HEADS UP! Verify that DMV received your medical card issue/reissue!

Hello,

This has probably been addressed before, but I wanted to relay my experience so that it may help prevent any other drivers from having an issue.

As you may know, FMCSA/DOT changed the way that medical cards are handled. Physicians are now required to be registered with FMCSA, so you can't just go to any doctor like back in the old days. More importantly, your card information must be sent to FMSCA and most likely, your state DMV as well. My understanding is that the registered physician is responsible for this (followup with the physician's office as well as DMV confirmed this). However, upon checking my driving record today, I found that my old, expired medical card was the only listed card, and my status listed as "not-certified". My physical was done a month ago, and the physician assured me that I didn't need to make a separate trip to the DMV to confirm it because it was all "handled by the fancy new system".

Luckily, I caught this before my CDL was suspended. I called the doctor's office to tell them it wasn't transferred, then I called DMV and the agent told me how to upload my medical card and sent me confirmation. If I hadn't had another reason to check my record, I probably would have ended up with a suspension notice in the mail. While I'm sure it would have been researched and reversed, I'm also sure it would have taken several calls, frustration, and at least one trip to the DMV.

If you feel the need to check your status with DMV, I would recommend a phone call to the commercial licensing division in your state (if available). They seem to be much more responsive and much less busy than general licensing.

I hope this helps some foiks avoid what almost happened to me.

Kirk out.

 

Yep you got it. Even if you're driving all day and can't get to DMV, at least hop online in the evening and grab a copy of your record. Well worth the few bucks they charge for it.

 

Dino, if you're talking about medical card information, TECHNICALLY, the answer is NO. When you are certified/recertified by the physician, the new system is supposed to update the agencies that require your medical card info. But as you can see by my experience, this didn't happen.

 

I hear you G. Try reading this thread on a driver being required to keep BOTH paper AND electronic logs....it'll melt your brain.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...new-drivers/270836-elogs-paper-same-time.html