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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 am going to retire and I live in Texas but want to keep my CDL do I have to take a medical physical
@ Michael R
Each state is different and most states require a valid medical card to maintain valid cdl. Check with your states drivers license department for any additional information.
Take it with you to the dmv they can attach it to your license.
However if you plan to have a company pay for it.. I would go to them and make them pay for it before getting it. As I recently had a brand new 2yr physical voided by a company chiropractor that I had just paid out of pocket for. Now I’m dealing with the fall out for not refusing to do another physical in less than 2 months
In texas does your medical card have to be from your current job or can you start a new job with the same medical card. Or will they make you take another test to get a medical card for there new hire process.
@ Randy
Your medical card is good for any position that requires a medical card to maintain your cdl. New job hires may be requested, by the company, to have a new medical card if the drivers card is near expiration. But it is a company policy, not DOT/FMCSA.
Hello good evening, I checked my record and saw that I had the expired medical card, from 01 09 2021, but my card says it expires on 04 09 2021, what do I have to do?
@ Osmany
Sounds like a slip-up on somebody’s part. Best bet is to renew your present medical card.
You go by your Medical card, notify your employer because your in violation of driving and can no longer drive until you go and take that new DOT fiscal asap, You might have your Lic bumped back down to a class C from the A or B there is a time frame they give you when they expire to renew, you should have received a letter warning you. Good luck P.S. take it direct to DPS, to update as soon as you get it done to keep from paying to upgrade your lic back.
I’m trying to get an Intrastate CDL in Texas for the first time and have applied for a vision waiver because I do not meet the DOT vision requirements of 20/40 in each eye. My question is that if I get my vision waiver approved, can I get employment with a transport company in Texas? I am a bit confused with the following paragraph on the vision waiver application
“This waiver is not a guarantee of employment. … Holders of a Texas Intrastate Vision Waiver who do not meet the physical requirements for a DOT Medical Card may be legally denied employment.”
@ Rana
First check with TX. drivers license department. Getting a waiver for interstate driving is different than intra-state. You may find that you fail the DOT/FMCSA physical, but are approved by the state to drive intra-state. One of the states we have dealt with wanted the physical done, have the driver fail the test due to vision, and then the state approved the driver for intra-state only.
I cannot get the form to download.
@ Robert P
Check with your state and see if they have the problem fixed.
What kind of drug and alcohol screening can I expect from the state of Texas dot medical examination.
@ Jt
Check with Texas DLD for your best answer. FMCSA medical examiners do not test for drugs and alcohol during the medical examination. They do test urine for sugar, blood, and protein. Your employer will test you for drugs and alcohol. They are two separate issues.
Why are they not extending physical requirements to renew your dot with the coronavirus why are we sending drivers to doctors and clinics to renew at this time. You are putting all drivers at risk
@ Joyce F
The states are doing what they can and are extending grace periods for cdl’s. Federal DOT has not, to date, extended medical certification expiration. It’s federal DOT/FMCSA that will need to update their present rulings.
Update March 24: FMCSA has issued a Notice and a Waiver allowing a grace period for expired medical cards during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Do I need to go to dnv office, after I get my CDL medical certificate renewed.Or can I fax/ email copy in the state of Texas
@ Charlie
You can fax or email a pdf copy to DPS. See details on this page.
What is the blood pressure requirement for DOT physical in Texas
@ Margery T
140/90 or lower. If you are taking blood pressure medication it’s still 140/90 or lower, but your medical card will be for one year at the time.
Is there a rule on renewing your medical card early?
@ David
No.
My med card expires July 10. My appointment to do the physical is the 8th if i fax it in that day am i good. I saw where it can take up to 20 days to process??
@ Jennifer
Each state is different, so check with your state’s DLD.
Take to DMV fill form out while your there 10.00 and it’s entered instantly, 👍
My father-in-laws CDL is up for renewal July 4th. He is having surgery tomorrow and will be in ICU for at least a week and then unable to drive his personal vehicle for 2-3 weeks and won’t be released completely for 10-12 weeks.
What does he need to do or can do until he is able to come in to renew so that he’s not downgraded?
@ Derek G
Check with your states DLD, they usually have policy for such instances.
Does anybody know the answer from Texas
Can you get a medical card in a different state then you are submitting to get a cdl?
@ Rodney
Yes.
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.