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Massachusetts CDL Requirements
Everyone in the State of Massachusetts who wishes to obtain or who currently holds a commercial driver license is federally required to inform the RMV of the type of commerce they plan to operate.
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet the Massachusetts State driver qualification requirements.
You should certify at the highest standard for which you qualify so as to not limit work opportunities. Non-Excepted Interstate (NI) is the broadest category and the one you should select if you meet the criteria, even if you currently do not consider yourself an interstate driver.
What if I can’t meet the medical qualifications for interstate commercial operation?
If you do not meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements, you may qualify for an intrastate medical waiver through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. This waiver permits operation of a CMV used in Massachusetts intrastate commerce only. Individuals who have been issued a intrastate medical waiver will have a W (waiver) restriction placed on their license.
CDL Self-Certification
Submit the following two documents:
- Massachusetts Department of Transportation CDL Self-Certification Form, LIC103_0118, download the form here from MassDOT.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (Medical Examiner’s Certificate only, not the long form). Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
Online:
Go to myRMV Online Service Center
By Mail:
MassDOT, RMV Division
Driver Licensing
PO Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205
In Person:
At any RMV branch office.
Medical Certificate Renewal
For NI and NA categorized drivers, self-certification is tied to the expiration date of the medical certificate, variance, SPE or waiver. Therefore, drivers will need to re-certify using the same form when they renew these documents. Depending on the validity period of your medical card, you will most likely have to re-certify every 1 to 2 years.
To avoid a downgrade of your CDL, make sure you renew your medical certificate and re-certify with MassDOT before your medical card’s expiration date. Use the CDL Self-Certification process, described above, to keep your Medical Certificate updated with Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
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…
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does the registry of motor vehicles get all the reports of dot physicals from the doctor?
@ bob
No.
What happens if I currently have a dot medical card from my previous employment that doesn’t expire for a year, but failed a dot physical for pre employment for another job but wound up turning that job down anyways. Could I go back to my previous employment with my current medical card that I had with them to begin with which has a year left or would I have to go back to the doctors and pass that one before the 3 months?
@ Peter
The CME reported the fail to the national registry with a three month card, then it over-rides your older medical card. Wait for a month or so and then go get a new medical examination, somewhere else for a second opinion.
Do you need your dot card to get the permit in Massachusetts?
@ Tim
You will need to check with your local DLD for the best answer.
If your company you work for sends you for dot physical and you pass everything except the vision that they say you need corrective lenses. So then you make appointment with your eye Dr and she says everything is good by her test, how do you have medical card restriction changes ? Just got medical card so it’s good for two years
@ Bill P
You take your eye doctors report back to the testing doctors office and present their findings. They should use the new information and change your medical card restrictions.
I forgot to self certify but then did it two weeks after it expired and the rmv sent me a new license already. Does that now mean that even though I self certified my license is now invalid?
@ Kia
Your license is probably valid, recommend you confirm with your local drivers license department.
Check it to see if they dropped it to a class D if so you need to get it reissued & pay a fee
Can I loose my current dot card if I fail my dot physical from new job ..they want new card even though mine is still good for one year..
@ angel l c
Most states require a valid medical card to maintain a cdl. If you fail DOT/FMCSA medical certification, then cdl may be up for question.
I just found out my Class A was taking away due to not doing self certification. I have been getting my DOT physical every year. I didn’t know I had to do self certification online. My Ex wife was having the mail sent to a PO Box that I was in aware of and I never received any mail. Is there anyway I can send in proof that I have been getting my DOT physical every year and send it in. Or could you give me information on who I can contact.
@ Michael M
You will have to talk with your local drivers license department (DLD) for their process to have your cdl re-instated.
Mine expires on August 25 2022. I do have an appointment on august 26 2022 will I be downgraded for that one day period
@ Bryce S
Highly unlikely, especially since DOT/FMCSA has extended the grace period to the end of August for sure and possibly to the end of September
Bryce, if travel out of state they will drop it to class D, same situation for me, 1 day after expiration and they dropped it to class d 🤦
How long in Massachusetts can your Dot card be expired before you have to retest
@ Mike
At present DOT/FMCSA has extended the grace period to the end of August. Since your cdl is state issued, you will need to check with your local drivers license department for the best answer to your question.
I recently had my license suspended and it has now been cleared …however during the suspension, my CDL license ,certification, and my medical card expired… I need a VALID RENEWED LISCENSE to get my DOT card and to self certify ,but I also need a VALID MEDICAL CARD to get my license renewed…. the doctor will not even see me unless my license has been renewed but I can’t renew my license without the card how do I fix this…
@ Bobby O
All parties involved know what’s going on, someone will have to give way. Try talking to the drivers license department, ask for a supervisor. Explain the situation and ask if there is a way to get your cdl renewed so you can get your medical done. Then go straight to the medical, get it done and return to DLD.
How many days allowance to expire after cdl medical card expired
@ Ashe
Theoretically, none. But, with the war on covid states have given some leeway. Best to check with your local drivers license department.
If one doctor refuses a medical card but another one approves it can i use the approved card to self certify?
@ Joey G
Yes, you use the approved card for self certification.
Could you please add an email address to sent my new mec for update. Thx
My employee has a NA CDL. He actually needs a NI CDL. What is the process to change this?
@ Beth
All cdl’s are state issued and your best answer will come from your local drivers license department.
I have a medical card from my last company and it’s still good. Got a new job and another medical card. Do I wait for the first one to expire? Before I report the new one which expires a year later?
@ Eddy
if you received a new medical card, then the old one is now invalid. So report the new card to your local DLD for their records to be correct.
My new medical card has my Colorado license number on it. If I transfer my license to another state do I have to get another card with the new States license number printed on it?
@ Tim P
It would make your life easier if card and license were the same. But probably not absolutely mandatory.
I’m in MA and I need to self certify by Sept 3rd but I have covid can’t get to dot physical until quarantine is done. Can I self certify after the expiration date or am I going to need go redo my road test?
@ Dennis
Self certify after you have a new medical card. Since your situation is like so many, you probably will not have to retest. But confirm with your local DLD.
I drove before I lost my left leg above the knee in 1984 through 1986. I have been trying to get my CDL for over a year. I passed the DOT physical exam. I had to go to an Orthopedic Surgeon in Boston to get approval for the FMCSA SPE certificate, which was difficult to find because most doctors didn’t know what it was. Went back to driving school and passed the CDL road test exam from Mass state troopers with a FMCSA SPE certificate. Received my CDL last month and then it was downgraded back to a Class D because I didn’t get approval from DOT SPE examiner. I had sent a copy of the license to the FMCSA office and they said that I have to take another road test but Mass is a closed state because of covid. Any legal recourse of getting the money back I’ve wasted on this?
How old do u have to be to get your dot
@ Jason
For a class A medical, 18 years old.
i loose my cdl because my medicai card expired ,i renew my medical card i can get back my cdl,what can i do
@ pedro f b
Check with your state drivers license department and ask about having your cdl reinstated.
I just failed my cdl med card because the dr said I am over 42yrs old and I have a 15 inch neck and a thick tongue and I don’t get my period any more. No joke! She says I should have my reg dr order a home test kit for sleep apnea. I am a female and not obese & no physical issues. Can I go somewhere else and get retested? I will lose my job if I lose my med card
@ Pissed Off
Yes, go get a second opinion. Someone is “way” over reading the DOT/FMCSA regs. and guidelines.