Important regulatory changes coming for Commercial Driver’s Licenrse (CDL) and Commercial Learner’s Pemit (CLP) holders

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented significant changes to the medical certification process for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers. These changes are designed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of medical qualification reporting.

For additional information, see https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/home

Key Changes and Deadlines:

• Mandatory Electronic Submission of Medical Examination Results:
  • Effective June 23, 2025, Certified Medical Examiners (MEs) are required to electronically submit all CMV driver medical examination results directly to the FMCSA and State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) through the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
  • This applies to all CMV drivers requiring medical certification for interstate commerce, including those holding or applying for CDLs and CLPs, as well as those operating under applicable state variances for intrastate operations.
  • MEs must transmit the examination result by midnight (local time) of the next calendar day following the examination.
• National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners:
  • The FMCSA has established the National Registry to ensure all MEs meet standardized training and testing requirements.
  • Beginning June 23, 2025, CDL/CLP holders must obtain their medical certificates from MEs listed on the National Registry.
• Electronic Data Transmission to SDLAs:
  • The FMCSA will electronically transmit driver identification, examination results, restriction information, and medical variance information to SDLAs.
  • This will streamline the process and reduce errors.
• Texas Implementation:
  • Texas will begin implementing these requirements on March 23, 2025.
  • From March 23, 2025, to June 23, 2025, Texas will accept both paper medical certificates and electronic submissions through the National Registry.
  • After June 23, 2025, Texas will only accept medical certificates submitted electronically through the National Registry.
• Validity of Existing Medical Certificates:
  • Medical certificates issued before June 23, 2025, will remain valid until their expiration date.

Benefits of Electronic Submission:

• Elimination of paper-based submissions for drivers.
• Faster processing times for medical certificates.
• Reduced risk of data entry errors.
• Increased data accuracy.