How long can my CDL be inactive?

I thought the med card thing was federal. But CA seems to have some weird rules. My boy went to crane school down there when he got out of the marines. Had to get his cdl but no one mentioned anything about a med card. I don't know what will become of his license. He's back home. Got his first crane job which lasted 3 weeks. Don't think he cares about his cdl anymore.

 

It is... but I know CA and I think AZ you have to have a valid Med Card to hold your CDL.

 

I think it is federally mandated but states administer it.

 

Yes..What Chinatown said.Itll "All Come Back To You" after a week straight in the truck! Must keep medical card current or "CDL becomes null&Void!

 

Hi Katiebet, well,,,I'll tell ya' from 35 years experience, if you are "burnt out" now, it won't get any better. Because, no matter who you drive for, it's really not much different where ever you go, driving, that is. There is no such thing as a "part-time" trucking job, Lord knows, I've tried. You can find seasonal driving, but that's usually, "give 'er heck" until the season's over, sometimes seasonal jobs fly under the radar, rules wise, and you'll put in MORE hours. Good luck, but like I say, if you need a break now, it doesn't look good for you, sorry. And to be clear, I've got over 3 million accident free, ticket free miles and 35 years experience, but because I have no verifiable reference in the last 6 month's, I'd have to take a "refresher" course, and they can cram it with walnuts.

 

My experience has shown the good local jobs are far more picky than OTR companies that just want butts in seats.
Fingerprints are for haz mat or TWIC.
In Ohio if you can drive only intrastate without a DOT physical but you still have to self certify. If you don't self certify your CDL is downgraded to a regular DL. Some states have different laws.
But if you want to drive interstate, you have to get a DOT physical and self certify.

 

This is how it's done in Wisconsin. I still have my CDL, but no med card. I chose Tier #4, in state, not needed.
Wisconsin DMV Official Government Site - Tiers of operation

 

Yep. And my fingerprints expired. Drove around the country 30 days not knowing my license was suspended. My fingerprints WAS in the middle of my license 5 years. I just renewed my license and dropped the haz. When i added haz in the middle of my 5 years. I was told it's a one time deal.

It's tough to get strait answers in utah. The right hand and the left hand don't seem to have any clues.

I keep mine interstate just in case. I don't plan on and never planned on doing the long haul crap. But when the economy crashed. Long haul was the only place to make money. The local wages dropped to $10 an hour. Hopefully i won't have to use the interstate system again but none of us knows what the future will bring. Economy wise.