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Pennsylvania CDL DOT Medical Card Requirements
The new Federal regulations also require commercial drivers to self-certify the type of driving in which they operate or expect to operate. Nearly every commercial driver, unless the type of commerce you drive qualifies as ‘Excepted’, is required to submit their valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate to PennDOT.
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet Pennsylvania requirements under Title 67, Chapter 231.
If you are not currently working as a professional driver, and to avoid the loss of the commercial driving designation and the requirement to apply for a learner’s permit, you may self-certify as either “Excepted Interstate” or “Excepted Intrastate” transportation. Making this change to the driving record will automatically disqualify you from operating in any form of non-excepted transportation. If and when your driving type changes, you will be required to resubmit the Self-Certification Form and submit a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
CDL Self-Certification
Submit the following two documents:
- Self-Certification Form (DL-11CD) – download the form here from PennDOT.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card. (Medical card only, not the long form.) Enlarge the copy to 5 inches by 7 inches, to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
PennDOT
Bureau of Driver Licensing
P.O. Box 69008
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9008
By Fax:
717-783-5429
In Person:
At your local PennDOT Driver License Center.
PennDOT will mail you a receipt indicating that the Medical Examiner’s Certification and/or Self-Certification Form has been processed. You should keep this receipt.
Keep your Medical Card Current with PennDOT
If you self-certify “Non-Excepted” (NI or NA) you are required to keep a valid medical card on file with PennDOT. Check your medical card expiration date! If it expires within the next 60 days you should renew it, and get it updated with PennDOT before it expires.
Approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date of your medical certificate, PennDOT will mail you a reminder letter. Approximately 30 days prior to the expiration date of your medical certificate, PennDOT will mail you an official downgrade notice, which emphasizes the date the commercial designation will be removed from your driver license.
A new medical card can be processed at a PennDOT Driver’s License Center as late as the day the current certificate expires to avoid the downgrade process.
Submit a legible copy (enlarge the copy to 5 inches by 7 inches) of your Medical Certificate (medical card only, not the long form) to PennDOT:
By Mail: Only if you are submitting at least 30 days before the due date.
PennDOT
Bureau of Driver Licensing
P.O. Box 69008
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9008
By Fax: If you are submitting less than 30 days before the due date.
717-783-5429
In Person: For immediate processing.
At your local PennDOT Driver License Center.
Other Contact Information:
Website: www.dmv.state.pa.us
Commercial Driver’s Information Center
Commercial Driver Information Phone: 717-412-5300 or 800-932-4600
Notice To Medical Examiners
PennDOT notice to medical examiners regarding Medical Examiner’s Certificate
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.
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Just curious. In Pa, what are the penalties for a driver if caught driving without a valid medical certificate?
I have 5 men with CDL’s that work for a municipality and drive vehicles with Gross Wt. of 37600 will they need medical cards
@Mr. Robinson
This is a question you need to check with PennDOT directly.
Live in pa’ question is. I have a ICD’.. Implanted ‘implanted cardio device.. All dot certification.. Facilities say.. I’m automatically disqualified for a medical card’ have you heard of this before ‘? And is it worth applying for a waiver that the state states is not a guarantee ” thank you…!!!
My son is being asked by a potential employer to provide a medical examiner’s certificate showing that he has passed the DOT physical for PA. The employer will assist him to get a CDL about 6 months into his job training. My son is not currently 18 years old, but will be when the CDL permit is sought. The medical doctor is saying the DOT website will not allow her to put in his birthdate as he is younger than 18 years old, so she cannot issue the medical certificate. If the medical certificate is valid for 2 years, does he have to be 18 right now? He will be 18 when he attempts to get the CDL permit. Thanks for any help. Not sure who to contact about this.
@Bethany
Your son can get a valid medical card and medical certificate without being a CDL holder, but he can not get a CDL until he reaches the correct age. (you’ll need to check with your local DLD for the age limit.). All the examiner has to do is complete the examination and indicate on the medical certificate that he passed the examination, but is not a CDL holder. At that point the examiner does not need to try and input the information to the FMCSA data base and can issue a valid medical card to your son.
? 11 total people 10 +1 / GVWR 14050 LBS. Drives intrastate Pa. Only marked with USDOT # 2281242 . Does the driver need a medical card to drive this vehicle ?
