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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 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.