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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
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
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? 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.