Keeping CDL

May vary from state to state. I know in TX as long as you keep it current,all you need is an updated/current medical card. Whatever company you apply to may also have specific requirements to get you "up to speed"

 

Ohio is like Texas then. Just keep your license current (costs more for CDL) and all is well. Then just med card...

 

You need to be sure to visit your DMV office and be sure that CDL is still valid. It's tied to current medical card etc for Tier one commerce and valid for same (Interstate and intrastate etc) If you do not have a valid medical, there is a very good possibility without swearing out a form to teir two or other tiers offered by your state to be able to hold a CDL without a medical, you may be in either a suspended or revoked status.

To wit.

I drove OTR until 2001. Arkansas allowed me to keep my CDL under Tier two without a medical card provided I signed a oath paper to that effect that I do not work in OTR or in state trucking on public roads. Tier two as explained to me came out like this. It is a way to "Grandfather" my CDL from many years experience over my life and a way to provide for in a time of national emergency such as if DC getting nuked, I would be called on to use that CDL to run dead bodies for example.

You need to visit your DMV today, and if you do NOT hold a valid medical card, long form etc as of this morning, you need to swear out to and fill out a tier form other than Tier One so that you will be allowed to continue to physically retain your CDL in your pocket for the time being.

Some states are two Tiers, others go as many as four. Each one with specific limitations on what you can and cannot do with that CDL in your pocket.

Things have changed and continue to change and tighten up with CDL's. If you hold one. Keep it. It is much cheaper and easier to get medically examined, get the forms in and update to REAL ID Act of 2020 which involves enhanced licensing and passport card etc among other things. Without this you will not be allowed into Canada, or fly domestic flights or enter any federal building or installation. It is shown as a gold star on the top center of a drivers license to show compliance with the 2020 ID act.

If you are already suspended and or revoked because you did not swear to and hold a valid Tier form other than Tier one, hold a valid and current medical and so on etc you have problems.

Ive said enough. You need to look into your status today at the DMV. They will tell you for certain what is going on with you.

And yes, supposing by some miracle of 6 million dollar man style medical work I become medically able to drive a OTR truck, I will still be treated just as if I have no experience at all. (Give me 15 minutes with that truck and one of your testers...) anyway sent back to school, refresher and so on. If I wanted that CDL back. (I turned mine in roughly late 2013 due to being a medical patient among other things the state was increasingly asking for more documentation which I could have provided for during that time and told us things will get worse as the 2020 act came closer to being mandatory with that CDL for me.

As far as I am concerned Im just a 4 wheeler with no real stress other than making sure there is no medicine inside me for DUI purposes when driving at all.

 

Just self certify you are using your CDL in one of the categories that doesn't require medical card until you get back into truck driving. Then get a medical exam & self certify you have it & use your CDL in a manner that requires the medical card. Then worry about company recent experience requirements.

 

If your driver's license still says CDL on it then you don't have to do anything but physical