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New Jersey CDL Requirements
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires all New Jersey CDL holders to certify the type of commercial operation they’re engaged in.
Starting in July 2012, when you apply for a CDL you will be required to self-certify as to what type of commercial operation is applicable by signing a CDL Holder Self-Certification.
All current CDL holders should wait until they receive a notice from the MVC before they submit a Self-Certification.
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. New Jersey regulations require a medical certificate for intrastate drivers.
Submitting your Self-Certification and Medical Certificate to New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Submit the following two documents:
- New Jersey MVC CDL Holder Certification – download the form here from New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
All current CDL holders should wait until they receive a notice from the MVC before they submit a Self-Certification. It must be completed in full and mailed to the MVC in the enclosed self- addressed envelope.
By Mail:
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
CDL/Bus Unit
PO Box 685
Trenton, NJ 08666
Keep Your Medical Card Current with New Jersey MVC
In accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, New Jersey CDL holders must submit a valid (non-expired) medical certificate to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
Failure to submit a valid Medical Certificate or a Medical Variance may result in your CDL being disqualified. The MVC will notify you that you are no longer medically-certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted Interstate or intrastate commerce. If the MVC still does not receive a valid medical certificate, they will remove all your CDL privileges and downgrade your license to a basic driver license.
If your CDL is disqualified, you will not be legally permitted to operate a commercial motor vehicle. If your CDL is disqualified, you may also be required to retest prior to reinstatement of your CMV operating privileges.
Submit your renewed valid medical certificate to New Jersey MVC…
By Mail:
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
CDL Unit
PO Box 685
Trenton, NJ 08666.
Other Information:
Website: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
New Jersey Medical Certification Requirements FAQ
You can also call the MVC CDL Unit at 609-292-7500 (extension 5077) and someone will be able to assist you.
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…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
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I have class a .p indoresment. I got my fingerprints the first time. To renew drriver l. I don’t have to get fingerprints again.and iam not driving school bus.
I am currently out of work due to injury, and my medical card is going to expire. What will happen once I can return to work. Am I going to be forced to take a written exam again and road test…. I’ve had my license for 20 years now and because of being out on workmans comp to be forced to lose my license is completely wrong…. I’m hoping there is some sort of extension that when approved by a Dr. I could just get my new card & send it in
@Mike
Since you are out of work due to an injury, your best bet is to go to the drivers license department and ask them what the process would be. It is very doubtful that, given your circumstances, they would require you to start from scratch. But confirm that with the DLD of your state.
you have up to 3 years to provide your med certification before you loose your cdl and have to take the test all over again. they will issue a new driver license without a CDL and when you provide the med certification they will put it back on your license
Are You Talking About New Jersey And Are You 100 Percent Positive Because Im Having That Issue As We Speak I Just Found Out My Cdl Been Suspended Since March 2015 And Im Tryin To Get Them Back Without Retesting All Over Again
@ Stan Is That New Jersey And Are You Positive Because Im Having That Issue
when it was time to renew my license i was told by my DMV could not renew my CDL. After speaking to the person and this person renew me for a regular license but i was told i have a year to get my CDL back. I have had my CDL for over 30 yrs but wouldn’t you know i need it for my part time job now. Was this person telling me the truth about getting my CDL back with out retesting. please let me know if this is correct. Thank you for all your help in this matter, One thing i was told if i don’t get my CDL back i could loose my job. Again thank you for your help.
@ Gary
Not sure here. If you had a valid medical card at the time of your renewal, then what was the limitation? Each state is different with time as a non CDL driver, so if DLD gave you a year before you could not re-instate your CDL, then they are correct according to the state rules.
NJMVC stinks! I haven’t driven a rig in quite awhile but still want to keep my CDL so I have something to fall back on if I become unemployed. Now they’re basically saying to us ” Use it or lose it !” Why ? It’s as if the government doesn’t want us to have anything anymore! Wake up you Goverment Officals! The unemployment rate has not improved! It’s because people have exhausted their benefits and this new law isn’t helping ! What difference should it make if someone has a CDL and hasen’t driven in awhile? There are refresher courses available through most trucking companies but if you take away our CDLs , what are we supposed to do? Oh , yeah, that’s right you can pay $125 + to get a CDL permit and start over again! Thank’s alot! Greedy B****ards!
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM NJMVC??? I have both mailed(1) and faxed(2) my self certification form and copy of my medical card. I have done all this within the past four(4) days!! Now i am being told that they have not recieved ANYTHING!! Again i ask “WHAT IS THE. PROBLEM”???
i have class A with utility com and need to operate vehicle on call outs and everyday work. got med card and copy to co. everything goin fine then i recieved letter saying my commercial license downgraded? never recieved anything in mail before downgrade. it says to reinstate go to mvc with med card and self cert paper. did that at manahawkin mvc they said to mail? they didnt know if they could help. now they are closed till mon. if i im needed to work i can not because they didnt make sure i recieved letter. maybe cert mail would be better!!!! what now? how long ? this cant be right! never had to do this company always did. again never recieved anything!! thanks again! You can always trust the Government just ask the indians and whales! and Blue collar Americans payin for everybody else! Happy Easter!
This is sad & crazy sane thing happened to me. I mailed mines twice & still got a letter for downgrade. Then they say fax & the lune has been busy all day
If you thin that is bad I faxed my physical in after being told they had no record of them having it. I was trying to put my haz- mat endorsement on my license after fsxing it in I waited two weeks, returned to DMV and was told I could not put my haz- mat on because they still had not received it I had my physical on me so they sent it to Trenton. Now let me tell you Trenton had no record of me passing the test for haz-mat. Finally after several hours Trenton informs them that they had found where I had pass the test,but I had to purchase a permit. A permit I had my cdl for two years. When I asked why I had to purchase another permit they told be it was because I was supposed to get everything off the permit while i had It we are talking two years later. I f you finally got records say I pass. I thought it would be easy to just give me my endorsement. No that us not the case I had to buy another permit. I sm soooo confused
Hello, just curious……I just got my cdl permit, and want to take the knowledge test the next day. Do I need the medical forms prior to the written test or does that come before the road test?
@Willie
You will need to check with your state Drivers License Department for that answer. It’s a state by state thing.
Hi, I’m a CDL driver for one of MUA in Jersey, and most of the time I drive inside the MUA perimeter hauling sludge, once in a while I go 60 to 80 miles to the landfill for disposal; am i still required to hold a valid medical card and to go to the exams since I’m operating once or twice a month in a intrastate commercial driving status? So far the Authority couldn’t figure this out yet so I’m turning to you for some advice
Thank you.
Respectfully
James
@James
Any class A driver has to have a valid medical card to maintain his class A drivers license. It does not matter what or where he is driving. If you have a lesser class license, then you would need to check with your state DLD to make the final decision. Most state still require a valid medical card to operate a commercial motor vehicle, no matter when or where or how often they operate the vehicle.