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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…
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I have been a insulin dependent diabetic for 10 years and im very stable. I want to obtain a cdl A license . Is there a waiver or something?
@Robert
Check with the FMCSA or the DOT to find out what the process is to attain the paperwork for a diabetes waiver.
Here is the link for the FMCSA diabetes exemption application
If your renewed health card is issued on the same day the old one expires you have 15 days to get the new card to them? Is that correct?
@Carl
Every state treats this process differently. If your card has expired you may receive a letter stating the grace period, if any.
If you’ve submitted your new card and you haven’t received a letter, you are probably good to go.
I am a Via Metro Bus Operator. I renewed my license at the beginning of 2013. It could not be renewed without filling out this form. Saturday I received a notice that said my license was being downgraded because I hadn’t turned it in. Obviously a mistake, but does anyone know how long it takes to get this straightened out. How long should I expect to not be able to drive thereby not get paid. This will have a terrible impact on my ability to pay my bills. 🙁
@ R H
Take your stuff in hand and walk it into your local driver license office and get it taken care of. That’s all it takes.
This happens very regularly. The state of TX is making this mistake with a very high percentage of drivers. It is so bad that I have created a FB page. Please check it out..
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TX-CDL-drivers-and-the-Medical-Card-issue/100542150293164
I was in an auto accident , my medical certificate expires 5/15 15,I cannot make the deadline to get recertified,what do I need to do to keep my cdl, from being downgraded what forms would I need to fill out in texas ?
Is there any sort of database to check if the medical card is currently valid? I’m a dispatcher, and a driver notified me that he received a letter saying that his license was downgraded. The thing is that the new medical was submitted before it’s expiration date and we would like to know if we can receive assistance with this.
@Adrain
You will need to check with the local/state drivers license department. They would have the available information regarding this issue.
My med card expires on may 16. I am trying out the cpaps machine while I am driving. It may take longer to get it evaluted results and it will be after the 16th. Is there leniency?
@ Margarito
Each state is a little different, but the fed is pretty strict. You may be able to request a 90 day medical card to finish the waiting period and get the final results. Once you show good compliance and proper settings, you’ll be good to go.
My medical expired on 4\4\15 and hot my medical card by 4\10\15 and my employer emailed my info to dps 4\13\15 and recived a letter by dps that my cdl has been down graded to a class c from what I read we have a grace period of 15 days from the day it expires just wanted to verify that
if i get a urine test and what numbers have to be on blood sugar to qualify and is that the same as the ac1 test to qualify or is that differnt
@Bob
The DOT urine test, which is done with every DOT examination, is only looking for sugar in the urine. It is not an A1c test. For DOT there should never be any sugar in the urine. If there is, then what ever you are doing to control your sugar isn’t working. So you need to make sure that your sugar is well under control. If it is not under control, you will not pass the DOT examination.
My husband renewed his medical card and CDL-7 in July 2014. His medical card does not expire until July 2016. He took both items to the DPS office in Texas and they faxed the information. He just received a letter in the mail that his CDL is being downgraded for “failure to meet required deadline” of providing his CDL-7 by January 30, 2015. I cannot find the answer any place as to – How often is the CDL-7 suppose to be filled out? Is it annually, every six months, at job changes? He is class A and B – he has switched jobs, but there is no change in his CDL-7. Thank you.
@Mem
The only person who can help you with this is someone from Texas DPS.
DPS will tell you that you messed up by not turn in it on time and that you have to pay a renewal fee, that they will waive the exams.
It happened to me, this week, I took my medical exam before my old one expire, in march and now is june and they downgraded it my license, i paid the fee because i need my license but i think they are doing this to make money, they know that most people get read of their correspondence and we have nothing to prove with.
I have drivers that I personally sent the self cert affidavit off for and 3 were downgraded! I have email proof and they still charged the drivers! We have created a facebook page for all drivers this is happening to
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TX-CDL-drivers-and-the-Medical-Card-issue/100542150293164?ref=hl
Question please what was fee my husband got a letter Saturday saying his is downgraded and will have to take tests etc. his med card good to 12/2015. ?? He is worried if he will have to take written and driving tests?? Thanks
@Perkins
You’ll need to contact you state/local driver’s license department to get this question answered.
I am from Texas, I have a Class C License, I travel to different states with my truck and a trailer caring more that 10,000 Lbs (Truck and trailer). Do I need a medical card and do I need to send a copy of it to Austin TX.
@Maria
Check with your state license department. I believe that anything above 10,001 pounds and is used for commerce needs to have a valid medical card. But we are not sure if you must report it to the local drivers license department. Ask them for clarity.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TX-CDL-drivers-and-the-Medical-Card-issue/100542150293164
Please check this out, this same thing happened to 3 of my drivers! It is getting out of control. I created a Facebook page to put all of these people together and maybe we can force the state to correct this.
