Question on the new MEC (DOT card) rule

Make sure your card has a "physicians registration number", which shows they've been dot certified.

That was another trip to the DMV for me.

You can also update your new address with the DMV while you're there.

Good luck!!

 

Motor Vehicle Division CDL Medical Certification

• [h=3]Divisional Resources[/h]
  • Appointment Scheduling
  • County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Offices
  • Driver Exam Stations
  • Driver Licenses & ID Cards
  • Commercial Driver Licensing
  • CDL Medical Certification
  • Driver License Sanctions
  • Driving Records
  • Driving Safety
  • Forms and Other Documents (MVD)
  • Insurance and Verification
  • License Plates
  • License Plate Designs and Fees
  • MVD by the Numbers
  • Other Resources
  • Required Documents
  • Vehicle Title and Registration
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections
• [h=3]Attorney General Info[/h]
  • Attorney General Fox's Page

Determining Self-Certification
[h=2]New Medical Certification Requirements for Montana Commercial Driver License Holders[/h] What is not changing: All CDL holders must continue to carry their medical examiner’s certificate (formerly referred to as a DOT card).
What is changing? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration adopted new regulations requiring state driver licensing agencies to add medical certification status and the information on your medical examiner’s certificate (previously referred to as DOT card) to your Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) record.
When does this change start? May 2012 in Montana. Start dates vary from state to state.
Who is affected?

• Drivers who apply for or renew a Montana CDL after April 30, 2012

• Drivers who received notification to submit the Self-Certification form (21-1201) and, if applicable, MEC

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division has started notifying Montana CDL holders who have not renewed or upgraded prior to January 30, 2014, about how to submit their self-certification and, if applicable, MEC. Drivers who do not comply with the notification requirements will have their commercial driver licenses downgraded to a base, Class D license. See Form 21-1201 CDL Self-Certification Classification and Medical Documentation.
To comply with the new regulations: You must determine the type of business you operate in and certify to that type of commercial operation on your driver license application or Form 21-1201 CDL Self-Certification Classification and Medical Documentation. Based on that self-certification, you may need to provide a current medical examiner’s certificate (MEC) and medical variance, if you have one, to obtain or keep your CDL. The self-certification categories include:

• Interstate non-excepted: You are an interstate non-excepted driver and must meet the federal MEC requirements (i.e., you are “not excepted”).

• Interstate excepted: You are an interstate excepted driver and do not have to meet the federal MEC requirements.

• Intrastate non-excepted: All Montana-only (intrastate) drivers are required to meet the medical requirements.

If you are subject to the MEC requirements, you must provide a legible copy of your MEC to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division.
[h=5]What do I do when my MEC expires?[/h] You must provide a copy of your new MEC to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division prior to the expiration of your current certificate. You may do this by mailing or faxing a legible copy of your MEC to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division.

• Mail:
  Motor Vehicle Division
  Attn: CDL Help Desk
  P.O. Box 201430
  Helena MT 59620-1430
• Fax:
  406-444-1987

What happens if I do not keep my medical certification status information current with Montana? Drivers will be sent notification prior to the expiration of their MEC and will be given ample time to submit a new MEC. Failure to submit will result in the downgrade of your interstate CDL to a base, Class D license.
[h=2]Determining Your Type of Self-Certification[/h] [h=5]How to Determine Your Type of Self-Certification[/h] For the purpose of complying with the new requirements for medical certification, it is important to know how you are using the commercial motor vehicle (CMV). To help you decide, follow these steps:
[TABLE]
[TR="class: alternative"]
[TH="class: last"]STEP 1:[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: last"] Do you, or will you, use a CDL to operate a CMV in interstate or intrastate commerce?
Interstate commerce is when you drive a CMV:

• From one state to another state or a foreign country;
• Between two places within a state; but during part of the trip, the CMV crosses into another state or foreign country; or between two places within a state; but the cargo is part of a trip that began or will end in another state or foreign country.

Intrastate commerce is when you drive a CMV within a state and you do not meet any of the descriptions above for interstate commerce.If you operate in both intrastate commerce and interstate commerce, you must choose interstate commerce.

