Forfeited License due to Physical

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by atlasshruggery, Dec 30, 2022.

  1. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    That interesting. I didn't realize they gave you a grace period in many states if you fail to renew. Mine's actually due here in about a month and I have to get it renewed anyway if I want to haul campers again CDL or not.
     
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  3. scott180

    scott180 Road Train Member

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    Ask. I had mine suspended for forgetting to renew my medical because I wasn't driving at the time. All that was needed was a medical exam and I had the suspension lifted.
     
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  4. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    The grace period after your physical expires probably varies by state. I would call the state's dept of motor vehicles or whatever your state calls it, and ask or email and not rely on a bunch of guys on the internet, even as smart and well-informed as they are. "Some guy said it was ok" will not get anyone out of a jam. Like others have said, in my state I think they also give you up to 12 months after your physical or your CDL expires to make things right before they require you to retest.
     
  5. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    When you self certify there are 4 categories.
    • 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.
    For you to retain your CDL when not driving you must choose either Interstate excepted or Intrastate excepted.
    For Excepted Interstate you should be in one of these jobs. I went excepted Interstate for 5 years and I wasn't in one of these and the license people never said anything but I would think it depends on your state.

    You operate in excepted interstate commerce when you drive a CMV in interstate commerce only for the following excepted activities:
    • To transport school children and/or school staff between home and school
    • As Federal, State or local government employees
    • To transport human corpses or sick or injured persons
    • Fire truck or rescue vehicle drivers during emergencies and other related activities
    • Primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel when responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response such as damage to a propane gas system after a storm or flooding
    • In response to a pipeline emergency condition requiring immediate response such as a pipeline leak or rupture
    • In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm or to transport custom harvested crops to storage or market
    • Beekeeper in the seasonal transportation of bees
    • Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placard-able hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm
    • As a private motor carrier of passengers for non-business purposes
    • To transport migrant workers
    For Excepted Intrastate you operate in excepted intrastate commerce when you drive a CMV only in intrastate commerce activities which your State of license has determined do not require you to meet the State’s medical certification requirements. Examples of this are some farm driving and driving for a Volunteer Fire Dept.
     
  6. atlasshruggery

    atlasshruggery Light Load Member

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    Milwaukee, WI
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    Thanks for all the replies, Wisconsin DOT got back to me, and it is a year here as well, thank God. Just scheduled the physical, so should be okay.
    I will certainly look into self certifying, be nice not to have to pay for the physical. Do hazmat, tanker, trips, etc stay on with thay? not sure if I will ever drive again, but if I do, definitely don't wanna have to start all over.
     
  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    As long as you have a valid CDL your endorsements, other than HazMat, do not expire.
    HERE IS A WARNING IF YOU HAVE HAZMAT; In my state and some other states, you CANNOT just let your HazMat endorsement expire. If you have HazMat and you plan never to use it again and you want to not have it anymore, YOU HAVE TO EXCHANGE YOUR CDL for a CDL without HazMat on it. That is to say, you have to visit your Dept of Motor Vehicles and turn-in your plastic CDL and have HazMat removed and receive another CDL without HazMat, but it will keep your other endorsements. This may sound ridiculous, impossible, etc. Some, many, or all states have this procedure. I don't know how to find out online, but I and others almost lost our CDLs by just letting a HazMat endorsement expire. To be clear, if your state has this rule, doing nothing and letting your HazMat run out will cause your CDL to be downgraded to a simple passenger car license. You cannot do nothing and keep your CDL, if your state follows this rule. Doing nothing not only ends your HM endorsement it downgrades your CDL. You can search this forum. There are at least 2 threads of drivers discussing this happening to them. IIRC, TN, TX, IL were some of the states where this happens. In my case, they downgraded my CDL 30-60 days BEFORE my HazMat expired. I was able to go get fingerprinted and start the background check and have everything restored like it never happened, but I was off the road for a couple of weeks waiting for the TSA background check. Every other endorsement, except HazMat is good for as long as you have a CDL or until you move to another state. Search your state's DMV or call or visit a DMV office before considering dropping your HM.

    Self-certification has no impact on your endorsements, neither does which of the 4 options you pick affect your endorsements. If you have no plans for CDL driving you can just self-certify in an category that doesn't require a valid DOT card. Many people believe the only way to keep your CDL valid is to always have a current DOT card. That will keep your CDL valid, assuming you also self-certify after each new DOT exam. Failing to self-certify will cause your state to downgrade your CDL, even if you have a previous DOT card that expires later. Once your doctor's office notifies the state of your most recent exam, it ends any previous DOT card.
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2022
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  8. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Here is one of the threads about what happens to some drivers if they just let their HazMat run out instead of exchanging their CDL with HM for a CDL without HM.

    HazMat Expiring
     
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  9. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Any idea what the threshold or grace period if any is in Michigan? I’m cutting it real close. I was late once years ago, got a letter threatening to suspend my CDL portion of D/L. Mine expires on the 18th, looks like I’ll be Driving till early morning on the 18th. Hopefully get physical done at home on the 18th.
     
  10. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Michigan
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    You lose your privileges on the 18th, the day it expires.

    This crap is a headache and Michigan is really screwed up.

    Last month I got my CDL renewal reminder in the mail, so I called the SoS and they said I still have a CDL, how the hell do I have it when I gave it up in 2017? I am going to go and see if I can renew mine to see what happens.
     
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  11. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Well, if I drive to my delivery, on the 17th. Deliver in the morning on the 18th, and go get physical, I’ll be ok. I guess technically I’ll be an Outlaw deadheading home. I don’t think I’ll get hung. Lol. Original plan was to be home on the 14th, to be present when a good friend of mine was supposed to be taken off his ventilator. Instead he got worse real quick, his funeral was on the 11th. Had to change plans. Just glad we made it to the funeral, right before the service. Had no time to get physical. Put me behind a day. Now I’m stuck in Mississippi till tomorrow. No loads at all going near home.
     
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