Medical Card

where i live, we CDL drivers MUST go to the DMV and get our license renewed, along with the hazmat if we had that. we cannot simply do this by mail nor can we go to any other DMV "satellite" locations or any AAA office, like "regular car drivers" can do.

now in some states, if your DOT med card expired, you need to get a new one and bring that to the DMV as well because now our DOT card is linked to our license. if you DO NOT have a new DOT card..?? your license will be "downgraded"....

downgraded to what, i am not sure, as even a CDL-B NEEDS a DOT card..

best you get this crap done, NOW and get to the DMV, or hey, how about just going online to your state DMV for up to date CDL information specific to you..??

 

Hey Rerun - is the medical card linked to your CDL yet in Mass, or is that coming into effect in 2012?

Just curious since mine expires in August.

 

what expires in august, your license or your DOT card..??

 

Just my DOT card. My license is good until 2014.

Thanks.

 

ok, you know you need the new card now (or soon enough) then at license renewal you get another one for license renewal. you would need to present an "up to date" health card at renewal time. what is UNCLEAR is if YOUR license goes for 5 years (say) but the health card is good for only 2 years, do we have to go to the DMV every 2 years and show them the new card....??

from what i know at this time, NO, we only go at license renewals with a NEW health card...be forewarned, any state can change this ruling, making sure we are "healthy" for the roads, and then it can be a 2 year trek, or for some drivers with only 1 year card, a yearly trek to the DMV......a real PITA, wouldn't you say...??

 

OK - wow! Thank you for the info sir, I wasn't sure what the new regs were; only that in 2012, your medical card would be linked (kept on file) at the DMV.

Yup, that's going to suck...

 

This is very interesting. I would think that you would see a database where the clinic would be required to update the DMV every time a new medical card was issued. Seems like a cool thing to me, we've "absorbed" another company and come across driver with falsified medical cards.

 

many state CDL licenses right now have the magnetic strip on the back. mine doesn't. it was "supposed" to be "swiped" at the doctors office with information about you, then at any DOT scale house, cop car, even your company, it can be "swiped" for information. now, whether or not this is still going to happen, who knows. my license is good till 2014, and at that time, it's when i will see if i get the magnetic strip as well. we won't even get a card anymore, but again, "supposedly" and when this all happens might be dependent on each states time frame.

i'm just so glad i only have a few years left with this sheet....

unless i hit the lottery this week, then i'll be RETIRED SOONER.....

 

to revive an old thread, i saw a discussion about this somewhere on here a few months back. some states sent out letters about the health card thing and the renewal.

well i am off for a little while, the bottom end of the truck motor is having to be rebuilt. oil pressure problems. so i had to renew by may, so i went today instead of waiting till the last minute.

the renewal form said bring the form, money, old CDL and if you are renewing the HAZMAT, 2 proofs of residence and your SS card and birth certificate. i went through that mess when i got the CDL, and it seems they do not keep track of you showing all that stuff for your identity the first time.

well i dont haul hazmat, so if i need the endorsement, it will require a day off for the fingerprinting and all that stuff..

i got there right as they opened, and i was the 8th person in chattanooga, (the new red bank location) and was out in 45 minutes.

i had to fill out a form and initial in 6 or 7 spots, paid my money, she copied my health card, i took a new photo and was out the door. no eye test, nothing. got charged for keeping my tankers and triples endorsement, but did not have to take a test. $51.00 and 45 minutes. not too bad. now i dont have to screw with that for another 5 years. thank goodness.

so yes, in tennessee, you have to show a valid health card. i got asked for it twice as a matter of fact.