The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) issued an updated inspection bulletin to roadside enforcement personnel extending the time period for acceptance of drivers’ medical cards as evidence of medical qualification in cases when the electronic (CDLIS) record shows no medical information is on file with the State.
Drivers may now use their medical cards during roadside inspections for up to 60 days from date of issuance (the previous limit was 30 days) to demonstrate medical qualification. Beginning on the 61st day, if the information is still not reflected on the CDLIS record, the guidance directs officers to cite drivers for failing to supply the required medical information to the state (49 C.F.R. §383.71(h)) rather than for being medically unqualified (49 C.F.R. §391.41(a)(1)). This will not result in an out-of-service violation. At any point however, even within the first 60 days, if the State has cancelled, downgraded, disqualified, revoked, suspended, etc. the driver’s license due to a lack of medical information on file, the driver will be placed out-of-service.
