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Ohio CDL Requirements
Effective January 30, 2012, new federal regulations require all Commercial Driver License holders to self-certify their type of commercial driving. All CDL holders must submit a self-certification in order to be issued and maintain their CDL.
All Ohio CDL holders are required 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 State DOT medical requirements.
Self-Certifying and Submitting your Medical Certificate to Ohio BMV
All CDL drivers must self-certify in one of four categories no later than January 30, 2014.
A description of the categories can be found by viewing form BMV2159.
If you self-certify Interstate Non-Excepted, you must also submit your Medical Certificate.
Submit the following two documents:
- Commercial Driver License Self Certification Authorization Form – download the form here from Ohio Department of Public Safety Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (medical card only, not the long form). Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
Note: Please include a cover page with your contact information: Name, address and telephone number.
By Mail:
Ohio BMV
CDL/Out of State Processing
P.O. Box 16784
Columbus, OH 43216-6784
By Fax:
614-308-5181
By Email:
cdl@dps.ohio.gov
In Person:
To a Regional Reinstatement Office or a Deputy Registrar. Locations can be found here.
Keep your Medical Certificate current with Ohio BMV
If you self-certify Non-Excepted Interstate and submit a medical certificate, you are required to keep a valid medical card on file with Ohio BMV.
Ohio BMV will send you a notice approximately 60 days prior to your medical card expiration. If you do not provide a new medical card, Ohio BMV will mail a notice to you, indicating your medical certificate is expired. Once your medical card expires, you are no longer eligible to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Submit a legible copy of your medical certificate (medical card only, not the long form) to the Ohio BMV:
By Mail:
Ohio BMV
CDL/Out of State Processing
P.O. Box 16784
Columbus, OH 43216-6784
By Fax:
614-308-5181
By Email:
cdl@dps.ohio.gov
Note: Allow up to 5 business days for processing of forms submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail.
In Person: For same day service
Submit completed forms to a Regional Service Center:
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Other Information:
Website: Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles official website
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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I have an Ohio class A CDL (22 years) , my card expires on 1/28/22
I am currently not driving because of a work related injury. How can I keep my CDL if I can’t work because I am on Worker’s Compensation?
I can’t currently pass the DOT physical until I am recovered.
Is there anything I can do to get an extension while I am recovering?
@ Peggy
Your cdl is state issued and is dependent on your states rules and requirements. Best to check with Ohio drivers license department and have them guide you through their process.
I know someone who is thinking about becoming a trucker, but he has epilepsy. I understand this disqualifies someone from getting a DOT Card, but in his case he only has had seizures in his sleep (never awake), and hasn’t had one in 1-2 years. He still takes medication at night to keep from having seizures, but doesn’t take anything during the day. Is there any chance he would be given an exemption?
@ Matt
For class A, interstate, DOT/FMCSA guidelines and regulations are not going to allow him to pass the medical examination. But, he may be able to drive intra-state only, if the state has an exemption policy in place. Check with his states drivers license department, cdl devision, to confirm.
If he wants to go interstate he needs to be seizure free for 8 yrs before he can apply for a Federal Waiver. I had seizures b/w 2008-2015 and I was able to get a CDL for Ohio intrastate in 2019. Ohio doesn’t have clear cut polices for epilepsy so I usually just need a certified doctor to say it’s ok. Usually a note from my actual Neurologist is good enough. Some doctors flat out refuse and others give me the all clear. The system sucks.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/medical/driver-medical-requirements/new-seizure-applicant-doc-email-version#:~:text=If%20there%20is%20an%20epilepsy,date%20the%20medication%20was%20discontinued.
I got my updated medical card a month before old one expired. I didn’t send new one because in companies past they always updated. Now I got letter saying I’m no longer able to drive because of medical certification expiring which it didn’t 🤷. Says after 60 days my cdl will be cancelled if not received. I even went to one of the providers on their list. I have the new paper copy in my truck will I still be ok??
@ Cory
Gat a copy of your new medical certificate to your local DLD ASAP and you could be fine.
A fillable form would be more helpful in the real world. Having a locked form when I don’t have printer access is annoying
I have a class A CDL But do not go out of state or use it in my dot physical Card Expires 5 Do I have to renew it In order to keep my class A CDL or can I just let it go It’s still have my class A CDL
@ Billie
Since cdl’s are state issued and each state is different with their requirement for medical cards, you should check with your local drivers license department for further confirmation on this issue.
Hi! I have a class A CDL, and I have Just started with a new company which made me do the DOT physical again. Now I have a new medical card that I have just submitted so it can be updated, but my old one is not even close to expiration. Now my question is, am I allowed to drive since in between.
@ Al
Yes, because your present / new medical card is already input to the FMCSA data base and you have a new card in hand. Only the state is running behind.
Does a class B dump truck driver who drives only in ohio need a medical card?
@ matt
Check with Ohio DLD for the best answer.
What is the Ohio DLD? I typed that in and all that comes up is Dept of disabilities
@ Mike
Ohio Drivers License Department.
So here’s my dilemma. I have a class a licence but I didn’t renew my medical dot card in 2018. Can I go to a medical dot place to gain access to my class a license in Ohio.
