What Happens If DOT Medical Card Expires?
If you are a CDL driver or employ CDL drivers, you know the significance of maintaining the most recent version of the DOT Medical Card. However, you may be curious about the repercussions if the card expires.
The DOT Medical Card is, the driver’s USDOT number will be withdrawn, and they may be subject to fines that cost up to $1,000 per day, although the penalties cannot exceed $10,000. The process of updating the DOT medical certificate is both free and straightforward.
Are you curious about what will occur if your Department of Transportation Medical Card expires? Can you take advantage of a grace period if your medical card has expired? During what period is a DOT Medical Card valid? We are here to be of assistance. In this piece, we will discuss the significance of maintaining the most recent version of your DOT card.
When a District of Columbia Medical Card Expires, What Happens?
To ensure that you are in a state of physical fitness that allows you to be in this line of work, you must have a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical card if you drive a big vehicle, such as a semi-truck. On the other hand, what happens to a DOT medical card when it has outlived its validity period?
Following the issuance of a CDL driver’s DOT Card, the validity period for the card is two years. The driver risks losing their commercial driver’s license (CDL) if they do not renew their DOT certificate within a set time. To regain their driver’s license, they must repeat the examinations. In addition to that, they will need to get a new DOT card.
Do expired Department of Transportation medical cards have a grace period?
After your driver’s license expires, there is often a grace period during which you can revisit the decision to renew it. To what extent, however, does this apply to DOT medical cards?
There is no grace time whatsoever. In the month the card was issued, commercial drivers with DOT medical cards are required to renew their cards. Consequently, the card’s bearer has until the 31st of May, 2020, to continue the card if it was issued on the tenth of May, 2020.
You should complete your Department of Transportation renewal as early as possible; however, depending on the date your card was issued, you could have some wiggle space. Most of the time, renewing your Department of Transportation Medical card is simple.
How Do I Renew My Medical Card with the Department of Transportation?
You may be asking how to renew your Department of Transportation medical card if it has expired.
You may have the choice between the following options in several states:
- Fax
- Online filing
Other states demand a different renewal method even though they often provide at least one of these locations to renew the Department of Transportation medical certificate.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association provides guidelines for carriers to renew their licenses in each state. On this list, each state has criteria for restoring the Department of Transportation medical certificate. In addition, they provide contact information to facilitate your ability to get the assistance you need.
Which states do not let me renew my Department of Transportation medical card online?
Now that you know that restoring your Department of Transportation medical card online is possible in most states, you may be asking which states do not have these alternatives.
Some states, such as Missouri, do not provide renewal DOT certificates via the following channels, even though the majority of states are straightforward to understand their requirements for renewal:
- Email,
- Fax
The state of Missouri needs to provide more instructions, too. Both a phone number and an email address are available for communication with them. Therefore, if you are holding a license in a state such as this one, you should make it a point to initiate contact with them as soon as possible to guarantee that you submit your renewal in a timely way and the proper method.
Would I be required to undergo another physical examination to renew my commercial driver’s license?
Everyone with a Department of Transportation medical card knows the irritating need to undergo medical exams. Do you anticipate going through this process again when it is time for yours to be renewed?
As a result, you will need a physical examination. A medical practitioner certified by the FMCSA must carry out this examination. The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners provides a way to locate a physician who has earned their certification.
Because you have been a commercial driver’s license (CDL) driver for approximately two years, you may be far from your initial medical examiner at this time. That is OK. You can get an exam done in any state you are in if you go to a doctor certified by the FMCSA.
You must go to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, often known as the NRCME, to locate a verified medical practitioner. If you need assistance, contact their Technical Support Desk by dialing 617-494-3003 or emailHSUP@dot.gov.
If I Have a DOT Medical Card, Why Do I Need It?
You completely understand what will happen if your Department of Transportation medical card expires, but why do you need one?
To get a DOT Medical Card, CDL holders must not only:
- It is illegal to operate a vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds.
- Transfer potentially dangerous items.
- Drive a vehicle that can accommodate more than fourteen people.
- Earn instant cash for carrying more than seven people at a time.
The Federal Motor Carrier Association requires you to have this certificate to proceed. Suppose you have this medical certificate. In that case, you and your healthcare practitioner have concluded that you can safely drive heavy vehicles on roads that other drivers already inhabit.
Renewing your DOT medical card on an annual basis is an important step to take.
If you renew your DOT certification, you can keep your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and avoid incurring fees. You will be required to undergo an examination by an FMCSA-certified examiner, and you will also be required to adhere to the specifications provided by the state in which you have a valid driver’s license.
When it comes to your DOT renewal month, prepare ahead. If you do this, getting all of the proper documentation into your state and avoiding any blemishes on your driving record will be easier for you.