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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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If i have a cdl b in ohio & drive only in ohio do i need 2 have a physical
@ Glen
Most state require a DOT medical certification to maintain a valid cdl. But each state is different, so confirm with your local drivers license department.
I accidentally allowed my Cdl license to expire three days ago on my birthday. Have a current medical card. Will I have to retake the written tests when I go to renew?
@ Nicole
Your cdl is state issued, so confirm with your local drivers license department. Highly unlikely you will need to start all over, but get it done NOW.
Thanks. I called the license bureau, I still have 6 months no retesting necessary. I’m definitely getting it done now
@ Nicole
Way to go, good.
My d.o.t physical expired on 12/20/21.
I had totally forgotten since I was laid off (I drive a low boy tractor trailer for a asphalt company who doesn’t work in the winter ) is there a time limit in Ohio that states if I do not obtain my physical before (example 60 days) will I have to retake my CDL test all over again?
@ Jonathon C
DOT/FMCSA has extended the grace period to the end of February. Check with your state DLD for confirmation in your situation.
Will I get conformation that they received my email copy of my medical card?
@ Charles
That information will come from the state. We would recommend you to confirm with your local drivers license department.
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