As truckers, you and I both know that keeping our DOT medical cards current is one of the requirements to keep our CDLs in good standing. Letting my medical card expire could jeopardize my livelihood as a commercial driver. We all need to know when our DOT medical card expires.
Typically a DOT medical card expires two years from the date of issue for drivers who pass the physical examination. In some instances when certain medical conditions are present, a DOT medical card may expire in 3 or 12 months.
Being aware of when your DOT medical card expires is just part of a big rig driver’s job responsibility. Keep on reading to find out how you can know for sure when your card expires.
Validity Periods of a Dot Medical Card
All commercial vehicle drivers who operate in the category of Interstate Non-Excepted must carry a DOT Medical card. If you’re a big rig driver who operates a vehicle with a max gross weight of 10,000 or more pounds across state lines, this means you.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) put these health requirements in place to ensure that you are physically able to handle the demands of driving a big rig on the nation’s highways. In addition to operating the rig safely, you must be able to do other duties like pre-and post-trip safety inspections, securing the load, and addressing any load shifting that may occur.
A DOT medical certificate or card is typically valid for two years from the issuing date and is expected to be renewed prior to its expiration date.
In some cases, a DOT medical card may expire sooner than 24 months. Current regulations allow for different expiration times for certain medical conditions or when the examiner requests more testing or information. Let’s take a look at the validity periods you might expect to see.
24 Months
Assuming you get a clean bill of health from the medical examiner, you will be issued a two year medical card. This indicates that you are fully certified to drive and your CDL is secure until it’s time to renew. The medical examiner should give you and your employer a copy of your new MEC (Medical Examiner’s Certificate).
12 Months
Certain medical conditions will cause a DOT medical card to be issued for 12 months instead of 24 months. The increased frequency of certification allows the examiner to monitor the condition and continue to verify the driver’s ability to drive safely.
Some of the issues that may necessitate the 12 month card are:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure – must be stable with treatment
- Drivers who qualified under the original diabetes and vision waiver program
- Drivers who qualified under the new insulin and vision exemption program
- Other conditions where frequent monitoring is desired – sleep disorders or diabetes mellitus
Now, let’s see the next DOT medical card up for approval.
3-6 Months
Sometimes a medical examiner will approve a three or six month DOT card instead of the full 2 years. Usually this happens when you have a physical condition that you need to attempt to fix.
Rather than disqualify you altogether, the examiner can require a follow-up visit and exam to determine if the condition has improved. If everything is satisfactory at the second visit, you may then receive a full two year medical card.
How Do I Know the Expiration Date for DOT Medical Card?
After the physical exam is concluded, the medical examiner will make a determination of how long your DOT medical card will be valid.
The new expiration date for your DOT medical card will be indicated in the red box on the MEC form.
Am I Required to Carry My DOT Medical Card with Me?
According to the FMCSA, Class A, B, or C commercial drivers who self-certify with the status of non-exempted interstate do not have to carry their DOT medical card with them on the road.
While it’s not a requirement, we suggest you have a copy in your rig, just in case there are ever any questions. At the very least, carry your new card for the first 10 days after your exam to account for any problems before your data can be uploaded and recorded by the FMCSA.
Final Thoughts
With a two year validity period for most drivers, the DOT medical card isn’t something you have to think about regularly. Still, it’s a good idea to put the expiration date on your calendar and a week or two advance reminder. This allows for extra time to get the physical exam.