FMCSA Merges CDL and Medical Examiner’s Certification

OK, so this is not exactly breaking news…it was handed down a couple years ago but it’s about to start affecting us all. Not a problem as far as I see it…combining the 2 is a good idea but there are things to consider and when it comes down to the almighty shrinking US dollar bill, we, as drivers, are probably going to be on the “forking it over” end and not the “putting it on the hip” end. For example, my state’s CDL is good for 4 years when renewed. Current medical’s examiner certifications are not good beyond a 2 year period if you are good with blood pressures, etc. There are rules that require 1 year re-tests in case of certain conditions, i.e. hypertension, blood pressures, diabetes, etc. Does this mean my CDL is going to have to be renewed every 2 years or in some folks cases…every year? One thing I am fairly certain of, the state agencies will not be discounting annual or 2-year renewals for CDL holders. Just something to ponder as this gets closer to implementation. If the Department of Homeland Security (TWIC card), the FMCSA, the FBI, the U.S. State Department (passports), Border Patrol, individual state agencies etc. could all get together and work this out…nah…just daydreamin’. Read on:

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a final rule merging the medical examiner’s certificate with the commercial driver’s license (CDL). As of January 30, 2012, an interstate driver who possesses a CDL will be required to provide the original (or a copy) of his/her medical examination certificate to his/her state driver licensing agency. The rule appears in the December 1, 2008, Federal Register. The final rule requires all interstate CDL holders to provide this information by January 30, 2014.

The licensing agency will be required to record on the driver’s Commercial Driver License Information System (CDLIS) record information from the medical examiner’s certificate along with the driver’s certification about whether he/she is subject to the qualification requirements in Part 391 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

Beginning January 30, 2012, this regulation will eliminate the requirement that an interstate CDL holder possess the original or a copy of the medical examiner’s certificate, as the required information will be placed on the driver’s record by the state driver licensing agency. Because the medical examination information is included on the motor vehicle record, beginning January 30, 2012, carriers will no longer be required to maintain the original or a copy of the certificate in the CDL holder’s driver qualification file. Motor carriers will be required to review and place in the driver’s qualification file a copy of the driver’s motor vehicle record.

This final rule only applies to interstate CDL holders and motor carriers who employ CDL holders. Intrastate CDL holders and drivers of commercial motor vehicles who do not operate vehicles requiring a CDL will still be required to provide the original or a copy of the medical examiner’s certificate to the motor carrier to be placed in the driver’s qualification file. They will also continue to carry an original or a copy of the certificate.
Also pertaining to this ruling, more interesting reading here at the FMCSA’s “National Registry of Certified Medical Examiner’s” page.