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Hang on to those medical cards, FMCSA changes new retention requirement

Truckers and motor carriers need to be sure to hang on to copies of medical certificates for the time being.

A new regulation, which was initially to go into full effect Jan. 30, 2012, requires truckers to present proof of medical certification to their state licensing agency. The agency is required to electronically tie the medical certification to the commercial driver’s license of all truckers. That will allow roadside law enforcement to electronically confirm valid medical certification.

A Federal Register notice published Nov. 15, amended a portion of the final rule that eliminated the requirement that drivers must keep their medical certificate on them. The rule initially said once the certification was presented to the state licensing agencies, truckers did not have to keep the medical card with them.

However, the amended rule acknowledges that all states may not have the capability by Jan. 30, 2012, to post the medical certification to the commercial drivers license information system – dubbed CDLIS by the agency.

Rather than delay the entire regulation, FMCSA will still begin requiring drivers report medical certification to their state licensing agency. The amended final rule will also require drivers to retain the medical certificate for proof on the roadside during an inspection until 2014.

FMCSA officials state in the notice that state licensing agencies “are still expected to meet the Jan. 30, 2012, date specified in 49 CFR 383.73 to start collecting information from CDL applicants and posting and retaining this data on the CDLIS driver record.”

The agency’s notice delays the final compliance deadline for states to be fully operational to comply with the new regulation until Jan. 30, 2014.

Related article:
DMVs to begin verifying medical certification in 2012

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