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Louisiana CDL Requirements
All Louisiana CDL holders are required to be medically qualified to drive a CMV by the means of a valid DOT medical certificate, 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.
Submitting your Medical Certificate to Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections Office of Motor Vehicles.
Submit the following documents:
- Supplemental Form For CDL Application – form DPSMV 2211 – download the form here.
- A current Physical Examination Form with a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate – form DPSMV 2219 – download the form here from Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections.
By Mail:
P.O. Box 64886
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
By Fax:
225-925-3901
By Email:
OMV_CDL_medical@dps.la.gov in PDF format
In Person:
At any Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles location.
Other Information:
CDL Self Certification Medicals Policy
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! —
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I have a CDL class B I was given a 6 month dot physical because Dr said I was over weight and needed a sleep study. I went to another Dr and got a 2 year card right after and the other Dr said I had no signs I needed a sleep study. I applied for a job and found out that my CDL was not valid because of the Dr giving me the 6 month and I didn’t know I had to send in my new one that says 2 years. Will I lose my CDL endorsement.
@ Stephen
Most likely not, just get the new copy of your medical card to your local DLD ASAP.
Hello I am just trying to get a copy of my updated medical card I have misplaced it and I need it for a CDL.
Is there a grace period after a medical card expires? Working out of town at the moment and it won’t be until another month before I can renew it. Will I be ok?
@ Tim
You can get a DOT/FMCSA medical certification examination done anywhere there is a federally registered medical examiner. The last grace period was until the middle of October. DOT/FMCSA may have extended it again, but we have not received an official notice.
i Let my medical card expire will this suspend mi license
@ Shaun T
If it is too long of an expiration, then yes. Short expiration will require a new medical card be on file at your local DLD, ASAP.
Huh, so how long is short and how long is long?
@ Don
Short could be 30 days and long, based on his findings, could be a year.
What if you is a week late
@ Lois E
Probably not an issue, but get it done ASAP.
I think having to send a copy of the medical exam. to the DMV every year or 2 years is stupid for the fact is you have to carry one on you at all times for your lic. to be valid. We are having to go through enough things to have these lic. to begin with . How about everyone with a regular Lic. have to produce a medical exam every year or 2 to see if they are medically fit also and quit singling out just CDL holders. I think this falls under Discrimination at the least.
Is there a grace period in Louisiana for expired dot physicals ? Does your cdl get revoked ? If it’s over the grace period ?
Is there’s an grace preiord?
YES THANK YOU!!!!
Had a 2 yr medical, last one in 10/2019 I don’t use my cod for work but I try and keep it up. Usually get something in the mail reminding me here in LA but I was wondering am I too far out of the grace period to renew my medical?
@ Nick
You can always re-do your DOT/FMCSA medical certification, but not sure about how your state works with it being out so far. Check with your local drivers license department to confirm.
How do you get your new medical attached to my existing CDL.
@ Thomas
You take a copy to your local DLD and they do the rest.
My medical certificate expires 7/2022 but I had a 1 year monitoring requirement for wearing corrective lenses which I missed. Is there a grace period in Louisiana? Can I get my eye exam now and still be okay or will this revoke my medical certificate and my CDL?
@ Jess
You should be fine. Get the eye examination and take it with you when you go for your medical card renewal.
Is there any grace time for medical exam to be updated?
@ James s
At the moment, you have until the end of February to get your DOT/FMCSA card registered.
My CDL in Texas doesn’t expire until next year but I’m living in Louisiana now and my Medical Certificate expires this month so I had my physical for the Medical Examiner’s Certificate done in Louisiana. Am I ok doing it that way? And where do I send the forms MCSA-5875 and 5876?
@ Linda
You are fine doing it this way. Just make sure that Texas gets a copy to attach to your cdl.
I took a physical and everything went well until the asshole doctor noted I checked I had sleep apnea..its mild and I’m fully alert during the day, tried a cpap years ago and got no improvement. The asshole would not issue a CDL card saying I need to be on a cpap for 90days before I can take the test in La. The state folks I talked with said that’s not true. I need to be on it for 7dsys, after which I’m qualified for the card and then a review after 90days, then every year at medical . Can I go see another doctor to get oked??