Mem,
I received the following email which I’ve pasted below on March 12th. Evidently, there is some type of glitch in TXDPS system which is downgrading CDLs even if there is self-certification on file. I work for a motor carrier and manage over 2000 Driver Qualification files. I’ve had several of my drivers receive the same letter. My guys have been able to get their CDLs back without and issues so far. I hope this helps!
“The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a clarification to roadside enforcement this week asking troopers to honor proof of a CDL and a valid medical card roadside, without regard to the transmitted computer return of license and CDL status. They will be documenting the contradiction or disclaimer of compliance in their “remarks” section of the inspection report and are instructing personnel not to place a driver “out of service,” however if an out-of-service has occurred already on previous inspection reports, a DQ challenge from the affected may still be initiated.
The department has also notified all driver’s license offices to process self-certification transitions as “no-fee” upgrades, if the driver can show that they have a current medical certification card that was valid at the time of the January submission deadline. TxDPS is reporting that most updates are being processed within seven days, therefore if a driver submits an update by any other method than going to the driver’s license office, it may take a week to process.
TxDPS is also asking carriers to submit a list of their drivers for whom they had previously submitted proof of medical certification via email to TxDPS. That list should include the driver’s name, date of birth and CDL number. Lists can be sent directly to Sheri Gipson: Sheri.Gipson@dps.texas.gov. She can also be reached via phone at 512-424-2769, or you can contact Marylisa Garcia-Lopez, CDL – Enforcement & Compliance at 512-424-7878.”
@Brandi
Thank you! Sure is a help for many drivers caught in this predicament.
Thank you!! Yes. The local DPS had it scanned into their system, but the worker in Austin didn’t bother to enter the information. That’s what we were told. He got it back without problem. But, who is going to give back the money that he lost due to their error. It’s sad that this has happened to so many drivers. Thank you very much.
Brandi:
Any way I can get a copy of that e-mail?
Thank you.
Does the CDL expire after 3 months if I got the 3 month medical card?
@Ed
No the medical card is one thing and the CDL is something different.
A 3 month medical expires in three months.
Your driver’s license has its own expiration date, but is tied to the medical card for validity. Without a valid medical card your CDL will be downgraded. The CDL process differs from state to state.
It apparently is annual by January 30th each year I’m pretty sure but not positive,.and my Med Examiner’s Certificate doesn’t expire until 10/2015.
In order to avoid missing the JAN 30th, 2015 deadline, I mailed we’re Form CDL-7 on 12-12-14. Yesterday Friday May 29, 2015 I received the DPS letter stating that my CDL has been downgraded because they said they did not receive my CDL-7 by JAN 30th, 2015. They already have my current & valid Medical Examiners Cert. on file from last year like they do for everyone with a TX CDL. I don’t see how they can trash a person’s hard-earned money and efforts to get a CDL based on a missed arbitrary deadline to turn in a document which they already have in their records. I just got a Texas DPS letter stating that my $4000 CDL has been downgraded to a class C, and if that weren’t bad enough, in order to get my CDL reinstated, I (and everyone else who has this problem) will have repay every license fee and take every test, both written and driving tests, all over again. I cannot afford this and it could jeopardize my job for which I am required to maintain a valid Class A.
This is governmental corruption gone wild & rotten to the core. We the people are going to have to take back our government before they incarcerate everyone but themselves since they are always exempted from their ridiculous unwanted laws.
Good luck!
How did you resolve this? I’m in the same boat and am freaking out.
Was informed today by the Texas CDL medical examiner that if I am a smoker I must also, by a new law, have, and pay for, something called an PFT test, (a lung function test). Never heard of this law and cannot find any information about it. Any truth to this, anyone? Is there a new law?
Thanks
@Tim
This is not a law or regulation, it is a recommendation, if there are other signs and symptoms present.
If no other symptoms, then some one is really trying to cover their butt.
If your cdl get downgraded… Because you didn’t know that you needed to turn the med code card into the DPS … So if I take my med code card to the DPS will they give my cdl back or do I have to take the test over?
In our company, we have had several drivers run into this problem. We sent them with proper documents to the DL office and they were reinstated with a fee ($11.00 to $65.00). No tests required. Apparently, this is a one time exception if you meet certain criteria. It must be only a medical card downgrade.
What were the criterias? I just got the letter today I didn’t even know about deadline or any of it …My license ex 2018 n current medical card …this isn’t fair
I have had a driver lose his CDL status and I sent his medical card and certification to the state. We even got a email reply telling us that they had recieved it and they still down graded his license. I have also looked to see if there is a way of checking on the status. I could not find a web site that could give me that information.
