DOT Medical Card

Learn about compliance and all the need-to-know basics to start yourself off right. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all CDL drivers to complete a physical examination. This examination must be conducted by a licensed “Medical Examiner” who is listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. The term includes, but is not limited to, doctors of medicine (MD), doctors of osteopathy (DO), physician assistants (PA), advanced practice nurses (APN), and doctors of chiropractic (DC).

DOT physical exam

This DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months. The medical examiner may also at his own discretion decide to issue a medical examiner's certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure or other conditions that the examiner find necessary to monitor.

Medical Certification

If the medical examiner after completing the examination finds that the patient he/she examined is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), the medical examiner will furnish one copy of the physical examination results to the patient who was examined . The examiner will also issue a Medical Examiner's Certificate.

If you are a non-excepted interstate (NI) driver, you must provide the Secretary of State’s office with all the updates of your Medical Certificate and/or Medical Variances prior to the corresponding expiration date(s).

Medical Examiners still required to issue a paper copy to all drivers

The FMCSA has requested that all medical examiners continue providing drivers with a paper copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate – Form MCSA-5876, 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.

Commercial Drivers – You still need to carry a paper copy of your medical card, until FMCSA announces that this is no longer necessary.