PLEASE ANSWER. THANK YOU.
@Phillip
Most states would require that this driver have a medical certificate. Not positive about your specific state. Check with your DLD to confirm or deny that this is the case.
Ive been through inspections in Pennsylvania, , the requirement for a medical card is if you are driving a vehicle GVWR over17,001 pounds. My truck is GVWR at 16,500 pounds,, so i dont need one. But if im driving with a trailer/or something that puts me over with combined weight of 17,001 pounds,, i need a card.
Chris,
Where is this stated at? I am trying to find this exact documentation in order to eliminate out current company policy of requiring medical cards for employees driving vehicles GVWR over 10,001 lbs.
INTERstate is Drivers who operate vehicles in interstate commerce that have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001 to 26,000 lbs.
INTRAstate is Drivers who operate vehicles in intrastate commerce that have a GVWR of 17,001 to 26,000 lbs
If you click on the link it will explain who does and does not need to file http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/dl_forms/DL-11CD.pdf
The rule is actually curb weight of 10,001 lbs. If your truck or combination is over this you are required to have a Med Cert.
I was a school bus driver for 7 years. I stopped driving in 2011 and sent in the Medical Examiners letter when I received it. In 2014. my liscence is due for renewal in November 2015. The local YMCA needs a bus driver. Do I need to retake my driving test or anything to go back to driving? How can I check if my CDL is still active? I was told by my former employer that I would have to do everything over to be able to go back to work. Thanks for any help you can give me with this.
@Diane
You’ll need to contact your state drivers license department directly, to get these questions answered and be sure your CDL is still active.
Our company has a delivery truck (14,500gvwr) which we use to deliver commercial goods to intrastate customers (Pennsylvania). Do I need to have the drivers obtain a DOT physical card and if so does it have to be submitted to our DMV?
The 14,500 pound truck you describe does not meet the legal standard as either a Commercial Motor Vehicle or a Motor Carrier Vehicle. Used Intrastate , it is not subject to ANY of the USDOT standards.
Unless you haul any Haz-Mat or the goods you deliver were a continuance of an interstate movement.
My father has a medical card about to expire in Sept. He cannot hear very well and sometimes hard to update card every two years. I run a small business with one dump truck at a GVW of 25,500lbs. He has a CDL but I am thinking of down grading to a smaller dump truck so he doesn’t need a medical card .From what I gathered in Pa is anything over 10,001lbs driving in interstate you need one and over 17,001 driving in intrastate you need one. Since all my work is in PA I want to get a truck as close to 17,000 to haul more weight without having him to get a medical card. Does anyone if this info is true or not. I also thin he has to fill out a self- certification form to do this as well. thanks for any help
@Andrew
Each state has different regulations regarding what weight and what license go with what type of vehicle they are driving.
Check with your state DLD to make your final decision.
Correct.
To avoid him being REQUIRED to have a med card…he is ok as long as he stays inside of Pa and doesn’t drive a truck that is over 17,000 lbs. If he were to go outside of PA, his max would be 10,000 lbs.
Don’t forget, trailers count ! A F250 at 8800 lbs plus a 3,000 lb trailer going interstate IS a comm motor vehicle.
@Andy
Thank you for taking the time to help out on PA requirement questions. Much appreciated!
I sent my new Med Cards in via e-mail and recieved a reply back that I would receive a receipt within 15 days in the mail. If I don’t receive my receipt I was informed to call the number provided. I did not receive my receipt after 16 days and when I called the number provided I was told that PennDot has no record of processing it even though I was told they have a three daay turn around on the processing. Has anyone else experienced this problem. I am now trying to find a fax machine and drivers license centers are only open on Thursdays.
My question is that can I still get my CDL back after I have been down graded from a, A to a C for failing to mail in a medical card? Today I tried to transfer my license from PA to WV and I was told I was down graded. I never received a letter or nothing about having to send proof nor did I receive a letter that they down graded it. I have had no Lapse at all in my medical card but they are saying it’s been down graded for almost 6 months. I have been stopped at weigh stations and had my I.D. ran while moving my rig and not 1 time has any officer ever mentioned to me about any of this either.
@the1andonly24
Not sure about your states regs. on this one. In Utah all you have to do is go to the DLD and explain the situation and they will upgrade, once they have a self-certification form completed and a copy of your medical card. So check with your state DLD and see what they want to re-instate your class A.
