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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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Do i have to get my medical examiner’s certification before i take my written class a test
@Michael
That’s a question to ask DMV or your class instructor.
Our Texas CDL driver had a minor heart attack roughly 2 weeks ago. He was released from hospital after just 24 hours. They installed one stent. He says he feels great. What does he need to return to driving? He saw a temporary (he has not been assigned a long-term one yet by the VA) cardiologist this morning and they released him to drive as long as there were no physical exertions required.
@Jeff
If he has been released to return to work, then he needs a new medical examination to determine medical fitness for duty. That may be an issue if he has restrictions placed upon him.
As an OTR driver, there is no such thing as light duty, so he must be able to perform his normal daily activity.
If he is an intra-state only driver then he may fall under the states rules and regulations.
He will need a medical release form stating that he is ready to return to work. The examiner will, most likely, request a copy of his most recent stress test.
All of this is based on the OTR drivers standards. If he is not class A OTR driver then he falls under different regulations from the state he lives and drives in.
im working as a mechanic not driving do I still need to keep a medical card im only 50 and I don’t want to give it up
@Enrique
The only person who can answer this question is someone who works at your local drivers license department.
Some states will allow a driver to self-certify in an “Excepted” category while they are not driving, to maintain their CDL.
Others may allow you to downgrade your license, and switch back later.
If my CDL license was downgrade due to employer did not submit Dot medical in on time. How long do it take to reinstate if a submit proof of my DOT physical and will they reinstate without me retaking test?
@Waverly
It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that your local drivers license department has a current medical card on file with your driver’s license.
You’ll need to contact your drivers license department personally to find out what they want from you to reinstate your CDL.
I am retired, do i still need to have a medical card?
@R SS
No, but if you have a CDL you need to notify your local drivers license department to have your license downgraded, otherwise they will suspend your drivers license if you don’t have a current medical card on file.
Has there been a change in blood pressure parameters as far as if your blood pressure is above 140 over 90 initially during your physical that you can no longer receive a medical health card longer than 6 months meaning you have to renew every six months for the rest of your ability to hold a CDL
@James
If the situation is a first-time blood pressure over 140/90 and not yet on medication, you could get a one-year card to get the blood pressure under control.
If on medication, and BP is over 140/90 – you get one-time 90-day card to get it under control.
Once under control, 140/90 or below, you renew on an annual basis.
If my blood pressure is 140/86 and the Doctor dated my card for 2 years, my company says its only good for 1 year because of the 140. By DOT regs im I good for 2 years?
@ Five H
FMCSA says 140/90 or lower. So a 140 is still in the two year range, unless you are taking any medication to maintain that pressure.
Does a CMV operating intrastate in Texas need to have a medical card if it’s under 26,0001lbs?
Thank you!
I had a commercial license but i had a lost in the family and i didnt send my medical, how can i recover my cdl? do i need to take the tests again?
@Octavio
Only your local drivers license department can tell you what you need so contact them.
I did not present my medical card they downgrade me how can i get it back do i have to retest
You only have to retest if your driver’s license is expired. If it isn’t expired, you have to pay for a new license, and get a new photo license, but it will still be good until the date your license expires.
My DOT medical card expires June 9, and I had my physical done June 3. However, since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and I was given a cpap, I need the prescribing doctor to fill out another form and so I can send it in with the DOT card. Problem is, he is out of the office until June 15. Will I stll miss the deadline even though I had the physical completed and passed before the deadline?
@William
Sounds like you don’t have a new medical card yet. You cannot drive on an expired medical card.
As far as getting a new medical card on file with Texas DPS, each state treats this expiration process and license downgrade time period differently, so only your local drivers license department can answer your question.
Ok….i drive a school bus in Texas. The district i work for changed the med card to check off intrastate only. During the summer i do drive away trucking. So i need to go get my own dot certificate. Will this void the one i have with the school district? The district was losing drivers to drive away and decided to make it harder for us to work some where else during the summer. Thats my speculation anyway.
@Bill
Whenever you get a new medical certificate examination done and that information is placed into the database, it supersedes the last medical certificate. And no company has the right to make a determination regarding your intra-state or interstate qualifications.
had a seizure last week, doctor wants me off work for 6 weeks, currently hold a CDL and medical card that expires in 2017, do I have to report my medical condition to the state agency, I only drive intrastate
@Ron
Believe so, but check with your local drivers license department for confirmation.
My vision waiver expires Sunday April 24 2016 do I have a grace period to allow me to a get a new Vision waiver and DOT if so how many days and weeks do I have ?
@Gustavo
No grace period.
I was just informed that my cdl was downgraded because my emplyer never sent in my medical card it doesnt expire untill 2017 . I had no idea ky cdl was downgraded and i moved to arizona a week ago but they say i have to go to texas to get my cdl back…cant i get a new medical card in arizona and have it upgraded again when i get a arizona cdl??
