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South Carolina CDL Requirements
Everyone in the State of South Carolina who wishes to obtain or who currently holds a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) are federally required to inform the DMV of the type of commerce they plan to operate.
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted
You must meet the state driver qualification requirements.
Note: All current South Carolina Commercial Driver License and beginner’s permit holders will receive a letter notifying them of the requirement. Self-certification must be done before January 30, 2014. If you do not meet the January 30, 2014 deadline you will be in jeopardy of losing your Commercial Driver’s License.
Submit your Self-Certification and Medical Certificate to South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
Submit the following two documents:
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Holders Medical Certification Requirements – download the form DL-405A here from South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
SCDMV-CDL Help Desk
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0028
By Fax:
(803) 896-2676 to the CDL Help Desk.
By Email:
CDLHelpDesk@scdmv.net
For email submission, please scan the documents, preferably in PDF.
In Person:
To any local SCDMV Office
Please contact the CDL Help Desk at 803-896-2673 if you have any questions.
Keep Your Medical Certificate Current With South Carolina DMV
If you self-certify Non-Excepted Interstate and submit a medical certificate, you are required to keep a valid medical card on file with South Carolina DMV.
You may submit a legible copy of your medical certificate (medical card only, not the long form) to the DMV by mail, fax, email, or in person, as described above.
Other Information:
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles official website
CDL Help Desk: 803-896-2673
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 we have an inspection team working for DOT (subcontractor) is there a medical requirement. They are not driving (no CLD licensed required tasking).
@Monica
Would need more information. Are you doing medical card for drivers or not?
Best to check with DOT.
I have had a sleep study done and have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. I don’t have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol but was told by a doctor who was giving me my DOT physical that he would not sign off on my paper work so I could get a current DOT medical card because of my sleep study results. How can he ruin my career based on a sleep study? I use my sleep machine every evening. Please assist, help! I am at my wits end.
Thanks
@Dion
Did you ask what the issue was that the DOT examiner would not sign off on?
If the results are within normal limits and you have shown good compliance, then just get a medical release form completed by the sleep doctor and you should be good to go.
I had a mi in oct 8 2014 …recently I have a ejection fraction of 40% as of jan 16 2015..Do I need a release form from my cardiologist, and my primary Doctor??? for my dot physical..
@Allen
Yes, medical release forms from both will be needed in this case.
Can I get qualified to drive with a class b cdl in intrastate commerce while on insulin & low dose blood pressure medicine & getting cleared from a ischemic stroke?
@Ronald
You need to check with your state DLD and confirm whether you can qualify with this list of medical conditions and medications. Federal DOT would have some major questions that would require more information.
See also FAQ – Medications.
I am on pain medication for a bad back…norcotic….am I still allowed my dot card???
I am on pain medication for a bad back..norcotic…will that stop me from renewing my dot health card??
@Eddie
It might, depending on what drugs and their side effects.
Read FAQ – Medications
Is there a DOT Dr. That will examine someone that’s on dialysis . Have been driving for two years.
@Saundra
Any and all DOT examiners on the NRCME can do the examination.
The limitation will be your present condition and whether you are in possession of a insulin/diabetes waiver.
I’m 64 year old medically retired since 2008 but would like to keep my cdl. I went to classes to earn it, and it wasn’t cheap! the last two renewals has cost me close to 300.00 dollars for medical cards. as a driver I knew what the law required and most of the times the fine for a expired card was 25.00dollars. some drivers went for years or up to time for cdl renewal time and or never got caught or just keep paying the fine. when a few drivers mess up everyone else pays, if the fine would hit the wallet harder that would not happen but once. if I ever decided to go to commerical driving I know I’m requried to have a up dated medical card and would get it. why can’t the dot put a letter code on the licence to indicate that the cdl driver is not a active driver. I’m sure the DOT can come up with something. thanks
As a carrier, drivers lack of med card registration (or long form as required by some states)
we need to know the statues of each driver so we will know if their CDL priviliges are still intact. Some states have a website that allows us to put in the drivers license number and/or other identifying information to be sure we are not allowing someone to drive who has not properly updated their med certificate and or self-certification. This directly affects the carriers CSA scores in the Driver Fitness catagory. Each state should provide this website that could be accessed by the Carrier with the proper identification. We have had drivers tell us they faxed or mailed in the information only to find that it never got to its intended destination. We like to be compliant but it is made extremely difficult if we do not have a way of verifying the self-certification/med card update.