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Texas CDL Requirements
All Texas CDL holders are required to certify the type of commercial operation they’re engaged in. CDL holders operating in non-excepted interstate and non-excepted intrastate are required to submit a current medical examiner’s certificate and any variance they may have to the Department.
Non-Excepted-Interstate Commerce (Form CDL-4)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Non-Excepted-Intrastate Commerce (Form CDL-5 part B)
You must meet the Texas medical certificate requirements.
Submit Your Self-Certification Affidavit and Medical Certificate to Texas Department of Public Safety
Submit the following two documents:
- Texas Commercial Driver License Self-Certification Affidavit – Form CDL-4 or Form CDL-5.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (not the long form) and any variance you may have. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
Texas Department of Public Safety
License and Record Service
Attention: CDL Section
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, Texas 78773-0320
By Fax:
512-424-2002 Attn: CDL Section
By Email:
CDLMedCert@dps.texas.gov
Documents must be in PDF format
Keep Your Medical Card Current With Texas Department of Public Safety
Drivers are required to keep a current medical variance or medical examiners certificate on file with DPS, and failure to do so will result in the downgrade of the individual’s CDL.
You must provide a copy of each new DOT medical card to the Department prior to the expiration of the current DOT medical card.
To prevent your commercial driver license from being downgraded, you will need to send a copy of your new DOT medical certificate to the Department within 15 days of the DOT medical certificate issuance date.
You may submit your new medical certificate by mail, fax, or email, as described above.
You can review a driver’s current CDL medical certification status by accessing driver eligibility.
Other Information:
Texas DPS official website: Driver License
Texas CDL Medical Certification Requirement
Texas DPS/CVE – Locate a commercial vehicle office – address and phone number
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…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
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my husband moved to michigan with me. we went to get his new cdl and the state of tx told the state of michigan that he did not have a cdl. the license he carries shows it, his last employer has verified it for years. now we are stuck. no phone number to speak to a real person at tx dot. not sure what to do
@ Lisa
Make sure that his cdl has not been downgraded for some reason. And then fix the issue, if it has. The state of TX is downgrading cdl’s if there is no valid medical card on file. Start there.
If my TEXAS CDL was disqualified du to ALR for a 1 year in that year my medical card expired. Coukd not renew medical card cuas i did not have a license in my position and now my CDL has been expires since December 2018 when renwel do i get downgrade and can i upgrade to CDL whith out taking the skill test
@ Alvaro N
You need to talk with TX DLD for your best answer.
i have sent my med cert. at the email provided above. tomoro is the 27th of march, my deadline, can anyone tell me if you have recieved it, and if i need to do anything else.
Can a driver have his CDL in Texas and go renew medical card in a different state?
@ Yajaira
Yes, medical cards are good federally/nationwide.
I’m prescribed adderall will this effect my physical drug screen and disqualify me from obtaining my medical card and cdl.
@ James
It should not effect your drug screen results. And even if it did, you would only need to provide a copy of your prescription.
Does the doctor that performs the d.o.t physical send any paperwork to TX dps even if the patient doesn’t send his in to dps?
@ T
Most states require the CME to send certification to the DPS. You’ll have to check with your states DPS for a better answer.
If I’m driving just in the state of Texas, do I need a medical card to drive a truck?
@ Rafael P Q
In most states if the vehicle you drive is used for commerce, then you need a valid medical card. Check with your local DLD to confirm if that is true in your state.
if u drive only in the state of texas and are born before 1972 u don’t need a medical card your grandfatherd in
@ willie
Confirm that statement with the state of Texas drivers license department.
I have a current medical card but was downgraded, how did this happen and what can I do?
@ Omar
Check with your local DLD for your answer.
My DOT physical expires on 13-Feb-2019 but wont be able to get it done by April due to I work in a war zone and im not able to leave until April. Is there a grace period to how long my physical can be expired before i lose my CDL?
@ Nate M
FMCSA does not have a grace period, but your state may due to your circumstances. Check with your local DLD for their stance on the issue.
I received a letter stating my cdl is downgraded now that my medical card is expired. I understand I needed to get a new one however I drive for a local city that doesn’t require medical cards. From what I’ve been told med cards aren’t needed for government jobs. The only reason I got it was a trooper at the dps told me I needed one to renew my license but didn’t bother asking if my job required one. Once I got with a clerk he told me I got it for nothing. So why would I be downgraded if my job doesn’t require it?
@ Israel
Most states have adopted the requirement of maintaining a valid medical card to keep your CDL valid. Check with your local drivers license department for their requirements.
If you drive for a government agency and only drive intrastate then no you dont need a medical card. Only needed if you drive government vehicles outside the state in Tx like to Oklahoma or anywhere else. I’ve had mine that way since the medical card came into effect. Also you won’t be able to drive any commercial vehicle that isnt a government vehicle.
I had my dot physical current at the time but they still down graded my license. If I have proof of this can I get my CDL reinstated. The DMV says no because I had to renew. But the DOT physical card is good from that timeframe.
@ Scott
You need to check with your local DLD for the best answer.
Do I have to go just to the company doctor for a DOT physical or can I go to a doctor of my choosing as far as the DPS is concerned ?
@ George O
Totally your choice and make sure you know your companies policy on the issue.
I HAVE HAD 2 DOT PHYSICALS WITH IN A WEEK AND THE 1ST CERT. I TOOK TO DMV, IM WONDERING IF I HAVE TO TAKE THE SECOND BECAUSE I AM STILL CLREAED TO DRIVE NO RESTRICTIONS. AND THE TIME FRAME IS LESS THAN 5 DAYS SO WILL THE FIRST ONE BE OK. IN TEXAS YES
@ Shalandra W
The second physical was turned into the fed and should also be reported to your state, it avoids bureaucratic confusion.