New DOT requirements?

that would be nice if our cards would last as long as our licenses.

in az. licenses are 25 years. unless they changed that. and some drivers have to get examed every year. not all drivers get the 2 year cert.

then you got the gooberment wanting to lable you with sleep apnea. which, accortding to them. will be 90% of us male drivers.

 

The main idea behind the national registry list and having medical personnel who perform CDL physicals become certified is to ensure that the person who gives you a physical knows the specific details of what they need to check to see if you the driver are fit to operate a CMV. Remember, licensed doctors and nurse practitioners etc. are not the only ones doing these physicals. Chiropractors, vets, and others not so qualified as an actual medical doctor can do these physicals. So the idea was to create a standard for all. It is also intended to cut down on illegitimate medical card providers, of which there are plenty. I recently checked the list in my area, there are plenty of providers registered. It will take a little time but eventually finding one will not be a problem.
As was earlier mentioned, this only effects those whose medical card is due for replacement. Your current certificate is good until expiration.
Also, one note in regards to the requirement of having the certificate on your DL. The FMCSA has extended the deadline for this until February 2015 because there are still several states who have not gotten their registry systems in place. What this means is, a CVE Trooper like me can accept a paper medical card until that date.
Now, having said that, if your state already has their system up and running, and you have not provided them your medical certificate, your CDL could be disqualified at any time and in that event whether you hold a current card or not you have no CDL and law enforcement will take appropriate action as you are a disqualified driver. And yes, once your certificate is on file and listed in your DL info you no longer have to carry your card.
Another note. The requirement to have your certificate on file with the DL office so that it is attached to your DL only applies to CDL holders. Those who operate Non-CDL required CMVs still must have in their possession a valid medical certificate.

 

Let me clarify that last part a bit. Those who operate Non-CDL required CMV and who do not already have a CDL. If you have a CDL, it must be on file with DMV.

 

Let me also clarify that the extension until 2015 does not take away your requirement to register when your state notifies you that you must do so, it just means that we can accept your paper card until 2015 in case your state hasn't reached the point where it is prepared to register this info on your DL. You should be receiving directions by mail from your states DL offices as to when you need to get down there and do it, but really its up to you to stay on top of it, contact your DL office regularly and get this done as soon as they are set up to register the info. I don't know how many states are left, the vast majority are already in compliance which means we are seeing an increase in disqualified CDLs.

 

And come on G/Man, if they let your certificate last as long as your license it would defeat the entire purpose of the physicals. Medical problems can arise at any time. What happens when the man from AZ whose license is good for 25 years is diagnosed with epilepsy or heart disease or high blood pressure, anything that could lead to an incident on the road? Unless they added a requirement that doctors report all new medical conditions to the state so that your CMV medical cert. could be re-evaluated(more government intrusion) it simply wouldn't work. Get a physical every two years or whatever your condition requires and be done with it.

 

I don't see why a CDL holder should be treated any differently than one who holds a regular drivers license. There are currently no medical requirements for driving a car or motorcycle. 76% of all accidents involving trucks are the fault of 4 wheelers. I understand the premise of having the physical, but where will it end? It seems that each year we are thrown more rules and regulations which interfere with our ability to earn a living. It seems to me that if someone is medically qualified to drive a 4 wheeler that they should also be medically qualified to drive an 18 wheeler. The more useless regulations the more drivers we will lose due to simply being fed up. Fortunately, there are several options in my area to get a medical exam. It isn't rocket science to fill out those medical forms. All a doctor does is go through the check list. I could fill one out myself and I haven't been to medical school. I do have common sense and can read. I haven't heard of a VET giving a medical certificate. I suppose anything is possible.

My state attached my medical information to my CDL last year when I renewed my license. It will be something of a hassle to have to make sure that I get a copy of my new medical to them later this year when my medical expires. If I fax or email it to them and it gets lost, then I could have my CDL canceled. It is a bad law that some may find difficult to comply. There are areas of the country where drivers may find it difficult to find a "certified" physician. We could see some doctors simply get away from giving the physicals rather than deal with the any additional paperwork, just like happened with those who did FAA medicals. The government seems to work overtime to make simple things complex.

 

This statement isnt completely accurate. In Ohio insulin dependent diabetics are required to keep the state BMV notified of their current health status via a medical form from their doctor. Mostly due to their eye sight being lost or getting worse overtime, however, if one has a huge chance of insulin shock then their license can be suspended based on health concerns.

 

Howdy ya'll.
So I'm thinking of doing team driving. Has anyone had issues from having ptsd or being on anti depressants on your medical record and not able to get cdl class A?

 

There is a small thing, you have to self certify teir one for interstate commerce and or intrastate commerce with medical and CDL regularly with your revenuer (We use that word here in Arkansas, aka DMV...)

When I stopped running, I had to swear to tier two which is limited CDL with no medical only for purpose of hauling dead bodies after a national terrorist nuclear attack or something as explained to me. THAT is something I figured I choose not to be doing because the dead trucks look just like food trucks to the mobs in that area so... I turned in CDL a year later.

 

I had a marine sargeant spouse with me who got diagnose with PTSD years later in the VA she is no longer driving nor I am. We did team back in 2001 for a year with FFE and two other outfits for mckesson of memphis which was our best work. No problems with the exception of a discovery of certain trigger behavior from the predators in the south side chicago market loop. That caused her to have problems that night. I arranged with dispatch never to go to such places with her ever again (That means no hunts etc...) to protect her that year.

Otherwise she did well, with a certain amount of other triggers where she found specific challenges of trucking itself that may or may not be overcome. For example NW Nevada. 300 miles of nothing. Her mind could not handle it so I get her to Reno soon enough and she was fine.

Different people have different triggers. But I caution you to be very careful about trucking, medicines and PTSD etc. You will run into problems.