RMV: Commercial Drivers Medical Certification

MassDOT RMV Registrar Rachel Kaprielian today announced a new federal regulation that requires action by all 180,000 licensed commercial drivers, commercial permit holders, and new commercial applicants in Massachusetts beginning this spring.
 
The new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulation requires all CDL operators to self-certify based on the type of commerce they engage in, interstate or intrastate, and whether or not they are required to obtain a US DOT Medical Certificate.  Drivers requiring a US DOT Medical Certificate must provide a copy to the RMV.  
 
“A handful of states will begin accepting self-certifications at the end of January 2012. However, Massachusetts, along with over 30 other states, is now updating its processes and should be able to handle the influx of certifications this spring at RMV branches across the Commonwealth and via online transactions,” said Registrar Kaprielian.   
 
This federal change aims to better enforce medical qualification and fitness standards of CDL operators and calls on states to add US DOT Medical Certificate information to the driver’s record for better access by other jurisdictions and law enforcement.  This will help insure that CDL operators are medically sound to operate and improve road safety.
 
Failure to self-certify by January 30, 2014 will result in the downgrade of one’s Commercial Driver’s License to a Class D license. Self-certifications must be renewed at least every two-years. US DOT Medical Certificates must be kept up to date and on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. 

CDL license holders should monitor the RMV website  for up to date information and the date when RMV will begin accepting certifications.  

Comments

[Tobi Mirdik]

I just obtained my D.O.T. medical card from my DR.. Now do i bring the completed forms to any RMV branch? Thank you very much for your info. Very helpful in the past. Tobi
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Tobi, you keep the DOT medical card and will need to present it when taking the CDL road exam. Check the web page below for further information:

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/8cdl.htm.

[Tobi mirdik]

I have a class b permit, I cannot locate my dot medical card, how do I go about getting copy of the original? Also we're do I get another dot medical card application when mine expires?
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RMV: Please call the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at 1-800-832-5660 since it is a US. DOT medical card. They have the blank medical forms on their website. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/medical.htm

[Dale Ferron]

What about state employees ?
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RMV: Not knowing the exact nature of the question, please view information on the RMV web site:

https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/PolicyBrowserPublic/PolicyBrowser.aspx?turl=worddocuments/2012usdotmedicalselfcertificationpolicy.htm

RMV also will be posting an FAQ soon.

[Marc Chirichiello]

I have an active CDL and Medical Card from a certified Medical Examiner. Can I continue to go to my Doctor that is certified to a do DOT physical every two years? How can I do the transaction on-line? How does this process work exactly?
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RMV: There is no change to the requirement to obtain, or how to obtain a US DOT Medical Certificate. Providers who had previously done the exam can continue to do the exam. The ability to send copies of the US DOT Medical Certificate will be available as a web transaction, assuming that the driver has access to a scanner, later in 2012. More information will become available when the transaction is available.

[chip mantz]

How about CDL class B drivers who do not even drive out of the city/community/county where they live??
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RMV: There is no change to the requirement to obtain, or how to obtain a US DOT Medical Certificate. The Federal rule is that if one is engaged in Interstate Commerce, one must obtain a US DOT Medical Certificate. For example, a driver could never leave their home community and be engaged in Interstate Commerce or not. Refer to your employer to help determine if you are engaged in Interstate Commerce.

[Dennis MacFarland]

What a joke, I hold a class A CDL but no longer drive truck because of a family business opportunity. I have kept my CDL just in case i need to return to trucking if this business should ever fail. If I'm not currently driving I still need to keep this upto date, sounds like another way for the state to make money off of hard working under payed drivers from someone making rules that has never even seen the inside of a truck and has no idea that 88 percent of accidents between trucks and cars are caused by the driver of the car. You need to pay more attention to these idiots in four wheelers and make them get medical cards also. How much is this going to cost each individual?
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RMV:
There is no change to the requirement to obtain, or how to obtain a US DOT Medical Certificate. There is no charge for submitting required paperwork to the RMV.

[John Robinson]

How about people who only maintain their class A license only for state inspection purposes? We only use the licence at work to drive trucks in & out of the garage.
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RMV Responds:
Drivers in this situation will, as part of their Vehicle Inspection license renewal, have the option of electing not to comply with the Medical Certification requirement. They will receive a new restriction on their CDL, - Intrastate only, CMV - Vehicle Inspection Only. This will be sufficient for keeping the license, and driving in and out of the inspection bays only.

They will not have a full CDL, and will need to be careful that they don’t have additional employment which would require a full CDL. In all cases, drivers need to understand that their employment situation determines what they need to certify to, and whether or not they need a US DOT Medical Certificate.