@ Chris
If you are a class A driver, then make sure you have some supporting medical documentation regarding your mild sleep apnea. Then go elsewhere to get a second opinion. DOT/FMCSA for class A drivers requires a 30 day readout for an existing cpap user and a 90 day wait for someone just starting on a unit.
I’ve been on my cpap before but it didn’t work for me, even after months of countless adjustments…I get 5 to 6 hrs of sleep at night and don’t fall asleep or feel sleepy during the day. Your answer above seems confusing. La OMV told me I don’t need to be on cpap for 90 days before taking test. Only 7 days and then a review at 90 days.. how the hell do they document that?? Put cameras in my bedroom?? I mean really!!
So say I get my card from Texas…if I understand, it IS valid in La if I file it there to take the Class A test right??
@ Chris
So you are not a class A driver at this time. Then follow the guidelines that the La OMV have laid out for you. Your cpap should have readout capabilities, this is how they will monitor you compliance of use. At the 90 day mark for a class A driver, you will need to bring another readout showing 70% compliance.
I’m trying to get my med card married to my license by email and I’m not receiving a response
My CDL is from Louisiana and doesn’t expire til 2025 but my med card expired last year in may
If i get a new med card now will my class A still be in affect or do I have to start over
I haven’t driven since last Jan things just kind of stopped for me. I lost my son in feb 2020
I’m trying to get things back to the way they were again one step at a time
@ John
Cdl’s are state issued and each state is different, so best to check with your states drivers license department for guidance on this issue.
John,I held.a cdl In La.for 26 years,ended up in the er due to a brown recluse spider bite had 11 surgeries almost died 3 times and these quacks used me for a Guinea pig for over 2 years,the week before my CDL was to be renewed I ended up in the er and for 2 years was unable to pass a dot physical due to the fact I was in and out of hospitals having procedures done and had an amputation.You know with all these drs,a ton of paperwork and all the proof I thought was needed to get some sort of break and have my CDL renewed,this crooked ass state wants me to go to one of these schools and start from the bottom,this is what makes good people turn bad,I lost everything and my livelihood,and these no good mofos think it’s easy to just go to school and waste 4 weeks sitting with a bunch of people who nothing or barely that about a truck,these schools need to be reevaluated,for the main reason of 95% of people have never experienced what driving a 80,000 lb commercial vehicle is like.So I’m sure soon I’ll be fed up.and may end up.in jail,Iost what I loved doing and wont settle for any other work.good luck to you Sir.
I’m from LA and my medical exam expired 1/29/2021 and was renewed 2/4/2021. Is there a grace period for a determination pending examination?
@ Sylvia
California is tough on cdl holders, but if you have a determination pending examination, you may be good for now. Confirm this with your local drivers license department.
Louisiana CDLClass B physical card expired while I was on medical leave due to surgery on my knee October 2020. Do I just go have another physical taken and bring to DMV to be certified again?
@ Keith
In most cases, yes, but confirm with your local drivers license department.
One of our employees needs to update his Medical card, do I just email it to the below address?
OMV CDL medical@dps.la.gov
I have a Louisiana cdl and need to get a dot medical card. I’m displaced due to the hurricanes, lost my house. Can I get a dot card from my neighboring state in Texas? Are do I have to get it in Louisiana since this is my licensing State., please if you know I would appreciate it.
@ Norman
Since your medical card is federal, you can acquire your medical certification from any state. So yes you can get it from TX. if that is best for you.
What exactly are the physical requirements to get a cdl? What’s the process other than passing the test at the DMV?
@ Justin
Each state has different guidelines and requirements. You need to check with your local drivers license department for your states requirements.
I just noticed my medical card experience in Aug how much time do I have to try to get a medical card before my license is downgrade i am Louisiana
@ Shalanda
Best bet is to get a new DOT medical card and get it turned into the state before they down grade your license. Otherwise check with your local drivers license department for your answer about downgrades.
Good evening,
As far as an expiration date, does it expire at 12:00am that day or after 11:59pm that night ??
@ Bryant B
11:59:59 p.m.