CDL medical card questions?

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by wastetrucks, Dec 16, 2012.

  1. wastetrucks

    wastetrucks Light Load Member

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    I kept forgetting to ask this, but here it goes. I have a class B license and my friend has a Class A with hazmat,tanker, doubles, triples, the works. Neither of us are using our licenses right now, have non-driving jobs at the moment. Both of our medical cards expired in 2011. He got a letter in the mail about if he doesn't get a medical card soon they are going to take away his CDL. #1 is that true, is he reading that right? #2 I didn't get anything in the mail, I am wondering why? and #3 he said in the letter that if he didn't get a medical card, and they took away his CDL he would have to retake the exam, and driving test to get it back, is that true? Thanks guys, I don't want to lose my CDL in case I get into a jam and need a driving job quickly. He went and got a complete joke of a physical and medical card the other day just in case he needs a driving job in a hurry.
     
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  3. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    probably yes, your medical information is tied into the database now. if it's not current. then your commercial gets suspended.

    i beleive there might be a 30 or 60 day window should it lapse to get it current. but he's gone over a year. it's been suspended.

    you probably didn't get a letter becuase you're probably not actually a commercial license. being as you only got a class b.

    but others might have answers on that one.
     
  4. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I can vouch for Ca./Az. In both states, if your medical expires, your CDL is not valid. If after one yr WITHOUT a medical card, your CDL is downgraded to Car license and you will have to start back at square one if you want to drive commercially again.
     
    LodiKen Thanks this.
  5. dibstr

    dibstr Road Train Member

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    Without a valid medical card you will be CDL disqualified. You cannot renew CDL without a valid med card.

    At this time, in order for a state to know you have an expired medical card (And send you a letter), a card must already be in their system. Likely when your friend last renewed (Or first acquired) his CDL, he was asked for his med card, they scanned it in to the system and he gets the letters. Likely as well was that at your last renewal (Or first acquired) your CDL, it was prior to the start date of this reg and your med card was not scanned in to the state system, therefore you get no letter. When you next renew you CDL, your med card will be scanned in to the state system, then you will get a letter just prior to your med cards expiring from then on.
     
  6. wastetrucks

    wastetrucks Light Load Member

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    Wow that was interesting to say the least. So there is no way my CDL was taken away or anything right? Should i call the DMV or that will only mess things up?
    By the way my friend went up to get his medical card just in case something happens to his job now. 75 bucks, no drug test because it was 200 bucks and there was no need, he isn't working anywhere that needs a CDL with a drug test. They said there is no need for it, and he certainly wasn't paying for it. Anyway the whole thing was a joke, because they knew he was only getting the card to not lose his CDL. Stupid situation I think. Just let someone keep there CDL till they get a CDL job and then they have to get a medical card. I don't understand the theory behind taking it away? Does anyone else?
     
  7. Mousemaker

    Mousemaker Bobtail Member

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    It makes sense to me. A CDL is a document that the State is certifying the holder is qualified to drive a CMV. If your medical condition does not meet the criteria, then you are not qualified to drive and the State will not certify that you are.
    It is not up to the company that hires you to certify. You could go buy your own CMV and and still need a CDL to drive it.
     
  8. Robm

    Robm Bobtail Member

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    snowwy, i do have something for you. "B" holders get the letters as well, maybe not all. A coworker of mine got one and his expired before mine did. (I just renewed in Sept, medical and license). But he is the only one out of 12 of us that i heard of. We also had one guy that never got anything and received notification from the company that his license had been cancelled. Was the responsibility of the company to provide state with proof of medical. Now that has shifted to driver responsibility. You can mail a copy in or go to local driver license, tag office and let them scan into system. If you mail it in is no charge. If you go to local tag office they charge $6, i think, but i didnt get charged. Maybe because my license was up too. At license renewal, you now also have to fill out paper telling what you are using license for, instate, over the road or whatever. Also if you medical exempt, like utility company and if you operate any type of cdl exempt vehicle like driving emergency vehicle. I was told it was to cut down on people from holding their cdl and not using them. But anyway, that's what happening here in Florida.
     
  9. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    yeah, but isn't it possible he has a b license without the commercial endorsement???? or even class a for that matter.

    i could be wrong but i could have sworn my license was a class A before i even got it commercialized. 13 years ago.

    as for the OP. since he doesn't have a driving job. he's apparently not up to date on the new regs.
    regulation was passed in 2010 i believe it was. all states are required to have medical information tied with your commercial license now. i just renewed mine back in june. scanned my stuff to my company and forgot to take it with me when i hit the road. i got pulled over in indiana. he was able to pull up both license and medical through the system. so he knew both were just recently renewed. and i didn't get a ticket for not having current information with me.

    all i had was my expired license.
     
  10. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Not all states are up and running it yet.

    My license had me doing this in January of this year. It will be a phase in of 2 more years before it is all done.
     
  11. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Some states have already started. You can use the link above or just go to your state's DMV website. Some you can submit over the computer, some you have to do in person. But it is each drivers responsibility to get er done!
     
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