My employer also sent medical card and certification by email and as of yesterday, myself and one other employee have received a Commercial Driver License Downgrade Notice. My employer is currently trying to get this corrected. They have found that this is happening all over Texas. It has to be some kind of a computer glitch or an employee did not enter the information into the Texas Department of Public Safety system. This is something that needs to be corrected on they’re end. Think about the drivers who have not been home to receive the downgrade notice.
I just sent a driver back to the DPS for this reason and my driver told me that he had to retake the driving portion.
My cdl was downgraded to a class C. Will I be able to reinstate my cdl WITHOUT retaking written tests all over again?
My cdl was downgraded because i did not submit my medical certificate to Austin. Is there anyway I can reinstate it WITHOUT retaking testS? Thanks
Under the CDL exemption for fire personnel, firefighters are exempt;, however, is there a physical requirement for other personnel, i.e., fire driver, fire bat chief, assistant chief, and fire chief that went into effect 1/1/2015? I have researched various sites for Texas and have not been able to find anything.
@Jo
Because this is a state exemption, it does not fall under the FMCSA or federal DOT.
You will have to find the answer within your state’s Driver’s License Dept.
Good afternoon, my husband’s medícal certifícate is about to expire we would like to know if It’s possible for him to take the new physical a few days after It’s been expired.
If so, How many days after can he take the new physical Without getting in trouble?
@Hope
Each state is a little different, but in reality the medical card becomes invalid at midnight of the expiration date. So if possible, get it done early.
The medical examiner is not concerned with the expiration date.
Most states are being a bit relaxed on the exact date, but it is the DOT officers checking CDLs that may have a problem.
It states you have to have your new health card 15 days BEFORE your present card expires. to avoid downgrading on you CDL’s
My husband is trying to get his CDL and they are telling him that if he takes anti depressants then he wouldn’t be able to pass his DOT physical. Everything that I have read states that he can pass his DOT. He’s been on them for several years now. What is the ruling on this?
@Stephanie
Start with a medical release form from his doctor explaining the meds and the need for them. That should answer the CME’s questions.
Someone who takes a new physical exam a month before the current one expires and fails the exam… Is the old card still current or does it make it invalid?
@Kathy
If the new physical was in-put to the FMCSA data base, then the old card is out and the medically disqualified is in.
I was recently a truck driver for 15 years and now I am a high school teacher but would like to keep my CDL although I am not using it right now. Would it be possible for me to not have to have a DOT physical and card since I am not using my CDL. I live in Texas by the way.
@anthony
Not sure about Texas, but in most states if you want to keep your class A active, you must have a valid medical card. You should check with your state DLD to confirm this is true in Texas.
You must have a reason to maintain your CDL in texas anymore, ask at your district about sub driving… Extra money for you and also a way to maintain your CDL and yes you will need your physical completed and sent into Texas DPS.
Government entities do not require physicals. There are exemptions for city, state, federal, and school districts.
If you are given a 3month card by doctors while you get additional info for them when you go back with indoor can the doctor issue you. Another card before the 3month card explores.
@Carole
Yes.
I applied for a dot job and in the interview the manager tells me he cant hire me untill my dot card expires, is that legall
@Seed
I don’t know about legal or illegal, but it does not make any sense to me at all. Was there any explanation for this type of behavior?
Yes, you must maintain a current D.O.T. Physical in Texas or they will convert your CDL to a class C. Just happened to me because of my recent diagnoses of COPD. You have to have above 60% lung capacity according to the Federal Commercial regulations.
IF YOU PASS THE PHYSICAL PART OF MEDICAL DOT AND ARE ASKED TO FURNISH COPY
OF STRESS TEST & A LETTER FROM YOUR HEART DOCTOR STATEING IN HIS OPINION YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DRIVING ,WHICH YOU DO IN A TIMELY MANNER ,THE DOCTORS OFFICE SENT IN A 3 MONTH CERTIFICATE AND TOLD ME WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH THIS INFO THEY WOULD GIVE ME THE YEARLY CARD.NOW THEY SAY SINCE THEY GAVE ME THE 3 MONTH ONE I HAVE TO COME BACK IN 3 MONTHS WHEN IT EXPIRES AND TAKE ANOTHER
PHYSICAL BECAUSE THAT IS THE LAW! JUST DOESN’T SEEM THIS IS RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE $250.00 IN 3 MONTHS FOR A CARD.
@Carolyn
You are correct. This is not a law and once you provide the proper information, then you should be given the remainder of your one year card. There may be a charge, which helps cover cost of bringing everything up to date, but not a full DOT examination charge.
I have a class a cdl in Minnesota. I’m thinking about moving to Texas. Do I have to retake all the tests and stuff or does it just transfer over?
@Andrew
You’ll need to contact Texas DPS to work out how your license transfer will work.
At DOT Physical DOCTORS we focus on questions about medical certification for your CDL.