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Minnesota CDL Requirements
Minnesota Statutes requires all CDL holders to certify the type of commercial operation they’re engaged in.
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
- All commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, Class A, B or C, must complete and submit the self-certification form for initial, renewal or change in class application.
- All CDL holders with a school bus endorsement MUST submit a current medical examiner’s certificate.
- If there is a change in your medical status or interstate/intrastate status you MUST provide a new self-certification form.
Submitting your Medical Certificate to Minnesota
Submit the following two documents:
- Commercial Driver License Medical Self-certification Form – download the form here Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services Division.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (Medical card only, not the long form.) Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
Driver and Vehicle Services Division
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 180
St. Paul, MN 55101-5180
By Fax:
(651) 297-4447
In Person:
Any local Driver and Vehicle Services Offices
Other Information:
Website: Minnesota Department of Public Safety
For all other concerns you can call 651-297-5029.
Special Information Updates Pertaining To ALL STATES
June 23, 2025: FMCSA electronic reporting requirements for DOT Medical Certificates will be fully enforced.
See detailed information at FMCSA Medical Examiner Certificate Reporting Requirements for CDL Drivers
CDL Drivers
The good news:
• You no longer have to go through the hassles of updating your medical card with your SDLA.
• You no longer have to carry your medical card with you.
Is there ‘not so good’ news?
Safeguard your CDL! How does the new DOT Medical Certificate reporting process affect your CDL?
Non-CDL Drivers
The electronic reporting requirements do not affect non-CDL drivers.
• The medical examiner must give you a physical MEC Form MCSA-5876.
• You should keep your medical certificate available at all times whilst driving a CMV.
• You will still need to provide a copy of the MEC to the companies you work for.
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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do I need a health card to drive a 1 ton commercial truck in the state of MN with no trailer, under 10K lbs.
If I still need a DOT exam for my Class D driving for a private company, and they run my urine. They can only test for what? My employer specifically told me that it WASNT a drug test.
@Anthony
The urine test is just a kidney screen to test for sugar, protein, and blood. It’s done to determine that there is no early onset of conditions like high blood pressure breaking down the kidneys, or early signs of diabetes, or kidney infection.
Thank you for the quick reply. No one could reiterate what they were doing so I had to take it upon myself to figure it out. Thanks again
What is the highest your blood sugar A1C can be to still get a health card in MN
@Allen
A1c’s are only looked at when there is a sugar spillover in the urine. Which means that they need to be in the normal range.
If you believe that Minnesota has a different set of standards, then check with your local drivers license department.
currently working in Illinois can I get my physical done in this state for my minneasota cdl
@Roger
Yes. A 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.
I have a question that goes with this. I have a driver with a current medical on his CDL, both in Missouri. He changed employers. This one runs out of Minnesota. Since he had his short form not his long, that company required that he have a new physical in Minnesota. They are telling him that Minnesotas physical superceeds the current MO. In MO, as long as your MO medical is current, attached to the CDL they give a 30 day grace period to attach the new physical. This new company is telling him no, he has 10 days from the physical or they ( i assume they mean MO, where we live ) will downgrade him. Any thoughts.
Is a health card still required if the single-unit truck is 26,000lbs, and so does not require a CDL under MN regs?
@ Glen
Most states want a valid medical certificate to operate a commercial motor vehicle. You should check with your local drivers license department for a confirmation of this information though.
I currently do not drive commercial truck but wish to retain my CDL for future. Do I still need a healthcard?
@Ken
Yes you still need a medical card, and you must provide your state drivers license department with a copy of a valid, current card.
Check with your state to see if they will allow you to self-certify in an “excepted” category. If you can self-certify as excepted, then you don’t need a medical card while you are not driving.
See this article on Self-Certification, for more information.
What category do i check if im not using my cdl presently but want to keep it? I checked box 4 and sent it in and i still got a notice saying there down grading my license
I have never failed a dot phisical and this last phisical I passed with flying colors until dr. looked in my medical history which they have never done before and failed me because Years ago I was on depression medication and quit on my own and don’t have a primary dr? Why would that fail me and can I get a second opinion?
@Noel
You can get a second opinion.
But to help everyone involved, see if you can get a release letter from your old doctor. With a release form completed by him, you answer most of the questions that any CME is going to have.