States requiring registration of CDL and Medical Cards

All this started back in 2012 with a deadline the beginning of this year. But with all the confusion the FMCSA extended the deadline for the states to comply by Jan 30, 2015.

With that said the feds let each state set their deadline just as long as it is by or before theirs. Some states started right away with the majority having the deadline this year. If your card expires before Jan 30, 2015 you have to update it with your DMV one more time. I would be checking your state's rules on their website (google state, self certification and you will find it). It was earlier this month I believe the medical examiners had to be tested and placed on the registry. Everything should be fully running Jan 30, 2015 where the driver won't have to do anything but show up for the physical.

Here's your state if you need to read it. Your deadline was Jan 15, 2014. http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/selfcert.htm



[video=youtube_share;c04SO57b8aM]http://youtu.be/c04SO57b8aM[/video]

 

I know here in WA you have to register your med card. Was no big deal, went into the DMV they photocopied it, put the date in the puter and good for 2 years.

 

I hate this requirement.

I tend to float between two different careers, with driving being one of them. Before all of this, I needed a medical card when I was driving, but not when I wasn't. I'd get a new one before getting a driving job, but didn't care if it expired while I was doing something else. Now, in order to keep my CDL, I still have to keep a current physical even if I don't ever get behind the wheel.

This also resulted in me getting a suspension on my license and missing a couple days of work. Got the letter in the mail, which told me to fill out their form and send it in along with my long form. Three pages total, and I placed them all into an envelope and mailed it to my DMV. Couple months later I get the letter that my license is suspended (CDL portion only). Seems that they had two of the pages on file (so I know they got my letter), but had somehow lost the third.

 

it was a discussion, about a database, for law enforcement to easily be able to access. if i remember right.

it was also supposed to be so that we would no longer have to carry our med cards. but i still get asked for mine.

utah implemented the program while it was still in discussion. before a deadline was even set for all states. i've had to do it 4 times now.

 

I think it's worth mentioning that you as the driver should stay on top of your carrier's safety department to make sure they file your new medical with the state to match up with your CDL. If they look at you with a clueless look, maybe you better submit it to the state yourself to insure it gets done. The state really doesn't want to hear "I thought my boss did it". It's your CDL and it's your livelihood and it's your requirement to have a valid medical to go with your valid CDL.

That said, most reputable and larger operations are aware of these requirements and will do this for the driver when you bring back the forms from the doctor following a passing medical.

 

what about changing your CDL status to one that doesn't require a med card when you aren't at the driving job? When I registered my card they had a sheet that showed some types of driving that didn't require you to have a med card or keep a log book.

 

That sheet is where you "self certify" what type of driving you do. it is possible to keep you CDL and not be current w/your med card if you fall under one of the iter/intra categories that are exempted from the physical requirement. It's a loophole, and one they may close (I'm just guessing here, but Ann and company are rabid dogs), but if you "occasionally" transport personal goods for no compensation, you could claim "exempted" when you "self certify" and not need to "get your neck measured." As an example check the PA site: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/dl_forms/Self Cert Med Exam Cert Fact Sheet .pdf

 

I believe you can cert for Intrastate and not need to have it in some states but you'll still need the card when you get pulled in or over the one state you can run in.