMCSA issued this important notice to all NRCME medical examiners:
Medical examiners must continue to issue paper copies of the medical certificate to drivers who pass the medical exam.
What this means to Commercial Drivers:
CONTINUE TO CARRY A PAPER COPY OF YOUR MEDICAL CARD!
Be Safe, Not Sorry!
Even if the systems were completely in place, it’s still not a guarantee that some information didn’t fall through the cracks. So the best way to protect yourself is to continue to carry a copy of your medical card at all times.
I recently went to get a drug screen/DOT physical, I am an amputee so the physician said I had to get a SPE evaluation from ortho doctor, Even though I’m not driving a commercial vehicle or driving outside of the state.
I am told I have to get this done. My question is who signs the medical certificate the orthopedic surgeon who is evaluating me or the original DOT doctor ?
@ Maustin
Check with your local drivers license department first. If you are presently driving in your state without the SPE, then you don’t need one.
My husband got pulled over for a DOT inspection, he had his paper medical card however they gave him a citation for his medical card not showing up on the state registering system. His card is current and he showed the officer however he refused to accept this. we now have to pay 150.00 fine. is this right? is there any recourse?
@ Lesley Y
Either you or the CME should have registered the new medical card with the state.
So what happens in a fail situation? What information is shared with fmcsa? does it just say failed or does it give a reason for a fail? Will I be flagged somehow if I get another physical somewhere else? I’ve heard yes and I’ve heard no…
The last time I got my DOT physical, the doctor issued me my card as usual, but for some reason when I went to the DMV to get my new license with my “S” endorsement, the license came out with a “K” restriction on it, which I see means “intrastate only.” This was not what I had applied for, and if I read my medical card correctly, this was not what the doctor filled out. I think that someone made a mistake entering the data from my medical certificate into the database somewhere.
–Any idea whom I would contact to get this straightened out? I very seldom drive out of state anymore, but would still like to be able to if needed.
@Roy
If the boxes on your medical card are not marked as intra-state only and you have a medical card for the federal standards, then you need to check with your local drivers license department. Make sure which medical card you have, state or federal.