Section 1.6

1.6 Medical Documentation Requirements

Any person applying for a CDL permit or the initial issuance of a CDL will be required to self-certify to a single type of commercial operation and provide a copy of their Medical Certificate and any applicable variance documents (i.e. Vision waivers, Skills Performance waivers, Diabetic waivers). These documents must be presented at the time of application at a Department of Driver Services Customer Service Center.

If a person wishes to change their self-certification status, they will be required to visit a DDS Customer Service Center in person. The change may result in restrictions being removed or added to the license which will require a new license be issued at that time. Updated medical certificates and waivers may be submitted to DDS by fax (at 770.918.6271), mail, in person, or online by creating an account on the DDS website. Please note that a new self-certification form is not required each time an updated medical certificate is submitted. To submit by mail, send copies to:

DDS

Attn: RM-CDL

P.O. Box 80447

Conyers, GA 30013

To submit in person you can visit any DDS Customer Service Center.

Each individual holding a CDL permit or CDL license will be responsible for providing new copies of Medical Examiner Certificates and any applicable variances ((i.e. Vision waivers, Skills Performance waivers, Diabetic waivers) prior to the expiration of those documents. Effective May 21, 2014, all new USDOT physicals must be performed by a qualified health professional listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Cards that are submitted without a National Registry number will not be processed.
If you are required to have a "certified" medical status and fail to provide and keep up-to-date your medical examiner's certificate, you become 'not-certified'.
Failure to provide valid medical certificates and / or variances may require retesting and additional fees to get your CDL privileges restored.

You will need to self-certify based on how you use the CMV. The following information will help you determine how you should self-certify. Do you, or will you, use a CDL to operate a CMV in interstate or intrastate commerce? Interstate commerce is when you drive a CMV:

From one State to another State or a foreign country;
Between two places within a State, but during part of the trip, the CMV crosses into another State or foreign country; or
Between two places within a State, but the cargo is part of a trip that began or will end in another State or foreign country.

Intrastate commerce is The cargo on the vehicle originated in the state and will not leave the state and you do not meet any of the descriptions in the above bulleted list for interstate commerce.

If you operate in both intrastate commerce and interstate commerce, you must choose interstate commerce.

Once you decide you operate or will operate in interstate commerce or intrastate commerce, you must decide whether you operate (or expect to operate) in a non-excepted or excepted status. This decision will tell you to which of the four types of commerce you must self-certify.

You operate in excepted interstate commerce when you drive a CMV in interstate commerce only for the following excepted activities:

To transport school children and / or school staff between home and school;
As Federal, State or local government employees;
To transport human corpses or sick or injured persons;
Fire truck or rescue vehicle drivers during emergencies and other related activities;
Primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel when responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response such as damage to a propane gas system after a storm or flooding;
In response to a pipeline emergency condition requiring immediate response such as a pipeline leak or rupture;
In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm or to transport custom harvested crops to storage or market;
Beekeeper in the seasonal transportation of bees;
Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placardable hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm;
As a private motor carrier of passengers for non-business purposes; or
To transport migrant workers.
Occasional transportation of personal property

If you answered yes to one or more of these above activities as the only operation in which you drive, you operate in excepted interstate commerce and do not need a Federal medical examiner's certificate.

If you answered no to all of these above activities, you operate in non-excepted interstate commerce and are required to provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 391.45), commonly referred to as a medical certificate or DOT card, to DDS. Most CDL holders who drive CMVs in interstate commerce are non-excepted interstate commerce drivers.

If you operate in both excepted interstate commerce and non-excepted interstate commerce, you must choose non-excepted interstate commerce to be qualified to operate in both types of interstate commerce.

You operate in excepted intrastate commerce when you drive a CMV in intrastate commerce only for the following excepted activities:

To transport school children and / or school staff between home and school;
As Federal, State or local government employees;
To transport human corpses or sick or injured persons;
Fire truck or rescue vehicle drivers during emergencies and other related activities;
Primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel when responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response such as damage to a propane gas system after a storm or flooding;
In response to a pipeline emergency condi tion requiring immediate response such as a pipeline leak or rupture;
In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm or to transport custom harvested crops to storage or market;
Beekeeper in the seasonal transportation of bees;
Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placardable hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm;
As a private motor carrier of passengers for non-business purposes; or
To transport migrant workers.
Occasional transportation of personal property.

You operate in non-excepted intrastate commerce when you drive a CMV only in intrastate commerce and are required to meet your State of licensure's medical certification requirements.

If you operate in both excepted intrastate commerce and non-excepted intrastate commerce, you must choose non-excepted intrastate commerce.

Medical Examiner's Certificate, long description is at end of document under heading "Long descriptions"

FMCSA Certifications (initial beside applicable statements)

Self-Certification Categories (Initial One)

Sample - Self-certification requirements (driver would initial A, B, C or D)

A, B - Medical Certificate needed.

A. Non-Excepted Interstate - I certify that I will operate or expect to operate in interstate or foreign commerce, that I am subject to and meet the FMCSA driver qualification requirements under 49 CFR part 391, and I am required to obtain a medical examiner's certificate. I also certify that I do not have an impairment of an arm, foot, or leg that interferes with the normal tasks associated with the operation of a CMV. (Medical Certificate needed)

B. Non-Excepted Intrastate - I certify that I will operate entirely in intra state commerce only and that I meet the FMCSA driver qualification requirements as defined in 49 CFR 391. I also certify that I do not have an impairment of an arm, foot, or leg that interferes with the normal tasks associated with the operation of a CMV.(Medical Certificate needed)

C, D - Medical Certificate NOT needed.

C. Excepted Interstate - I certify that I will operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce, but engage exclusively in transportation or operations excepted under 49 CFR §§390.3(f), 391.2, 391.68 or 398.3 from all or parts of the qualification requirements of 49 CFR part 391, and I am therefore not required to obtain a medical examiner's certificate. (Medical Certificate not needed)

D. Excepted Intrastate - I certify that I will operate in city, county, state, or federal vehicle only, and I am exempt from the FMCSA driver qualification requirements of 49 CFR 390.3(f). (Medical Certificate not needed)

Note: Please visit a DDS Customer Service Center to complete a new self-certification form if there is a change in driving status.

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