Highlights & News

FMCSA Delays CDL Medical Card Requirements Until 2015

Today the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register extending to January 30, 2015 the requirement that interstate commercial drivers carry their medical certificates.  Interstate motor carriers are also required to retain copies of their drivers’ medical certificates in their driver qualification files.

The extension delays the January 30, 2014 implementation date of a provision which would have allowed holders of either a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) to leave their medical cards at home once their medical certification status was entered onto their state driving record.  (APA Advisory 2014-01).

CDL and CLP drivers are still required to certify their status (e.g., interstate or intrastate, exempt or non-exempt) with the State Driver License Agency (SDLA) agency before January 30, 2014 and to provide their SDLA a copy of any new medical certificate received after January 30, 2012

This action was taken by FMCSA to provide state licensing agencies more time to process certification information from their CDL licensees and to prevent commercial drivers from being cited for violations because some states are not yet in full compliance with the new reporting system.