DOT Physical Doctors

Driver Friendly™ DOT Physical Locations

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Driver Q&A
  • Blog
  • Doctors Only
  • Contact
  • Find a DOT Doctor
You are here: Home / Iowa CDL and DOT Medical Card Requirements
Find Driver Friendly™ locations to get your medical card.
Click to find DOT physical locations in  IOWA
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES

Iowa CDL Requirements

Iowa law requires all CDL drivers to have a valid DOT medical card, unless the type of commerce you drive qualifies as ‘Excepted’.

Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.

Intrastate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.

IMPORTANT: Drivers that are required to submit a Medical Examiner’s Certificate must submit a new certificate before the previous one expires to stay in compliance and avoid a downgrade of their CDL to a noncommercial license.

 

CDL Self Certification and Medical Examiner’s Certification

Self certify as a nonexcepted interstate or intrastate driver. Submit a copy of your valid DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate. (Medical card only, not the long form.) Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.

Online:
If you are a current Iowa CDL holder, you may submit a self-certification by utilizing the following website: https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login. The website will provide further information on submitting your Medical Examiner’s Certificate.

By Mail:
Office of Driver Services
PO Box 9204
Des Moines IA 50306-9204

By Fax:
515-239-1837

By Email:
CDLMedCert@dot.iowa.gov
Note: e-mail scan must be pdf format

In Person:
At any Iowa DL station or participating treasurer’s office.

 

Other Contact Information:

Website: Iowa Department of Transportation – Commercial Drivers

CDL Self Certification Reporting guide

 

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. However, until that system is completed, 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.

driver feedbackYour 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.
Go to the Questions and Comments box below and post your feedback.

! To save us all from zombie spammers, your feedback will not appear on this page until it has been approved. Visit this page again soon to see your comment, and others too.
P.S. Your email address will not be published.

NOTE: This website is not affiliated with, or endorsed by FMCSA or any government or state agency.

Comments

  1. Terry R says

    July 23, 2020 at 11:42 am

    I am a transit driver driving an 18 passenger bus. My route is limited to one county (Lee) in Iowa and my passengers are all above 18 years of age. Am I required to have a D.O.T. physical?

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      July 24, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      @ Terry R
      That would be determined by your state, check with your local drivers license department for your best answer.

      Reply
  2. John says

    December 22, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    If a employer has you get a new medical card upon hiring and give you the paper to self-certify and says they will send it in for you and doesn’t, do i need to get one after i get a letter stating a downgrade of my license or can i just send a copy of the current one in to get re-instated? (was issued 6/11/18 expires 6/11/20) letter said it expired in 12/13/19 (which was the old one)

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      December 23, 2019 at 8:16 pm

      @ John
      Your cdl is state issued, so check with your state drivers license department for the best answer.

      Reply
  3. Dave says

    August 23, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    Do I need a dot medical card if I drive a cubevan that weighs 12.500 lbs in the state of Iowa? I have a class c license and I punch in and out daily and the truck doesn’t have air brakes and I never leave the 150 mile radius.

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      August 24, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      @ Dave
      Check with your states DLD for the most appropriate answer.

      Reply
  4. Dawaune H says

    February 16, 2018 at 9:38 am

    Does an employee of the City of Omaha who resides in Iowa that holds an Iowa CDL need to carry and provide a medial card if occasionally driving in Iowa in a City of Omaha CDL vehicle?

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      February 18, 2018 at 8:18 pm

      @ Dawaune H
      Any valid CDL requires a valid medical certificate, it’s federal thing not a state thing.

      Reply
  5. Burl G. M says

    November 3, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    does a mouth apperatus qualify for sleep apnea instead of a mask type. I switched over to a mouth piece and was tolded by the dentist that it would qualify for me to get my medical card, but the doctor who gave me my exam said it would not.Is this true?

    Reply
  6. Dave says

    September 11, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    I got out of construction/truck in early 2015. My medical card expired in 2016. To my knowledge, my CDL is still valid; I have not downgraded to a “regular” license. Will I have to retake the CDL exam if I get a new medical card?

    Reply
  7. David says

    July 26, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    Can I scan a medical card an email or fax it to them?

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      July 28, 2017 at 10:42 am

      @David
      Yes. The details are in the information above.

      Reply
  8. Gale says

    April 11, 2017 at 4:02 pm

    I want to hire a cdl driver to run intrastate 20 mile radius. He is diabetic, takes insulin shots to control the sugar, he can’t get a medical certificate because of this condition,but yet he can drive a farmer owned truck,no questions asked. It’s still tractor-trailer,it’s still 80,000 lbs. how does that work?

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      April 14, 2017 at 10:33 am

      @Gale
      This driver falls under the states variances and not FMCSA.
      He can aquire a medical certificate for intra-state only. The examiner should simply perform the medical examination and then complete the states certificate. The driver would then take the necessary paperwork to the state for them to issue the waiver for him to drive. Not a big issue, just a bit of running around to keep everybody happy, but he falls to the state’s restrictions.

