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Home » Blog » Notice to Drivers and Carriers: Medical Certification requirements become effective on 02/01/2012.

Notice to Drivers and Carriers: Medical Certification requirements become effective on 02/01/2012.




Note: Starting January 30, 2012 and no later than January 30, 2014, all CDL holders must provide information to their SDLA regarding the type of commercial motor vehicle operation they drive in or expect to drive in with their CDL. Drivers operating in certain types of commerce will be required to submit a current medical examiner’s certificate to their SDLA to obtain a “certified” medical status as part of their driving record. CDL holders required to have a ”certified” medical status who fail to provide and keep up-to-date their medical examiner’s certificate with their SDLA will become ”not-certified” and they may lose their CDL.

For specific State by State requirements for drivers and information related to how a State is handling the Medical Certification requirements, and to determine who to contact for additional information, click on the following link: http://www.aamva.org/aamva/DocumentDisplay.aspx?id={CA0F43CF-FBED-4FA6-A08E-1FAA7D44DFD9}


What is changing? State driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) will be adding your medical certification status and the information on your medical examiner’s certificate to your Commercial driver’s license system (CDLIS) record.

When does this change start? This change starts on January 30, 2012.

What is not changing? The driver physical qualification requirements are not changing.

What are CDL holders required to do?

  1. You must determine what type of commerce you operate in. You must certify to your SDLA to one of the four types of commerce you operate in as listed below,

    • Interstate non-excepted: You are an Interstate non-excepted driver and must meet the Federal DOT medical card requirements (e.g. – you are “not excepted”).

    • Interstate excepted: You are an Interstate excepted driver and do not have to meet the Federal DOT medical card requirements.

    • Intrastate non-excepted: You are an Intrastate non-excepted driver and are required to meet the medical requirements for your State.

    • Intrastate excepted: You are an Intrastate excepted driver and do not have to meet the medical requirements for your State.
  2. If you are subject to the DOT medical card requirements, provide a copy of each new DOT medical card to your SDLA prior to the expiration of the current DOT medical card.



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