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-   -   CDL Suspension (https://www.classadrivers.com/forum/new-truck-drivers-get-help-here/37030-cdl-suspension.html)

tjv189 02-06-2009 03:05 AM

CDL Suspension
 
I was talking with a friend today, who still drives over-the-road. I drove OTR for a year in 2007. While talking with my friend, he mentioned to me that he found out the hard way (a DOT Inspection) that his CDL had been suspended without notification, due to an issue with his Medical Card not being processed. He got it all straightened out, but this brought about a question for me.

Since I haven't been driving since 2007, but still retain my CDL in case I go back to driving for a living, will my CDL get suspended if my Medical Card expires? Or does this only apply if you are driving at the time? I really want to keep my CDL, so I can go back to driving if I want to, but I want to know if I will have to take another DOT physical to keep the CDL even if I'm currently not driving. Can you guys please help me out here? Thanks in advance.

Uturn2001 02-06-2009 08:19 AM

According to a new federal reg that went into effect 1/01/09 you must have a valid medical clearance to have a CDL.

kc0iv 02-06-2009 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjv189 (Post 437415)
I was talking with a friend today, who still drives over-the-road. I drove OTR for a year in 2007. While talking with my friend, he mentioned to me that he found out the hard way (a DOT Inspection) that his CDL had been suspended without notification, due to an issue with his Medical Card not being processed. He got it all straightened out, but this brought about a question for me.

Since I haven't been driving since 2007, but still retain my CDL in case I go back to driving for a living, will my CDL get suspended if my Medical Card expires? Or does this only apply if you are driving at the time? I really want to keep my CDL, so I can go back to driving if I want to, but I want to know if I will have to take another DOT physical to keep the CDL even if I'm currently not driving. Can you guys please help me out here? Thanks in advance.

As Uturn says you must have a current Medical Card to operate commerial vehicle as it has always been. The difference now is the state can not issue a CDL without a current Medical Card. In addition you must now have a current Medical Card for the state to renew your CDL.

So to answer your question -- Yes you will have to have a current DOT physical for your CDL to be valid.

kc0iv

tjv189 02-06-2009 11:22 AM

Ok thanks guys. But why wouldn't they have notified me about this? My medical card expired last month, so does that mean my license is no longer valid?

And does this mean my CDL isn't valid, or my driver's license in general isn't valid?

GMAN 02-06-2009 11:26 AM

I have not heard that your CDL could be suspended by your state for not having a current medical unless you show it to an officer after the expiration date. I don't see how they would know. As far as I know these people who give the medical exams don't report directly to the states. You are required to have proof of your current medical card with you and must show it when asked. Even if you had a card that was expired I would think that you would only be issued a ticket with the provision that you must get a current medical exam and perhaps send them proof within a certain time frame or have your license suspended.

chris1 02-06-2009 11:58 AM

As of 1/1/09 all states will suspend the CDL portion of your license when the medical expires. Most have been collecting that info the last few years. It is up to you to insure that the state has the new info.

Uturn2001 02-06-2009 02:26 PM

Some states already required a person who holds a CDL to have a current med card on record. For those states nothing has changed. States like Illinois, however, who did not require a CDL holder to have a current med clearance to simply have a CDL. States like this I am not sure how they plan to implement these changes. They may send out letter to all CDL holders giving them so many days to present a valid med card or possibly just wait until it is time to renew and require proof then.

This new reg is one that pretty much slipped under the radar. I would not have known about it if I hadn't been researching another FMCSA reg and came upon it in the notices section.

JayMan 02-06-2009 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMAN (Post 437446)
I have not heard that your CDL could be suspended by your state for not having a current medical unless you show it to an officer after the expiration date. I don't see how they would know. As far as I know these people who give the medical exams don't report directly to the states. You are required to have proof of your current medical card with you and must show it when asked. Even if you had a card that was expired I would think that you would only be issued a ticket with the provision that you must get a current medical exam and perhaps send them proof within a certain time frame or have your license suspended.

Medical examiners in Indiana have to report to the State. Indiana suspended my Class B last year when my medical expired. I wasnt driving at the time. But, went out and got a $45 exam a few weeks later.

tjv189 02-06-2009 07:39 PM

If they suspended your CDL, could you still legally drive a regular motor vehicle? Or since your license is a CDL, if it gets suspended does that take all driving privleges away from you? Please help with this!