Pa allows you to ” correct ” this issue but it must be done within 30 days. Your downgrade took you to a Non-Commercial CDL, not a class C regular license.
I would call and confirm this but I don’t think you will get any good news.
I am out on worker comp and will be going thourgh surgery and will not be allowed to return to work until after my mediale card runs out will i still have a class a when i get the word that i can return to my job that is after i get my new mediale card or will i have to take the whole dam test over again where can i find out one way or the other
@Ronald
You need to check with your state Drivers License Department on this one. Once you explain your situation, you should be able to maintain your license and be able to return to a class A without going through the whole testing process again. But it will be up to your state not federal.
What you NEED to do is file a new form DL-11 CDL. With Penndot and change your status to EXEMPT INTERSTATE. You are telling Pdot that you are a medical card expempt driver ( like a gov’t employee). You will no longer need to keep or have a current medical card on file and they won’t take or downgrade your CDL.
But know this….you CANNOT legally drive any vehicle that requires a med card during this time. You are in essence putting your CDL on a shelf and not using it until you can get a new med card.
Once you get a new med card. Go back to Penndot and fill out another DL-11 CDL and change your status back to non-exempt and you are ready to go back and hit he road.
Had four CDL exams in past 2 years, passed all but the last one. Due to neck size wanted a sleep study done. Did show needed Cpap, got all of that done and called doctor that did exam and still will not renew my license. What exactly are the rules for Cpap and getting my CDL approved. Quite the big fella, 6 4. Tried to call many phone #s but not able to talk to anyone. If you have a specific # please send it to me. I
I have been trying to get this done for approx 6 weeks plus now. Job on the line. Need this job as wife is very ill right now and she is unable to work.
I would appreciate any input that you can give me.
thanks
@Kim
This sleep apnea issue is an extensive, and debated subject.
Read this multi-part article on Sleep Apnea and Commercial Drivers to understand the issue, your rights as a driver, and awareness for your health and safety connected to sleep apnea.
is there a list of doctors that are qualified to fill out your medical card,i went to the same doctor that filled it out 2 years ago and faxed it in and got a reply that he wasn’t qualified anymore
My dot card is about to expire I am in pa. If it expires will I have to take my cdl tests all over or get a new card. (Note I’m having health issues and need them resolved so I doubt I can pass as of right now)
I have a dot medical card and just had another exam done in feb. 2014 my old one ran out in 7-2014 , but I forgot and just found out. Am I going to have to take my test and everything over or possiblie pay out money that I don’t have to get back on track
@Tim
You’ll need to check with your State drivers license department to find out the status of your driver’s license/medical card.
Each state differs in the way they handle this type of situation.
I have been out of work as a CDL driver and my medical card just expiered can anything be done for me?
@Kevin
Just go and get a new medical examination and card. If your medical card just recently expired then there should not be any problems.
Submit a copy of your new medical card, together with your self-certification, to your state licensing agency, and you should be good to go.
On June 20,2014, I submitted my CDL DOT MEDICAL CARD TO PENNDOT via fax (7177835429). My current card expires 07/02/2014. I was wondering when and how would I know whether or we received. I can also be reached at (deleted by admin)
i recently got my dot physical, i got no info from dot stating that i had to sent in a copy of medical paper to them. never got paperwork. just when it ran out, that i got that i do not longer have a cdl lisence. i called them and said that it there fault that your mail carrier did not deliver it. i just wonder if they dot can reinstate it. i sent info to the state representative all the infor he told me and he will get it there. so far i have not heard anything. can they reinstate it. physical taken march 18th. i am out of work do to of sending mail out. thought employer would be responsible for it or at least to let you know did you sent it or not. lack of communication
Question is. Do you need a medical card to drive a 10,000 GVW commercial truck like a: box van, F450 or F550 with utility body, dump body, landscape body or chassis.
Thanks,
Barry Moyer
@ Barry
In the state that I live in, if the vehicle is 10,001 lbs. and/or is being used for commerce, then a medical card is required by law. Check with your DMV to confirm or deny that that is the case in your state.
It is very frustrating that when you call your number, you cannot talk to a real person. The fax is ringing busy…..is there an alternative fax number?