      Reply
  9. David H says

    March 20, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    Can my personal doctor provide my dot examination for a health card

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      March 22, 2017 at 8:31 am

      @David
      Not unless your personal doctor is an FMCSA certified medical examiner. If so, he/she will have an NRCME #.

      Reply
  10. Mike T says

    January 9, 2017 at 1:35 pm

    I have a Excepted Intrastate License.
    Do I need to send in a certification every year?

    Reply
  11. Al says

    December 15, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    I drive for an LTL company. My medical card was renewed in 2015. At that time they did not give me a paper copy. Is this correct?

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      December 19, 2016 at 12:09 am

      @Al
      Yes, they should have given you a paper copy.
      And it is up to you, the driver, to ensure that your drivers license department gets a copy of your current medical card to keep on file with your drivers license.

      Reply
  12. Dean says

    May 15, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    I am a Nebraska resident with a Nebraska 4-wheeler license. I drive part-time for Enterprise Rent-A-Car (based in Omaha NE) moving sedans (mostly) between cities in a 200-mile radius. There have been occasions when I have driven 26-foot box trucks licensed at 25,999 lbs GVW. That does not require a CDL. Recently, there is a perception that because some of these trucks are licensed in Iowa and driven in Iowa, a Medical Certification is necessary. Every vehicle I drive is less than 26,000 lbs, not transporting haz-mat, and not transporting passengers so a CDL is not required. Is the Medical Certification needed – especially in Iowa?

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      May 16, 2016 at 12:31 am

      @Dean
      In most states, any vehicle that is being used for commerce requires a medical certificate. So check with your local drivers license department and see what they have to say. It isn’t about the weight or the license, it’s about what the vehicles are used for, and that is making money.

      Reply
  13. fred t says

    February 16, 2016 at 9:52 am

    I work for company driving a 3/4 ton pickup pulling a 20 ft trailer loaded with equipment within the stste of iowa and across state line in other states do I need a medical card

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      February 16, 2016 at 6:46 pm

      @Fred
      If the vehicle is being used for commerce then you will, most likely, have to have a medical certificate.

      Reply
  14. John Hebert says

    August 25, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    does a class B cdl need a medical card

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs™ says

      August 25, 2015 at 2:32 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
  15. Lou Heber says

    March 17, 2014 at 9:59 am

    where does a medical examiner test to get certification after taking classes

    Reply
    • Trucker Docs says

      March 20, 2014 at 9:16 pm

      @Lou
      Go to FMSCA, follow through to NRCME testing – then follow instructions.

      Reply
  16. Tom Winkel says

    January 24, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    Holy Moly sums it up well. I’ve read enough confusing flow charts with arrows and made enough direct calls that you think I’d know everything! Nope…Instead it seems to be up to interpretation and the help line refers us back to a confusing website or flow chart. I ask a simple question and they can’t give me an answer. I’ll bet the Officer on the side of the road will. My simple question was “Does a CDL driver pulling an NH3 tank with a pickup truck for the local co-op within the state of Iowa need a medical card?” Still searching for the answer.

    Reply

Comments and Questions Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

find DOT physical location

DOT Physical Without Hassles

Guidebook cover - 30

What you need to know about getting your Medical Card.
Get the GUIDEBOOK here

Driver Q&A Categories

BP and Hypertension
Breathing
Cardiovascular
Extremities and Trunk
FMCSA Regulations
Hearing
Medications
Neurologic and Mental
Sleep Disorders
Vision
Other Questions

Blog Categories

  • Ask Trucker Docs (1)
  • DOT Medical Card (5)
  • DOT Medical Requirements (9)
  • FMCSA Regulations (10)
  • Medical Conditions (6)
  • Sleep Apnea (5)
  • Trucker Stories (1)
  • Uncategorized (2)

DOT Physical DOCTORS by State

   

Alabama     Alaska     Arizona     Arkansas     California     Colorado     Connecticut     Delaware     Florida     Georgia     Hawaii     Idaho     Illinois     Indiana     Iowa     Kansas     Kentucky     Louisiana     Maine     Maryland     Massachusetts    Michigan     Minnesota     Mississippi     Missouri     Montana    Nebraska     Nevada     New Hampshire     New Jersey     New Mexico     New York     North Carolina     North Dakota    Ohio     Oklahoma     Oregon     Pennsylvania     Rhode Island     South Carolina     South Dakota     Tennessee     Texas     Utah     Vermont     Virginia    Washington     West Virginia     Wisconsin     Wyoming

(click on State name)

Search DOTPhysicalDOCTOR.com

The information provided on this website should not serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Please see a qualified medical provider if you have any concerns about your state of health.

Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions

About | Contact | Sitemap

DOCTORS ONLY

CME Marketing

CME Premier Plan

MEMBER Login

MEMBER Resources / Cancel

Copyright ©2010-2021 Emiton LLC All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this site is expressly prohibited.