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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. However, until that system is completed, 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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Medical card was dropped to 1yr because of high blood pressure. If it is shown that blood pressure is user control can it be upgraded back to 2yrs
@ Kelly
DOT/FMCSA ask the question “a history of high blood pressure” that most CME’s will hold you to one year medical card. Mostly so they can continue to monitor your condition and make sure you are maintaining.
We have employees that operate pickup trucks (1500/2500) that from time to time pull flatbed trailers with a GVWR of less than 10,000 lbs. They will haul their tools or tool boxes on them and the ocassional small generator or like equipment. Are these employees required to have a CDL and/or do they need a medical card for this?
@ Chris
They are not required to have a cdl. But your state may require a valid medical card since they are using their vehicles for commerce/making money. It is not about the weight, but about usage. Confirm with your local drivers license department for the most concrete answer.
Hello,
I noticed that the National Registry Certified Medical Examiners page is no longer available. Has it been moved somewhere else or is it no longer available at all?
@ Daisy
It is still available, but you have to look for it on the FMCSA website.
Are the steps different? If I’m in the right spot, It only lets you search a 50 mile radius
@ Monique K
We will forward you to one of our ‘Driver Friendly’ doctors and he will help you out. Please be respectful of his time. Thanks
I am moving to Texas and Just had my DOT physical in Iowa. Will that physical be enough for Texas or do I have to have another physical?
@ Paul L
The medical certification is federal and nation wide, so it will be good in Texas.
I will apply for CLP and do I need DOT for that?
@ Ras
Best to confirm with your local drivers license department on this question, since each state has different requirements.
Does an employee who has a CDL License be required to conduct another physical to keep their CDL License do to them hav had surgery.
@ RJ
Yes.
My medical card is up and I’m on workers comp for an injury I can’t get my medical card and I can’t afford to get my license renewed bc of workers comp! What do i do?
@ Fred j
At the moment you have until the end of February as an extension. If that is not sufficient then contact your local drivers license department and ask them to guide you through their process for situations like your.
I’m going to take my CDL permit test soon here in Arkansas, do I have to take a medical card? I’m just getting my permit then going to a CDL driving school with Prime inc Trucking company. Once I pass my permit test they said they will schedule me an appointment for a DOT physical.
@ Chris
If Prime is going to set the appointment for the DOT medical certification examination, then you probably won’t need it for the test.
Can you have more than 1 medical card on your cdl?
@ Stephen T. S
For class A, no. Not sure about lesser class cdl’s.
Do you need a med card in order to take your CDLA at the DPS office
@ Ericbrink
If you are going for a class A drivers license, then you will need a valid medical card. But confirm with the DPS as to their requirements.
Can you have 2 extensions on your medical card??
@ Mark
DOT/FMCSA class A, NO.
Can I go to any Primary Care Doctor to get a Medical Examiners Certificate or just special ones that participate? Also do I need this before I apply for a new CDL or after? In Texas.
@ KG
Your DOT/FMCSA medical certification must come from a registered medical examiner. They will be on the national registry. Probably best to have the new medical card before you go for a new cdl.
If my CDL expired due to not updating my medical card, what do I have to do to renew it? Take all the classes again? Thank you!
@ Gregory C
Check with your local drivers license department for your best answer. You may be so lucky as to simply renew your medical card and get it registered in your state.
No, just go to dps office. As long as it hasn’t been more than 90 days or that you haven’t renewed to downgraded dl
*Its been a year and I have a new medical card,can I just go to the dps office and get my license upgraded?
@ Thomas
You need to check with dps for clarification on this issue.
I caught Covid and been out for a few weeks ! This was a helpful answer
I have a class A but not in a job right now, can I keep the cdl and “deactivate” my cdl driving privileges until I go back to work and get a medical card then? Is there a form I need to register with the dps to do so?
@ Ray
Best answer will come from your states drivers license department, check with them.
Where or what website would I go to, to check & make sure my medical card got updated on my CDL? I’m in Texas.
@ Ronald R
You will need to check with Texas drivers license department for this information.
https://txapps.texas.gov/txapp/txdps/dleligibility/login.do
You can use this to verify it got processed onto your license and see if you have any fees owed to the state.
