New FMCSA Medical Certification Requirements – Deadline Approaches

The new FMCSA medical certification requirements affect all CDL holders.

Many CDL holders are still confused as the deadline approaches.

The Federal Requirements

If you’re a CDL holder, here’s what you need to know about the new FMCSA medical certification requirements:

Deadline – January 30, 2014

1. Self-Certification Affidavit: You must self-certify the type of commercial motor vehicle operation you drive
2. Medical Examiner’s Certificate: If you operate in certain types of commerce, you must also provide a current medical examiner’s certificate.
3. Variance Document: If your medical examiner’s certificate is only valid with a vision, diabetes or a skills performance evaluation variance granted by FMCSA, you may also be asked by your SDLA to provide a copy of that variance document.

You Must Report This Information To Your SDLA

You must provide this information to your State Driver License Agency by the January 30, 2014 deadline or your CDL is at risk.

Each State is responsible for reporting the information into the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS), which is a nationwide computer system based on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Once provided, your certified medical status will be kept as part of your driving record.

The Responsibility Falls On The CDL Holder

Confusion abounds because each State has its own process for collecting this information and getting it into the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS).

Some States have been preparing for this reporting requirement since January 30, 2012.

If you’ve had a CDL transaction such as a new CDL, a renewal, upgrade, endorsement, or transfer since 2012, you may already be in the system. If you’re not sure, then it’s best to check with your SDLA.

Many States have mailed notices to drivers. If you have a different mailing address than the address recorded on your license, you may have missed the notice.

The bottom line is that the responsibility falls on the CDL holder to make sure their driving record is updated with this information by the deadline, January 30, 2014, or they risk their CDL being downgraded or suspended.

Reports such as an Ohio news story, late September 2013, show that a large number of CDL holders  (120,000 according to Ohio BMV) have not self-certified and risk losing their CDL privileges.

Some drivers are aware that “something’s up” and have heard about it, but don’t really know what “it” is, and have no idea how it impacts them, or what they’re supposed to do.

How To Provide This Information To Your SDLA

The process for providing this information to your SDLA differs from State to State.

DOTPhysicalDOCTORS has compiled information to assist both commercial drivers and DOT doctors, on a state-by-state basis.

Check these links for instructions for your SDLA.
Please leave your feedback on the State page to help other drivers.

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What Self-Certification Means

The Federal requirement focuses on Interstate Commercial Driving. If you drive interstate, unless you fall into ‘excepted’ categories, you must meet the Federal DOT medical certification requirements. Most CDL holders who drive CMVs in interstate commerce fall within the Interstate Non-Excepted category.

You must self-certify in one of these four categories:

1. Interstate non-excepted: You are an Interstate non-excepted driver and must meet the Federal DOT medical card requirements.
2. Interstate excepted: You are an Interstate excepted driver and do not have to meet the Federal DOT medical card requirements.
3. Intrastate non-excepted: You are an Intrastate non-excepted driver and are required to meet the medical requirements for your State.
4. Intrastate excepted: You are an Intrastate excepted driver and do not have to meet the medical requirements for your State.

For more information go to US DOT FMCSA official website.

How to determine what type of CMV operation you should self-certify:

Step 1. If you operate in both intrastate commerce and interstate commerce, you must choose interstate commerce.
Step 2. Decide from the Federal and State regulations if you fall into a non-excepted or excepted category.

TIP

Because you must decide on a single type of commerce category to certify, a recommendation would be to certify the category that keeps your driving options as open as possible.

• If you can pass the DOT medical exam and meet the FMCSA requirements, then certify Interstate Non-Excepted to give yourself the most commercial driving opportunities.
• If you cannot meet these requirements, you will have to certify in another category.

Why do commercial drivers have to do this?

This statement from Washington State Department of Licensing sheds light on this question:

In 2007, federal and state authorities found over 100,000 commercial vehicle drivers were operating illegally without valid medical certificates. Commercial vehicle crash data also shows that more than 3,000 truck crashes per year result from the driver having a heart attack or other physical impairment. Requiring self-certification and valid medical certificates will help to prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating commercial vehicles on our highways.

What If You Do Not Self-Certify and/or Meet The Medical Requirements By The Deadline?

If you don’t meet the new requirements by January 30, 2014 your SDLA will notify you that your CDL has being downgraded or suspended.

What this means to your CDL depends on your State requirements. The status on your CDLIS driver record will be changed to “not certified”. Each state differs in the number of days until the downgrade process is implemented. Each state differs on the time period at which you lose your CDL and are required to retest. Each state has their own requirements and fees to get back your CDL privileges.

Keep Your Medical Certificate Up To Date With Your SDLA

As of January 30, 2014 your SDLA will be monitoring the medical certificate expiration dates of all CDL holders. If your SDLA does not have a current medical examiner’s certificate in your CDLIS record, they will downgrade you to “not-certified”, and your CDL license may be downgraded or suspended.

Your SDLA will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted commerce. Make sure that they have a valid mailing address so you are aware if this situation arises.

TIP – Renew Your Medical Card Before It Expires

Your SDLA may take some time to update your records. To ensure that you maintain your CDL current, it’s probably best to renew your medical card a few weeks before it expires, and get this new information to your SDLA.

TIP – Not Driving But Want To Keep Your CDL

If you are not currently driving a CMV, and you want to maintain your CDL but are not in a position to certify for a medical certificate, or do not want to keep your medical certificate current, check with your SDLA. Your SDLA may allow you to self-certify in a category that does not require a medical certificate, if you state allows it.