New Federal Regulation Changes For CDL

Effective January 30, 2012, new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) regulations will require all CDL holders to self-certify their expected
type of commercial driving to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles prior to any
issuance of a CDL.

The purpose of these changes is to link the medical certificate to the CDL
and include the driver medical record in the Commercial Driver's License
Information System (CDLIS), the federal electronic database.  The new rule
will help to prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating on the
Nation's highways by providing state licensing agencies a means of identifying
interstate (across state lines) CDL holders who are unable to obtain a medical
certificate and taking action to downgrade their CDLs accordingly.

Current CDL holders who drive interstate and are subject to federal medical
requirements in 49 CFR Part 391 are required to submit their Medical
Examiners Certificate to the Ohio BMV.  These medical requirements can be
found online on the FMSCAs
website or by contacting them at
1-800-832-5660.

If you are not subject to the federal medical requirements you must: certify
that you are excepted; certify that you only drive intrastate (only in Ohio)
and are subject to state requirements; or certify that you are excepted from
state requirements, as listed in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4506.03(b)(1-10).

The Self-Certification Authorization form and the Medical Examiners Certificate
(if applicable) must be submitted to the Ohio BMV and processed prior to the
issuance of a CDL after January 30, 2012.  
Failing to self-certify or failing
to submit the Medical Examiners Certificate by
January 30, 2014, will
cause the cancellation of your commercial driving privilege and
prevent the issuance of a CDL until compliance.

The Bottom Line
Anyone who currently has a CDL must complete the CDL Self-Certification
Authorization form and submit it to the Ohio BMV by
January 30, 2014.  If
you are required to have a Medical Examiners Certificate, you must submit
that form as well by January 30, 2014.

If you do not currently have a CDL but plan to get one, starting January 30,
2012, you will be required to self-certify before your license is issued.

The Self-Certification Authorization form and the Medical Examiners Certificate
can be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail, or delivered in person to a Regional
Reinstatement Office or a Deputy Registrar.  The forms must be legible or a
delay in processing will occur.

Useful Links

CDL Self-Certification Authorization

Medical Examiners Certificate

OHIO BMV - CDL Frequently Asked Questions

Mail the forms to:
Ohio BMV
CDL/Out of State Processing
PO Box 16784
Columbus, OH 43216-6784
Include your name, address and contact number on all mailings

Fax or Email forms to:
614-308-5181
cdl@dps.state.oh.us
Include your name, address and contact number on all faxes and emails

OR
Submit the forms in person to a Regional Reinstatement Office or Deputy
Registrar.  Please note that a fee will be collected when submitting forms to
a Deputy Registrar.