@ Brock
No. You cdl is state issued and must be reinstated by your states drivers license department.
If my employees are driving a commercial pickup with a 14k trailer and its empty do they need a cdl?
If the truck is over 12K? do they need a medical card if the truck is over 10k? and what else do they need if the truck is over 10K?
@ Mark
If your trucks require DOT numbers and are used for commerce, then your drivers need medical cards, in most states, but not cdl’s. Confirm this with your local drivers license department.
Can a medical doctor that has been tested by the national registry legally do dot physicals if his/her medical license has been suspended indefatigably? In other words the doctor is not able to practice medicine in the state of Ohio. Will all my drivers need to get new medical cards through another DOT certified physician?
@ Becky H
Check with your states professional licensing department. FMCSA registry is federal and states: Medical examiner means a person who is licensed, certified, and/or registered, in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations, to perform physical examinations. The term includes, but is not limited to, doctors of medicine and osteopathy, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and chiropractors.
My drivers just received their medical cards, they are NOT CDL drivers, but are commercial. They were told that they had to file the medical cards with the BMV, is this correct? Or can they get by with carrying the card on them at all times?
@ Jen
Confirm the need for reporting to the state with your local drivers license department. Most states do not require reporting if the drivers are not cdl holders, but confirm for clarity.
If a driver has a current dot medical card who is non CDL and we hire them on do we need to send them for another DOT card? Or does the valid one they currently have work?
@ Adam
The one they have works fine.
@ Adam
The one they have is all you need, it works fine.
I have just recertified. I have also started driving for a new company, they are saying that medical card is no good. I’m just trying to understand if that’s a “state” thing or a “company” thing.. As I understand it as long as I have a current medical card and a valid cdl..that’s what I need to drive.
@ Dan K
If your medical card was issued by a CME on the national registry then it is good. Must be a company thing, not a state reg.
So, if they downgrade your license in Ohio, what do you have to do to get your CDL back if you have not had a current physical for 5 months?
@ Michael
Your state has some process that you will need to go through. Check with your drivers license department for the best answer.
In ohio, if you are an occassional (once every few weeks) fill in driver on a non-CDL truck do you need a medical card?
@ Rob
Check with your local drivers license department for a better answer.
My husband wants to do his dot physical on a sunday then go to bmv after work on monday to update medical card. The current physical dose not expire for 2 1/2 weeks. Is he ok to drive on monday? He dose not want to miss a day of work.[
@ Wendy
He should be fine to drive.
I have just received a letter stating or insinuating that I have not as yet filed my medical report with your office. As of 01/02/2019 my medical card and doctors information was faxed to your fax department. and the paper work I received back says it was completed and accepted by your department. It was faxed to phone number (614-308-5181) at the OHIO DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY
from me DOUGLAS R BARBER / 2021 MAPLE DRIVE / COLUMBIANA – OHIO 44408
CELL # 330-360-3204
Please check your records and verify. Thank You Douglas R Barber
I have retired from driving and do not want to redo my physical. Do I need to do anything before my CDL runs out or will I be able to continue to drive my personal vehicle with my current CDL until time to renew my license
@ Donald O
Probably best to let the state DLD know and then they can just your license with no hassles.
I have retired from truck driving and do not want to redo my physical.
@ Paul A R
OK, just be aware that the state may downgrade your license from a cdl to a automobile class. Check with your state DMV if there are further questions regarding this.
I just renewed my cdl May 2018 and knew nothing about having this medical card. I haven’t driven since 2011 but keep my license & endorsements. The BMV has no medical card on file and yet they keep allowing me to renew my cdl. I’m sure I’ll have to do the whole medical thing if I decide to get back into driving. Maybe once they have it then they’ll require it. I don’t know if I fell through the cracks or what.
@ Trent
If you decide to go back to driving you will be required to have a valid medical card. You may have fallen through the cracks at the moment, but if stopped by a police officer or DOT for any reason, you best have a valid medical card.
I had a Tia a month agobecause of a hole in my heart which was patched and recently was cleared by my neurologist and my primary care physician to return to work and to drive a commercial vehicle again. I tried to get a new physical done but they told me I needed to wait a year. DO I need to wait a year even after being released by all my doctors? I only drive In state. thank you
@ David d
FMCSA wants a year wait because of a statistical probability of another tia. But check with your local drivers license department and ask about the intra-state only commercial drivers license. Then you fall under the states variances and not just FMCSA.
I work for a limousine/party bus/motor coach company in Ohio. Do our non CDL drivers need a medical card?
@ Amanda
Most states are requiring a valid medical card for any driver driving any type of vehicle that is used for commerce. Busses, pickup trucks, small delivery vans, etc. Check with your states drivers license department for confirmation.
I am a CDL driver and I drive a recycling truck for a garbage company. I had a TIA in March and got the clear from my neurologist to drive but I can’t get my medical card they tell me I have to wait a year. I see on another post up top you told the gentleman to call the license bureau to ask about intra state driving only until the year passes. So would this rule apply to a garbage truck driver who does not go out of state?