If my medical card just expired how long do I have to renew it before my CDL gets downgraded in Texas
@ Seferino G
This question will be best answered by your local drivers license department, since your cdl is state issued, not federal.
I’ve had a 1 year card for the past 3 years. I went to the Doctor that they sent me to which is in the pool of company Doctors.
I received a 2 year car. Some 2 weeks later someone in safety flagged my card for being 2 years.
So they sent me to the same facility and a different doctor there pasted me with a 2 year card again.
Now some 3 1/2 weeks later they say I need to go back and take another physical.
I’ve checked my status online with Texas DPS and my card is certified and it says that I am eligible to drive.
Can the company revoke my medical card ad or can the issuing Doctor?
Can’t find an answer online!!
@ Scott
It all depends on the reasoning behind the one year card for the last three years. Usually a one year card remains so until there is some evidence of health reversal, for the better. The company may have the right to question the changes. The company can not revoke the card, but they do not have to accept it if there are questions.
I work for a City in Texas and only use my CDL to drive a commercial vehicle in the City. Do i need a medical exam?
@ Norma M
You need to check with Texas drivers license department for your answer. Each state is different, with differing requirements.
Yes you do. Texas cdl holder here. You need it anytime you operate a cdl vehicle.
I have a driver that failed his med exam for his cdl, Can he continue to drive with what days he had left on the good one he has?
@ Butch C
If he failed and the CME entered the information into the federal data base, then your driver does not have a valid medical card. The new information over-rides the old medical card.
Clinics will tell you that your cerificate is filed with the state of texas when you sign. Do not believe this.You stlll have to file the certificate with the TXDPS yourself.. My CDL was downgraded due to this after 15 years. TXDPS always sends a notification. They did not, they just waited and sent a downgrade letter. What a scam. The clinic was saying it was filed thru the system and TXDPS did not send any notification. Hell, Russians are treated better than this shit.
@ joe
Most, not all, clinics only enter your data to the federal system. Always suspect that they do not file your data to the state. That is your responsibility in the end.
@ joe
So were you able to get it straightened out or do you have to start all over?
Wow, the same exact thing happened to me today…. $89 later 😩 I’m so furious because I was treated poorly today with no sympathy.
Hello, I can update my medical card online or by mail or I have to go to DPS to do it in person.
@ Yanda E H
Usually best to report it in person, that way no one lost it along the way.
I have a medical card that is good for a year and a half. After applying with a company, they had me do a physical but the doctor there only gave me a card good for 3 months until I do a sleep study. Do I have to do the sleep study and file the 3 month card or is my old DOT physical still good?
@ Alan
Once the CME does the examination and issues a new medical card, then your old card is invalid. DOT/FMCSA do not require a sleep study unless there are a multitude of symptoms. Get a second opinion, elsewhere.
Your new information overrides your old information that he put you have sleepapnea restriction on your DOT and without doing it, you can’t new your Lic, hope you have insurance is costly about 500.00 and you will end up with a machine to sleep with every night as well as you can only get 3 to 6 months exams now.
I am in Texas and I have been out of work and I am currently on disability and under a doctors care and will not be released by my doctor before my DOT physical expires. What do I do?
@ Scott
Basically your medical card is invalid as of the beginning of your doctors care. Check with your local drivers license department and inform them of the situation. They should be able to guide you through their process.
You can go and do your medical Exam yourself payout of pocket its about 95.00 to get a new one or your lic will be bumped back down to a Class C after time allowed expires. You most likely will do it again with a new employer under their lic
It’s my first time applying for cdl and got my dot exam done..do I need to email or fax to dmv now or after I get my cdl/clp
Take it with you to the dmv they can attach it to your license.
The day off my appointment?
@ Mike S
Check with your local drivers license department, they should be able to guide you through their process.
You can take that document to any Texas Department of public safety Office and give the document and they would handle it from there, or you might want to send it inn by mail get a tracker number showing they received it direct it to CDL Section. You have to do this yourself every time you renew 1yr or 2 yr same with 3 month or 6 month restriction for High Blood pressure and Sleepapnea.