A driver was just in the office with a friend and was surprised that his buddy received a medical certificate/card following his physical here. Apparently, when the other driver got his physical at another clinic, he was told they no longer received a card stating they were “self-certified”. That is incorrect. They have to have the card to send a copy of it to the state to “self-certify”.
We went to the source at TEAMCME office for clarification. What they clarified is as follows:
The new law states that you have to carry your card for a minimum of 15 days.
BUT…since the state and national registries are not linked yet, and since police officers/state troopers do not have the capability of pulling the copy of the card up on their in car computers yet, it is expected that all CDL drivers and any drivers holding a medical certificate/card SHOULD CARRY THEIR CARD WITH THEM. They can be fined or parked if they do not have that card in their possession.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CDL “medical” section page in the Registration portion of its website, accessible at this link, reflects the recent change relative to driver medical cards. As reported previously, CDL holders are required to report their new medical certifications to the state driver’s licensing agency and, as of January 30, will only need to carry the paper copy of their medical card with them for 15 days thereafter, emphasizes Marissa Padilla, FMCSA spokesperson. “FMCSA has worked with state licensing agencies to ensure that medical information is electronically available to law enforcement officers through the Commercial Driver License Information System. The implementation of this regulation will relieve drivers from the burden of carrying a paper document and reduce the potential for fraud.”
Several readers, however, irrespective of whether CDL or non-CDL drivers, noted they’d continue carrying their card and/or the full medical long form in the interim, absent solid evidence that roadside officers wouldn’t be continuing to request certification documentation during inspections. Noted Tom Strese under news of the change on Overdrive‘s Facebook page, for instance: “Maybe [carrying the medical card is] no longer required — until the first uninformed officer writes a person up for not having it.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Continuing to carry physical proof of certification will remain the best option, and make sure you get a medical card from your Certified medical examiner upon completion of your DOT Physical.
CDL Medical/Physical Requirements
You must have a valid MCSA-5876 – Medical Examiner Certificate (A “MCSA-5876 – Medical Examiner Certificate” is provided by a National Registered Medical Examiner only. For additional information, please contact www.fmcsa.dot.gov.), or a photographic copy of your valid Certificate, to receive a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or other commercial license product (e.g., commercial learner’s permit). The Medical Examiner’s Certificate (DOT card) is a federally mandated (U.S. Department of Transportation) document that certifies you meet all physical and medical standards for operating a commercial motor vehicle and the original or photographic copy must be in your possession whenever you are driving.
Special Information Updates – JANUARY 2015 – Pertaining To ALL STATES
MEDICAL EXAMINERS MUST CONTINUE TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES TO ALL DRIVERS
The FMCSA has requested that all medical examiners continue providing drivers with a paper copy of the medical certificate so that Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders can provide a copy to the State licensing agency, and the non-CDL drivers can provide the documentation to their employers and Federal and State enforcement officials.
The Agency is currently completing efforts to put into place an electronic system to enable medical examiners to transmit the medical certificate information from the National Registry system to the State licensing agencies. However, until that system is completed, medical examiners must continue to issue paper copies of the medical certificates to drivers who pass the medical exam.
ALL DRIVERS MUST CONTINUE TO CARRY A PAPER COPY OF THEIR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Commercial Drivers – You still need to carry a paper copy of your medical card, until FMCSA announces that this is no longer necessary.
Dr. Michael Tigges
