Medical Card Expiration Quesion

Topic 11459 | Page 1

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Hookemhawk's Comment
member avatar

I have my CDL A, been driving Class B. I have been keeping my medical card updated as required but plan on taking a 1-2 month break starting in December. My card is due for re-cert on December 5, 2015.

I was thinking of letting the medical card lapse and recert after the break. Will the rules/laws affect me if I am pulled over for speeding in my personnel vehicle? Do I have to have a current medical card if I have a Class A license?

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
G-Town's Comment
member avatar

I have my CDL A, been driving Class B. I have been keeping my medical card updated as required but plan on taking a 1-2 month break starting in December. My card is due for re-cert on December 5, 2015.

I was thinking of letting the medical card lapse and recert after the break. Will the rules/laws affect me if I am pulled over for speeding in my personnel vehicle? Do I have to have a current medical card if I have a Class A license?

As long as your general operators license is not expired or suspended for some other violation, you can still drive your personal vehicle. Once your medical card expires, your privilege to operate a CMV will be suspended until you medically recertify. However before letting it lapse, I suggest checking with the state issuing your license to see what their CDL reinstatement process is and the ramifications of allowing your medical card to expire.

Just a thought, you may need to explain the gap to your next employer.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

CMV:

Commercial Motor Vehicle

A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:

  • Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
  • Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
  • Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
  • Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
  • Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Robert B. (The Dragon) ye's Comment
member avatar

Short answer, yes you have to keep your medical card valid. Your commercial drivers license and medical card go hand in hand, your license is not valid without it. Now, driving your personal vehicle it's not an issue but the expiration date for your physical is on file with your bmv.

Bmv:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

Brett Aquila's Comment
member avatar

Do not let that medical card lapse. In most states you have to have a medical card to have a CDL and there's no telling what the state will do. They might suspend your CDL, they may make you retest - who knows? But keep your medical card updated.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Lynette O.'s Comment
member avatar

I had a Class B license and when my medical certificate expired I needed to change the interstate designation to intrastate in order to keep my Class B. I currently have a Class A permit with the intrastate designation while I await my medical waiver from the Feds for my insulin dependency. Of course I can't drive either Class on the roads until I get it. This is for Washington State. Check with your state licensing department to see if you can do this.

Interstate:

Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).

Intrastate:

The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.

Hookemhawk's Comment
member avatar

Thanks to those who responded. I didn't consider how the DMV might create an issue for me if I had let the card lapse.

Again, TT has offered excellent advice to someone seeking help.

Thanks

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Turbo Dan's Comment
member avatar

In Illinois after 30 days they send a little envelope and say put your driver's license in and send it back to the DMV. Now you can't even driver your car. That gets your attention........LOL

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

DMV:

Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.

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