My fellow big rig drivers and I know we need to be in good physical shape to handle our trucks. Sometimes, though, our health may slip and keep us from getting a full DOT Medical Card and then we are issued a 3-Month card. But is there a limit to how many 3-month cards we can have?
A big rig driver is only allowed to have one 3-month DOT medical card. The restricted card provides enough time to address the physical concern that prevents the driver from receiving the full DOT medical card.
Staying certified to drive is an important part of a semi-trucker’s job. If you’ve gotten a 3-month DOT medical card, read on to find out what you need to know about this temporary certification.
3-Month DOT Medical Card
The Federal Motor Safety Carrier Association (FMCSA) is serious about licensing requirements for big rig drivers. Keeping a tight rein on truck drivers’ health is critical. That’s why the FMCSA requires all commercial drivers of big rigs, defined as 10,000 or more max gross weight, that cross state lines to hold a current medical certificate.
There are a few different lengths your DOT medical card lasts, but the one we’ll focus on below is the 3-month card.
What Is the Purpose of a 3-Month DOT Medical Card?
This DOT Medical card as it’s known is based on a physical examination at a certified DOT medical location. Typically a driver who passes this physical gets a DOT medical card that is valid for two years.
If a driver has a medical condition that prevents the issuance of a two-year card, a 3-month DOT medical card will be issued. Only one 3-month DOT medical card will be issued to give the driver a period of time in which to deal with the medical problem causing the restriction.
What Conditions Might Cause a 3-Month Medical Card to Be Issued?
Certain physical conditions may prompt your examining physician to withhold full medical approval. The reason? Driving with said condition could be hazardous to you and other motorists. If you have a medical emergency due to the condition, you might put others at risk by inadvertently causing an accident.
Some of these conditions include:
- Sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Heart, lung, vascular, or renal disease
- Blood Clots
- Epilepsy
- Rheumatic conditions
- Orthopedic conditions
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Respiratory dysfunction
- Use of oxygen
- Psychiatric disorder
- Vision or hearing loss
- Meniere’s Disease
- Alcoholism
- Drug abuse
If you feel like you are physically qualified to drive a big rig in spite of a restrictive health condition, you may want to seek a second opinion from a different clinic. The result of that exam and the subsequent decision by the new doctor will supersede the first examination results.
Are There Other DOT Medical Card Restrictions?
The FMCSA has also created a “Determination Pending” status that can be assigned for 45 days. The Determination Pending status indicates that medical personnel found a medical condition and would like to get additional information before they offer full certification.
Drivers with a Determination Pending status may continue to operate their big rig during the 45-day period IF they currently hold a DOT medical card.
At the end of 45 days, a decision will be made to either grant full medical approval or not. If the status is not cleared after 45 days, the first medical exam is considered invalid and the driver must be examined again.
What Happens If You Don’t Fix the Problem Within 3 Months?
If you’re able to get the medical condition under control in 90 days, your doctor may issue a DOT medical card valid for one year and require a recheck when the year is up. Once you’ve established that the condition is firmly in control for long periods of time, your doctor can decide to isee a full 2-year DOT medical card.
If you’ve been unable to get a handle on the restricting medical condition, your doctor may decide to not extend the 3-Month DOT medical card.
Without a valid DOT medical card, big rig drivers may have their CDL suspended indefinitely until the medical condition is addressed satisfactorily. Or your CDL could be revoked entirely.
Final Thoughts
Keeping physically fit is a good idea for everyone, but for a big rig driver, it can mean the difference between working and not working. You can only have one 3-month medical card so your doctor has identified a problem area in your health, do all you can to address the condition promptly so you can keep on trucking.