@Matthew
An Federal DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Interstate) is valid nationwide so you can get certified in any state, no matter which state you have your CDL.
I am a Safety Director to a Trucking company in Texas. A driver came to me and said that the DPS office said that it is going to ONLY take the “Texas Commercial Driver License Self-Certification Affidavit” in person – NOT going to be able to mail/fax/email the form in any longer – is there any truth to this?
@Gregory
We checked the link for Texas Medical Certification Requirement and the information is correct. That document on the official Texas DPS State website details all self-certification categories and submission by fax, mail, or email.
It’s a different story if the driver’s CDL has already been downgraded.
I went and took my dot physical today and was told that my urine had high sugar levels of about 1000 I had just eaten about fourtyfive min prior so yea I guess it would be high I am on meds my ac1 is good, thing is I don’t drive a commercial truck I drive a class c 350 ford but my company requires me to get the dot physical,because their trucks are dot reg this doc would not pass me and told me to follow up with my treating doctor will I not be able to drive a reg class c veicle what are the guidelines for that?
@Donald
FMCSA guidelines want NO sugar in urine, you are a safety issue. Commercial Drivers have to pass the the same test whether it’s for class A or class C. Best bet is to get your sugar completely under control and go back for the urine test. Once you can pee clean, then you are good for a one year medical certificate.
Question! My medical card expires today but I’ve had my new medical card for a week now. Will i be able to submit my renewed card with txDOT tomorrow or does it.have to be done before the expiration date?
@Israel
As long as you have a new medical card, you are okay to drive.
Just make sure you get a copy into TX drivers license department asap and you should be okay. Each state has different timing / backlog time to get their system updated. TX seems to be pretty tough.
Had sugar in my urine have cdl and they tested my blood and I was ok under 100. This is twice now and no problem. I’m in Texas
@Brenda
Do you have a question here?
My son was trying to get a medical card, he went to one dr who sent him to a eye specialist, who prescribe him new glasses and he passed the eye test, went back to the first dr and she said no she couldn’t give him a medical card until his new glasses came in, he went to second doctor and passed eye exam without new glasses and was given a medical card, now the first doctor is filing charges with the state can she do that?
@TXGMA
No, she can’t file charges with the state, and if she did, for what?
I’ve been reading most of the comments in this thread and am at a loss for words. My problem was just the opposite from most of the individuals that posted. I had an injury October 2012 and had have surgery December 2012. Due to the injury and the surgery I was unable to return to work at driving a School Bus. I was turned down for any other positions, they needed drivers in Texas. Well, it was clear to me that I would have to resign and in August 2013 I did so. I did not have a renewed Medical Certification that year nor the new two years. I received a ticket the end of July 2015 and guess what? My CDL was still active, no downgrade as informed. I knew about the extensions but I just thought by June 2015 I would be receiving my new downgraded license as that stated. I have tried everything and everybody to get it back dated so that I can go to Defensive Driving School, no such luck.
I had a couple friends that are still doing Transportation driving and the downgrade problem happened to them too. So, as I feel for you guys because you have had to pay in some way. I have had to pay in a big way and will still be paying when the insurance company gets the info. I tried to fight it but the city of Helotes just didn’t give a care. I wonder how long I would have been overlooked, if I hadn’t got the ticket.
My med.card is up for renewal ..how can I send my new card to dps if I’m never able to make it before 5 ….does the email process work, and what other documents or info. Do I need to provide dps when sending the email?
Email does work, you get an automated reply stating that they have received (not processed, just received) your paperwork. Fax works as well. In any case, be sure you get proof that you sent it whether by email or a fax receipt so if your state screws up and downgrades your license you should be able to get it reinstated for free. The forms required may vary by state. Generally you only need your medical card which contains the Registry Number of all certified medical examiner and whatever form your state requires. Hope that helps.
I am currently residing in Germany because of Military Orders and I don’t want to loose my Class A CDL, however my Medical certificate expires on Sept. 5, 2015 and already got the mail from Texas DPS that my license will be downgraded if I can not update my Medical Certificate. The problem is there is no DOT Physical Doctors in Germany. How can I retain my class A in my situation? Can I self certify to a category that does not require a medical certificate and then go back to a category (1) again when I go back to Texas in 2016.
@Norman
I believe, and you want to confirm this, that there is military service related exemption.
So you keep your cdl in your state as long as the state knows that you are overseas and in the military.
But check with your state drivers license department.
I am thinking of getting my CDL but I have only one good eye with corrective glasses the best I can do is 20/50 I have a drivers license for day time only is there any such thing like that for a CDL?
@Mo
Check with your local drivers license department and see what the requirements are as an intra-state only commercial driver. That will be your only option unless you apply for a vision waiver through the FMCSA, which is a long drawn out process. So check intra-state only with your state.