new CDL rules for 2012

[perry 82]

anybody get the new CDL letter in the mail ?. the way i read it as i will need to show a medical card to keep my CDL license. i have not drove truck for a company since 1998, but nice to know i have it if needed. i have allways renewed it with no extra cost in years past. So I wonder if i need a medical card or not ?

.

[73-18 automatic 8]

I read it and I understand it to say you need to state whether or not you are interstate or intrastate and yes you have to have a medical card

I have a class A CDL with Hazmat

[puddlejumper 67]

Yes you must produce a current medical card with your license, I carry a laminated miniature version (credit card size) with my license.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

I'm not sure how MI is doing theirs, but I have checked out PA pretty closely. (you would think that all states would have the same guidelines since it's the feds who instigated this )

From what I see here in PA, there are ways around it, but you have no commercial driving privileges if you submit an exception ~ and you have to jump through a few more hoops if you need to use the CDL again.

My last DOT physical expired in December of 2009 and I prefer to keep an active license. (never know when I might need to drive again) If I have to pay for the certification out of my own pocket to keep my CDL, then so be it. :handgestures-thumbup:

[6wheeler 669]

Here in Mn, They are working on a new deal where the medical card is embossed on the Mn. drivers license. Or at least certification will be noted in my license. I let my Haz-mat and tanker endorsements go a couple of years ago and now I am sorry. To get them back is going to cost me alot of money but, I may do it because as slow as we have been at work, I could be hauling anhydrous right now to fill in for the lack of hours at my reg. job. But I am curious, if the state does get that done with the med. cert. I wonder if I will have to renew my license every 2 years like the med. card or the med . will be good for four years?

[KyBlue 655]

Kentucky has required drivers to carry a Medical card, and provide proof to renew your license. This new requirement by the Feds isnt anything new for me.

Even though the DOT is a US run program, each individual state can determine their own requirements outside of what the feds say you MUST do - For example, in Kentucky, Hazmat certification is only done once, every four years. Not the standard two that the hazmat is usually good for. This is because Kentucky renews their License's on a Four Year basis, not two. It makes it VERY confusing for rules to be enforced... then you add in states like Michigan, that when you get pulled over, they want to take you license unless you pay the fine in cash, on the side of the road...Yep..

Ya'll have a good night ...

[bowtiebutler956 650]

They have been requiring a medical card hear in Texas for a couple of years now.

Matt :flags-texas:

[perry 82]

My last DOT physical expired in December of 2009 and I prefer to keep an active license. (never know when I might need to drive again) If I have to pay for the certification out of my own pocket to keep my CDL, then so be it.

thats where i am at. not sure i will ever use it again, but never know.

state ofice has never asked for any fee's or medi-card in the past. just allways automaticly renewed my CDL with my license. one state lady did say i was grandfathered in and that i should allways renew because it cost nothing. did they start chargeing to renew in later years ? .

[6wheeler 669]

The last time I renewed mine was 2011. But it was 4 days after my birthday so I did have to take the written test (the lady said it was a formality) so that cost an extra $7.50 but otherwise in the great state of Mn. it is $64.00 to renew. Good for 4 years though.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

The only additional endorsements I don't have are hazmat (never needed) and school bus. (yeah, right - I was once a kid on a school bus )

The current cost of a PA CDL "A" license with motorcycle is $89.50. (good for four years)

I have an appointment for a "D.O.T. physical" on 4/6. :thumbs2:

[KC9KAS 4,744]

Indiana has had the physical requirement for as long as Indiana went from chauffers to CDL's I think.

NOW, if you have a body mass index of 30 or more, elevated blood pressure, or a neck size of more than 17" you are at risk of having sleep apnea, so you have to have a sleep study done....$5000....fortunately with insurance and provider discounts my portion was only $2000. That money is shot to hell, as I will never re-coop any of that back. Could have bought some good horses for $2000!

The thing that really upsets me is the fact that I did not have any of the sterio-typed sleep apnea conditions. The doctor said 99% of people coming into his office for this CDL business has sleep apnea. I said sure they do....You also sell the sleep machine too, don't you?

[AMC RULES 37,226]

LOL, I bet that woke him up. :auto-swerve:

[chazm 413]

Not only do they get you with sleep apnea, but also if you had heart surgery like I did in 2000, You need a get a stress test & physical every year, Thats a grand out of pocket for that test. Hard to be a trucker these days.

But in my case I need them since I have PA inspection license.

[Paul D. 26]

About 5 years ago I got pulled over on I-94 in a company truck (F450) They didn't give me a speeding ticket but they gave me one for not having a medical card and I just have a chauffeurs license. Ended up having to get everyone at our shop that may drive one of the trucks get a card. I wasn't even hauling anything. I was coming back from a design review meeting. Atleast my shop covered the ticket and there were no points on my license for it

[wingrider 21]

Every state must have there own rules. In Illinois I have to first get finger printed and have a back round check done for $120.00 a month before I take my CDL

test. Also have to have a DOT physical for my part time job, but since I'm a township highway commissioner I am excempt from the DOT card. After the back round

check Then I can take the CDL test, and the Haz Mat test I'm good for another 4 years. If I can't pass the Haz Mat endorsement I will have wasted the money on

the back round test and finger prints.

Thats the joy of our current situation in life.

Wingrider

[DoctorHfuhruhurr 137]

There's another test for sleep apnea that's new which may be worth looking into that's about 1/8th the cost. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9333494.htm

Depending on your tax situation you may be able to deduct medical expenses not covered by insurance.

The cheapest option is to avoid the test all together by lowering BMI and blood pressure.

[KyBlue 655]

WingRider - that fingerprint deal is related to your Hazmat endoresment not the basic CDL. I wont get a Hazmat because of it. Im not pissing away 120 bucks every 4 years to get it.

My Dr that does my physical just said that I didnt have any of hte signs of Sleep Apnia and gave me my med. card anyway. Kind of like the damned eye Dr having to sign off on my glasses whenever I make a change to my medical card.. Be glad that the end of 2013 I'll be done driving, and sell off the truck!

[KC9KAS 4,744]

"My Dr that does my physical just said that I didnt have any of hte signs of Sleep Apnia and gave me my med. card anyway. Kind of like the damned eye Dr having to sign off on my glasses whenever I make a change to my medical card.. Be glad that the end of 2013 I'll be done driving, and sell off the truck!"

Yeah, a lot of the people I have talked to around here told me that I just went to the wrong doctor!

Some doctors aren't following the Indiana "reccomendations" therefore making it easy for some people to pass their CDL physicals, and some of us paying out the rear for the sleep study!

Rant over...for now!

[KyBlue 655]

Sorry KC. If it makes any difference, I was let go from a driving job because I couldn't pass the Indiana standards Physical. I refuse to pay for a sleep study - that is total BS. a Ky DOT official (suit and tie guy) told me that it was to weed out the guys who could only wear sweat pants and tshirts...but they need to find another way to do it, because they are taking out alot of others in the process. Somebody w/o insurance can't afford to do a sleep study. Running my own truck, I don't have insurance. Heck most of hte time right now I'm lucky to have bill money ....

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

I have an appointment for a "D.O.T. physical" on 4/6.

Passed & all legal again. :handgestures-thumbup: