FMCSA Extends CDL, Medical Card Expiration Date Waiver Again

The FMCSA announced last week that drivers now have more time to renew their commercial driver’s licenses, commercial learner’s permits and/or medical cards. The current waiver was due to expire on September 30, 2020.

Please note: this has no impact on your other compliance programs, which are still in full effect. This includes your drug and alcohol testing programs, driver qualification files and DOT Clearinghouse requirements. 

The latest extension will give drivers until December 31, 2020 to renew their expired CDL or CLP. Extension deadlines for medical card renewals will depend on when the driver’s card expired. For drivers operating with a medical card that was valid on February 29, 2020 but expired anytime between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020, renewals are due by October 31.

For drivers with medical cards that didn’t expire until June 1, 2020 or after, renewals aren’t due until December 31.

The waiver, which originally lasted until June 30, was issued in response to the current COVID-19 outbreak, which has closed many state motor vehicle offices and medical clinics across the country. With many doctors canceling routine visits, many drivers in need of a DOT physical haven’t been able to get one in time. Provided the medical certificate was issued for at least 90 days, the expired document will be accepted as valid until the deadline.

In addition, CLP holders won’t be required to retake their general and endorsement knowledge tests under the waiver.

For now, drivers should carry their expired CDLs, CLPs and medical cards and present them when asked, with the knowledge that they will be accepted as valid until the October 31 or December 31 deadline. It’s important to keep in mind that this waiver is only good for documents that have expired since March 1. If the expiration date was prior to that, the waiver won’t apply and drivers could be issued out-of-service orders or fines for operating noncompliantly.

At Foley, we’re following industry updates closely and will continue to pass along relevant news as it becomes available. We’ve also created a resources center where you can find all of COVID-19 updates that apply to you and your business. To access the resources center, please click here.