Uturn2001 02-06-2009 10:10 PM

It would depend on the state how far the suspension goes. The state could suspend you CDL and automatically "reduce" it back to a basic driver's license or they could totally suspend it.

JayMan 02-06-2009 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjv189 (Post 437495)
If they suspended your CDL, could you still legally drive a regular motor vehicle?

In Indiana you can. Suspending your CDL because of an expired medical certificate only means you cannot drive a commercial vehicle until you get your medical stuff updated. The place that did my DOT medical exam FAXs the documents to the state. That way they get the info promptly and you are not incumbered any longer than needed. Indiana does some things well. LOL

fxfe_phantoms 02-07-2009 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjv189 (Post 437495)
If they suspended your CDL, could you still legally drive a regular motor vehicle? Or since your license is a CDL, if it gets suspended does that take all driving privleges away from you? Please help with this!

Your not required to have a medical card to drive your Mustang or BMW or whatever kind of 4-wheeler you own. No your state cant suspend your license to drive a class C vehicle. That is a bunch of crap the new law or whatever. I don't see why you have to lose your CDL if you stop driving a truck for 5 years and decide to go back into it.

Fredog 02-08-2009 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxfe_phantoms (Post 437627)
Your not required to have a medical card to drive your Mustang or BMW or whatever kind of 4-wheeler you own. No your state cant suspend your license to drive a class C vehicle. That is a bunch of crap the new law or whatever. I don't see why you have to lose your CDL if you stop driving a truck for 5 years and decide to go back into it.

the reasoning is that if you are going to keep your cdl which allows you to drive a truck, then you need to be qualified to drive a truck.

cdswans 02-08-2009 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredog (Post 437639)
the reasoning is that if you are going to keep your cdl which allows you to drive a truck, then you need to be qualified to drive a truck.

Where did they come up with that idea?

Fredog 02-08-2009 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdswans (Post 437640)
Where did they come up with that idea?


Probably at the bar

fxfe_phantoms 02-08-2009 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredog (Post 437639)
the reasoning is that if you are going to keep your cdl which allows you to drive a truck, then you need to be qualified to drive a truck.


Yeah I understand that. But what I don't understand is this......say I decide to step out of the truck for say 5 years. They take my CDL from me cause I don't have a medical card. I decide to go back to driving. Do I have to go through all steps to get my CDL back or will it always be there.....just suspended?

Fredog 02-08-2009 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxfe_phantoms (Post 437720)
Yeah I understand that. But what I don't understand is this......say I decide to step out of the truck for say 5 years. They take my CDL from me cause I don't have a medical card. I decide to go back to driving. Do I have to go through all steps to get my CDL back or will it always be there.....just suspended?

I would call the dmv in your state and ask them, you will get lots of answers here, all different because I dont think anyone really knows.

golfhobo 02-08-2009 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjv189 (Post 437495)
If they suspended your CDL, could you still legally drive a regular motor vehicle? Or since your license is a CDL, if it gets suspended does that take all driving privleges away from you? Please help with this!

Read this thread:

http://www.classadrivers.com/forum/r...1-30-09-a.html

The link to the final ruling is in the first post. It is a very confusing ruling (as they all are) but the info is there.

You will NOT lose your class C priviliges.

Under the NEW ruling, your friend would have gotten a letter a month or two (can't remember) before finding out the hard way.

Next time you renew your license, you will NOT get a CDL unless you have provided medical certification.

IMHO, it is cheaper (and better FOR you) to get the physical every two years, than to retake all the tests to get a NEW CDL.

Hope this helps.

golfhobo 02-08-2009 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdswans (Post 437640)
Where did they come up with that idea?

I suspect they got an EMAIL from Myth_Buster! :lol2:

Fredog 02-08-2009 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfhobo (Post 437782)
I suspect they got an EMAIL from Myth_Buster! :lol2:

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

truckerred 08-10-2012 04:51 PM

Found out the hard way here in florida, got letter telling me that i had until june 25 to re-new my medical card, it had expired in january 2012 so on the 14th of june i re- newed the card, if i dint get a new card i would lose my cdl and i would then have a general license. Pulled over by D O T and they wanted to know why my license was suspended, took a while but i figured it out, i never went to the dmv to show them i had a new medical card. Told.my.story to the officers they understood(phew) and i went to the dmv the next day and paid $82.25 for my license and since i could not drive the truck it had to.be towed


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