Renewing medical card

The Self Certification Form is required if you have a Class A, regardless if you are exempt or not.

I live in MN, but my physical is normally done in different states.
I use the MN DMV site to send in a copy of the med card and self certification form, usually only within a week or so of expiring.
They seem to be pretty fast at keeping things up to date and current. (They say it could take up to 10 days, but it has always been done in just a few days.)

 

In my state all CDL drivers must file a Self-Certification within a few days after a new DOT medical card is issued or when you change between the 4 types of CDL use the state recognizes. So you get the medical exam from the doctor. Doctor gives you a new DOT Medical Certificate. You send a copy of the Dot Medical Certificate and the Self-Certification to the state. Once you do that you don't need to carry your DOT Medical exam certificate (DOT Medical Card) with you when you use your CDL. The state maintains a record of the medical card and self-certification in the database that verifies your CDL is valid.

Many drivers think every state accomplishes the above process in only one way and anything they hear that isn't EXACTLY like the process they follow is impossible. It may vary from state to state but each state achieves roughly what I described above with whatever steps that state requires.

 

No, any DOT medical exam from any state is valid in any other state. Some employers may require you get a DOT exam from a doctor they require, but it is not a matter of state law. It is a preference from the people that pay the employee.

 

No benefit to getting your next DOT exam before the other one is almost expired. As soon as the doctor's office reports they gave you a new medical exam your "old" DOT Medical card is canceled.