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE]
[TR="class: alternative"]
[TH="class: last"]STEP 2:[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: last"] Once you decide you operate or will operate in interstate commerce or intrastate commerce, you must decide whether you operate (or expect to operate) in a non-excepted or excepted status. This decision will tell you to which of the three types of commerce you must self-certify.
Interstate Commerce: Compliant with Montana law, you operate in excepted interstate commerce when youdrive a CMV in interstate commerce only for the following excepted activities:

• As federal, state or local government employees;
• To transport human corpses or sick or injured persons;
• Fire truck or rescue vehicle drivers during emergencies and other related activities;
• Primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel when responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response, such as damage to a propane gas system after a storm or flooding;
• In response to a pipeline emergency condition requiring immediate response, such as a pipeline leak or rupture;
• In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm, or to transport custom-harvested crops to storage or market;
• Beekeeper in the seasonal transportation of bees;
• Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placarded hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm;
• As a private motor carrier of passengers for nonbusiness purposes; or
• To transport migrant workers.

If you answered yes to one or more of the above activities as the only operation in which you drive, you operate in excepted interstate commerce and do not need a federal medical examiner’s certificate (MEC).
If you answered no to all of the above activities, you operate in non-excepted interstate commerce and are required to carry and provide a copy of a current MEC (49 CFR 391.45), commonly referred to as a medical certificate or DOT card, to the MT Motor Vehicle Division. Most CDL holders who drive CMVs in interstate commerce are non-excepted interstate commerce drivers.
If you operate in both excepted interstate commerce and non-excepted interstate commerce, you must choose non-excepted interstate commerce to be qualified to operate in both types of interstate commerce.
Intrastate Commerce:
You operate in non-excepted intrastate commerce when you have a Montana-only CDL. You are required to meet the medical certification requirements.

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE]
[TR="class: alternative"]
[TH="class: last"]STEP 3:[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: last"] Provide the MT Motor Vehicle Division with your self-certification of your operating status.
If you self-certify to non-excepted interstate or have a Montana-only CDL (non-excepted intrastate),you must carry and provide either an original or a copy of your current MEC as explained.
If your MEC is only valid with a vision, diabetes or a skills performance evaluation variance granted by FMCSA, you will also need to provide that variance document and you must carry this variance with you at all times while operating a CMV.

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

get it done, very simple and easy(realtive to being in town) by Jan 31 2014. No harm no foul.

Your company may also want to make sure this has been done too. Mine does. Ask your regulatory department.

Heres a link to the form you need

https://doj.mt.gov/wp-content/uploads/21-1201.pdf

On this form it does state the 90 day upon receipt requirement, but the main info page does not? Seems odd they would list that there too.

 

Yeah that's the problem, each one can now make their own rules and we have to deal with it.

I would like to see one change to it, if you don't get a physical and don't drive, the cdl portion of the license just gets suspended and you can get it back when you get a physical - not have to go through retesting.

 

So....guessing you went to the DMV...wondering what happened.

Nevermind saw you made a new thread.

 

thanx n advance for advice. NV DMV I recieved card frm NV DMV. To Prevent Cancellation of CDL. self certify by Jan 15 2014 or before MEC expires whichever is sooner. My last MEC expired 11/2011. Ive been out Of Industry Since 2010. I Been on SSI Since 09/2011. Now Done With Physical Therapy. Can Return To Trucking in 6 Months. Question: What can i do so i dont lose CDL A, T endorsment status. Of Which I Had since 1974. Driver from 1974-1996, 2009-10. I Sure Dont Want To Pay A Driving School For New CDL.

 

contact them. find out what they say. all you would need ot do anyway is take the tests again and the driving test. School isnt required for that.

 

thanks for reply. the problem i see is. i cant apply for a job with out a CDL A and use there Truck for the Road test. I have no truck to take the Road test in, After I Retake the written exam. ive always had Union Jobs 1974-1996 or Matheson Postal Job in 2009/10 Holiday Driver Temp. I passed Road test for Matheson after 12 years out of industry. Ive always Kept CDL A, T as My "Ace In The Hole". update DOT Medical and drop it off at DMV. Apply for job, take road test for Company. That was it. That scenario goes away if i lose CDL A. Thanks Again.