Medical Qualifications for Drivers

Medical Qualifications for Drivers

When applying for a commercial driver’s license, you will also be asked if you are subject to and in compliance with the requirements of Part 391 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Qualifications of Drivers). This requirement applies to CMV drivers who are or will be required to have a Medical Examiner’s Certificate to perform the driving functions they plan to do.

When you apply for (or renew) a Commercial Driver’s License, you will be asked this question:

“I am subject to the Qualifications of Drivers, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Part 391, including the DOT Medical Card Requirements, and I certify that I am in compliance with these requirements. Yes___ No ___”

If you are required to possess a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate to legally operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle under State of Idaho law or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, you must be able to pass the physical examination and check the appropriate box on the application form.

• If you are not medically qualified to drive a CMV in Interstate Commerce, but wish to drive in Idaho hauling exempt commodities, you should answer “No” to this question.
• If you only haul exempt commodities and are therefore not required to maintain a DOT Physical, you may answer “No” to this question.
• If you have a CDL but are not currently driving or do not have a valid medical, you may answer “No” to this question.

If you knowingly are not medically qualified under the FMCSRs (see FMCSA website for disqualifying medical conditions) and you check the box that you are in compliance with Part 391, you have falsified your application and the state could cancel your CDL.

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National Registry of Medical Examiners

CMV drivers are required to obtain their medical examination from a certified medical examiner that is listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

Designed to improve safety by achieving high quality medical exams that are consistent with Federal regulations and guidelines, the National Registry will help commercial motor vehicle drivers find trained and qualified medical examiners to perform physical qualification examinations.

Medical Examiners have to take a training course and pass a certification exam to be listed on the National Registry. The list of certified medical providers is available on the National Registry website located at:

https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov

For help with the FMCSA registry or to find a provider, Email: fmctechsup@dot.gov or call 617-494-3003.

For Medical and Health-Related Questions:

Email: fmcsamedical@dot.gov or telephone 1-202-366-4001

For more information or help with medical reporting or self-certification, contact your County DMV or call Driver Services at (208) 334-8736, or see our website at www.itd.idaho.gov

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Medical Card Exemptions for Commercial Driver Qualifications

Most Commercial Vehicle operations are not exempt from the medical card requirement, even when operating only in Idaho. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Requirements for DOT medical certification are followed in Idaho.

Idaho does not provide exceptions to the medical requirements; however, current Idaho law allows certain CDL Holders to drive a CMV without obtaining a medical card. These drivers can haul “Exempt” commodities and perform other types of truck operations with a valid CDL as outlined in the following sections.

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Exempt Commodities List- Idaho

Commercial Driver’s License holders who operate in IDAHO ONLY can legally transport the following exempt commodities without a DOT Medical Card in their possession:

Exempt Commodities List- Idaho

• Bedding Plants
• Bees (apiary)
• Beet Pulp (for dairy feed)
• Christmas Trees
• Clay
• Coal
• Compost (soil aid)
• Dirt (equipment towed behind the truck to unload the dirt is regulated)
• Firewood
• Fish (Live fish in tanks)
• Fruits (fresh)
• Furniture (moving & storage)
• Fur Bearing Animals
• Grain
• Grass (sod)
• Gravel (Equipment towed behind the truck to unload the gravel is regulated)
• Hay (alfalfa)
• Hops
• Horses (riding, show, race, & rodeo)
• Household Goods
• Humus
• Livestock
• Livestock Feed/Silage
• Logs
• Mail
• Manure (fresh, dry, & dehydrated)
• Milk (bulk)
• Minerals (mined, unprocessed, Ore only)
• Mobile/Modular Homes
• Molasses (as livestock feed)
• Mushrooms (fresh)
• Newspapers & newsprint
• Onions (bulk)
• Ores (raw products of the Mine)
• Peat Moss (bulk)
• Pit Run
• Potatoes (seed)
• Potatoes (unprocessed)
• Potato Waste (used for cattle Feed)
• Poultry
• Rock (Equipment towed behind the truck to unload the rocks is regulated)
• Sand (Equipment towed behind the truck to unload the sand is regulated)
• Sap (maple)
• Silage
• Sugar Beets
• Top Soil (Equipment towed behind the truck to unload the top soil is regulated)
• Wheat (farm)
• Whey
• Worms

A current, complete list of regulated and exempt commodities can be found on the Idaho State Police website:

http://isp.idaho.gov/cvs/commodities.html

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations exempt drivers under certain circumstances from the DOT Medical card requirements (but these operations are not exempt from CDL licensing requirements):

Interstate or Foreign: Interstate drivers travel in the State of Idaho and also through other states.

• School bus operations. While exempt under FMCSA rules, current Idaho law requires school bus operators to maintain a valid DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
• Transportation performed by federal, state, or local governments.
• Occasional transportation of personal property.
• Transportation of sick and/or injured people or the deceased.
• The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations.
• Farm custom operations.
• Apiarian industries. (Seasonal transportation of bees only)
• Certain farm vehicle drivers.

Intrastate: Intrastate drivers travel only within the borders of the State of Idaho:

• Transportation performed by federal, state, or local governments.
• Occasional transportation of personal property.
• Transportation of sick and/or injured people or the deceased.
• The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations.
• Apiarian industries (seasonal transportation of bees only).
• Farm vehicles used to transport the farmer’s equipment or supplies.
• Vehicles used to transport agricultural products, livestock, or feed.
• Vehicles used to transport forest products.
• Vehicles used to carry mine products including sand, gravel, or aggregates. Petroleum products are not exempt.
• Wrecker or tow truck operations.
• Taxi service.
• Hotel service.
• Vehicles used to distribute newspapers.
• Vehicles used by airlines to transport customers or baggage.
• Intra-city movement of people or property.
• Vehicles used to transport household goods.
• School bus operations: NOTE- although exempt under federal law, Idaho law requires school bus operators to maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate

More information on Interstate exemptions specified under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) 390.3, 391.2, & 391.67 can be found at www.fmcsa.dot.gov