• Carriers must always keep a proof of a driver’s medical certification on file.

After a medical examination, drivers must carry the original certificate, and carriers must place a copy in the driver’s qualification file. Every time a driver receives a new certificate, carriers must verify that the examiner is listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, and they must include a note in the driver’s file to show that the verification was done.

Commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) drivers are only required to carry the certificate for 15 days following the exam, allowing time for the driver to submit the medical certificate to the state licensing agency and for the agency to enter it on the driver’s record. The employer must request a motor vehicle record showing this new exam within these same 15 days.

Beginning on June 23, 2025, the requirement to carry a medical card for up to 15 days after a DOT exam and to certify the exam with the licensing authority will not apply to CDL and CLP drivers. They must still be medically examined at least every 24 months, but they will no longer be issued medical certificates, and the examiner’s listing on the National Registry will no longer need to be verified. The employer would be expected to request an MVR within a short time following the exam.

In addition to the initial and routine follow-up physical examinations, drivers who suffer a physical or mental injury or disease which has impaired their ability to perform normal duties must have a physical examination and obtain a new medical examiner’s certificate, even if the existing certificate has not yet expired.