Tennessee ripping off drivers over Medical Cards....

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by raytyrell, Sep 12, 2013.

  1. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Are you 100% positive that there is no way that you could have went to the state and got this put in place personally.

    You have to have a place where you go to get your license in the first place.

    Tennessee has required this since January 2012.
     
    baha Thanks this.
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  3. ChromeDome

    ChromeDome Road Train Member

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    This is not only happening in Tennessee, it is happening all over the country. I keep hearing story's from company's and drivers on the radio. When it comes time to add it. Check, recheck and then get a copy of your mvr a few weeks later and check again.
     
  4. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    I just did mine for the 2nd time.

    Illinois handed out a stamped copy receipt stating it was provided with the date and everything on it.

    Just put it in the binder with the rest of the documents.
     
  5. Pilgrim007

    Pilgrim007 Light Load Member

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    Firstly, It is your responsibility to make sure your records are up to date, After everything I have read on here about the alleged incompetence of companies, I would have made sure I found a way to do it my self.

    Secoondly, MVDs don't fax applications or personal information, When an application is filled out it is transferred to the computer by MVD in the office you are updating, applying or renewing your license information at. After it is verified with you it is then submitted on a secure T1 line to the MVD main frame computer. Hence you can go to any MVD in your State and they can pull your records.

    You need to go to MVD soonest and speak to the supervisor, they in turn should pull your records and reinstate your full licenses, It probably won't be free but in their eyes, You are the one who created the error by not personally up dating your medical qualifications.
    Remember to take your medical card and long form with you when you visit MVD, it is Dated which you will need as proof, your MVD records show the dates of renewals for your licenses and as you said your licenses are/were valid, so there should be no problems with a reinstatement.
    Although some states vary most protocols are the same, especially regarding CDL, which is over seen by the Feds via DOT.

    However, in July 2014 all DOT Physical results will be sent to MVD and added to your records, so any time you're stopped by Law enforcement or DOT they will have access to it and the rest of your records.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2013
  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I am a bit confused from the OP and what he is saying.

    I assume that he didn't have to renew his license between 1/1/12 and now but Tennessee has decided to tell everyone who isn't meeting their self-certification requirements, they have their CDLs flushed down the toilet due to Tennessee using a new deadline that is not 1/30/14 to implement the new and rather stupid system.

    from my point of view, you don't need to present your medical certs to the DMV until 1/30/14 because there are only a few things that trigger the need, then this becomes a problem because this is the deadline for all of it, not now. I would start with the state's AG to get a clear idea of the law and have them explain it, DMV workers can't even figure it out when they are explained it like you would a 3 year old.

    By the way this is all 50 states, there are no exceptions and I think that this is actually one of the worst things that can happen to us by the FMCSA, it is far worse than EOBRs and HOS changes. I mean that if there are reasons why you can't get a renewal on your DOT physical, like you are in the hospital or other things, they vacate the CDL completely and you have to start over. This year I was not able to get a physical until the day before my license expired because I was in the hospital. I had to go through the physical even though I wasn't going to be driving for a while and the state told me I had to or else I wouldn't be able to renew. They suggested to take a voluntary suspension of my CDL but then they told me what crap I had to go through to get it back which was like starting over and the fees for it. So I went through the physical, did the renewal stuff and suffered through it all.

    I am thinking that we need to actually do something more about this than complain in a forum because this is another FMCSA thing, not a state thing and can you think of a better way of causing people grief when they need to take time off or want to take a couple years off the road?
     
    bigjoel Thanks this.
  7. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    My state started the phase in last year.

    I was notified that I had to submit mine last year. My physical was good for only 18 months. So, if I did not submit the medical card, the license would be down graded since Illinois requires it for the cdl intrastate as well.

    The deadline you referenced is the final date that the states must be in compliance.
     
  8. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I understand what you are saying but ...

    I have my letter right here, it is from last year and it is clear - if I renew my CDL, change my endorsements or transfer my license from another state, I must self-certify at the time I do any of that, otherwise it has to happen by 1/30/14. It does not say if I renew my DOT physical I have to self-certify. It just says by 01/30/14 I have to have all my paper work in to them to be self-certified.

    This is where I'm having an issue with the OP because it seems he is saying he had to do this but didn't explain why. When I got my letter, I went up to my SoS officer (DMV) and presented my forms to the girl at the counter and she was clueless to what it was. Even the manager was clueless (after dealing with them for 35 years I have only met one who did have a clue). SO I'm thinking that all the states have the same requirement, it becomes in effect in 01/30/14 that everyone has to get it done but it is phased in until I think 7/1/14 when the system is supposed to be completely up and running.
     
  9. raytyrell

    raytyrell Bobtail Member

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    That's exactly what one of the officers at our local DMV office said. He keeps hoping OOIDA or ATA or some other big group will do just that.... Just follow the money, it cost us combined almost $300 to restore our licenses. Just finished it all on Friday the 13th.
     
  10. raytyrell

    raytyrell Bobtail Member

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    Our licenses are good till 2018 but it is the Med Cards that expired on Aug 1st. January 2014 is the deadline for all the states to comply with the federal law and Tennessee already has it in place.....just follow the money almost $300 to reinstate our licenses. (150/ea) Tn allows you to mail it into Nashville, you can fax it in, or you can e-mail it in. Hand carrying it in does you no good, they don't know what to do with it at the local level. One state dept. in Nashville handles all of it.
     
  11. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    My letter came out and had to be self certified by January 30, 2012.

    My license was due to expire in 2 months after the certification.

    My medical was not to expire till October 2013.

    I was able to renew the license early and do the self certify as required then. I had to wait till the last day in order to meet the early renewal.

    I received a letter in August telling me that my medical card would expire on the October date.

    I went down last week or so and did the medical card physical and then went to the Secretary of State office and did the new medical card.
     
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