Rules/Regs for DOT card

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/medical

Medical
Overview
All commercial drivers of vehicles in interstate commerce with a maximum gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) are required to obtain and maintain a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate (ME Certificate) Commercial drivers who drive vehicles requiring a CDL have two additional requirements. On or before January 30, 2014, all CDL holders must declare to their State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA) that they only operate or expect to operate commercially in 1 of 4 possible categories with their CDL. This process is called self-certification. For more information on the self-certification categories see the Self-Certification FAQ's.

CDL holders must provide their SDLA with a copy of their ME Certificate. This information is only being added to the State driving records of CDL holders. Non-CDL holders are not required to self-certify or submit a copy of their ME Certificate to their SDLA. CDL holders, who are found driving in a category other than one to which they self-certified, are subject to suspension or revocation of their commercial driving privileges. CDL drivers, who do not update the expiration date of their ME Certificate with their State, will have their commercial driving privileges downgraded, and will not be eligible to drive a commercial motor vehicle that requires a CDL.

Instructions on how your State is collecting your ME Certificate information:

• State-by-State Instructions for Submitting Medical Certificates to the State Driver Licensing Agencies

To learn more about the medical requirements, click here to visit the Medical Programs page.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has reviewed each State's commercial driver’s license motor vehicle record (CDLIS MVR) for compliance with the Medical Certification (Med Cert) requirements. Effective January 30, 2015 FMCSA has verified that every State is posting the basic, minimal medical certification information which allows a motor carrier to validate if a driver is medically qualified. The basic information consists of the driver’s medical status and the expiration date of the medical examiner’s certificate. In addition, most States are posting the complete medical certification information. All States are working to produce the complete CDLIS MVR with all the required MedCert information. In the interim, FMCSA has advised both its staff and roadside enforcement personnel to accept proof of a driver’s medical certification status and expiration date on a CDLIS MVR, as the basic information required to substantiate that a driver is medically qualified. For a complete list of the States and their current CDLIS MVR status, see the attached spreadsheet: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/motor-vehicle-record-medical-certification-state-compliance-spreadsheet

FAQ section.

If you are subject to the USDOT medical examiner certification requirement, provide a copy of each new USDOT medical examiner certificate to your SDLA prior to the expiration of your current medical examiner certificate. The medical examiner certificate is often referred to as your "medical card."

[paste:font size="4"]Physical Impairments
Drivers with physical impairments, which affect their ability to safely operate CMVs, must obtain a "variance" from their State in order to be approved to drive commercially. The variance document must be carried with the commercial driver whenever they are operating a commercial motor vehicle. A Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) is a special type of "variance" required for drivers with impaired or missing limbs (e.g., a hand or finger, an arm, foot, or leg). Drivers with missing limbs, if eligible, must obtain an SPE certificate. The commercial driver must always carry the SPE certificate at all times.

The document contains the requirements for any special equipment that the driver must be wearing or the commercial vehicle must possess in order to be operated by that driver. Click on the link below for more information.

• Skills Performance Evaluation

Updated: Monday, February 2, 2015

 

never been asked for my long form. it's a good thing too as that thing always gets lost somewhere.

i think i speak for all of us, ((pretty much)). we all get the plastic and office keeps a photocopy of both plastic and long form.

some states seems to have access to the national database, some don't seem to. regardless, i still get asked for my physical plastic.

 

You can research the FMCSA under regulations and read it for yourself. I did catch one part where you do not have to supply any information to your employer if you do not want to. And it doesn't matter who pays for it. There's a lot of bits like that all over the regs.

 

I think you are referring to this:

That will be important for O/O's running their own authority to note. A simple copy of the medical card in your driver file is no longer sufficient...you have to get the info through the state now to be in compliance. I haven't pulled my MVR in quite some time, but reading this, it seems as though that information might be contained in it. If that is the case, just by complying with the requirement to pull the MVR for the driver file annually you'd be OK...except for in the years where your physical was due in which case you'd have to pull another one showing the new medical certification because the copy of the document submitted to the state in your file is only good for 15 days.