Medical required for CDL renewal in VA?

neverlearn · September 01, 2011, 02:46:31 PM

My wife needs to renew her (CDL) license in VA and just realized that there is some fine print which states that she needs to have a current DOT medical (within the last 2 years). As she does not operate commercially I would suspect that she doesn't need a current medical card (her medical card was current when she was a paid bus driver).
Has anyone here tried to renew a CDL without a current DOT medical? Any advice from those who have BTDT?
As a procrastinator, she does not have enough time to get a medical card - and neither she nor I would like for her to give up the CDL (I don't have one...yet).
Thanks!
Paul

opus · September 01, 2011, 04:09:20 PM

I tried it here. Have had my CDL for 30 yrs [prior to CDL]. The gal told me I needed to have a medical and I told her that I wasnt currently employed as a driver. Needless to say, my mouth got ahead of me. I told her she can keep the CDL and give me a normal license. I also told her that if I ever drove again, I would worry about it then. She informed me that it would be a $500 fine. I proceeded to inform her that I would tell the officer that it was her fault! LOL....[sigh].

Good part of this is that I wont be tempted to get a driving job again.

oldmansax · September 01, 2011, 06:05:34 PM

Gotta have a medical card in Maryland. There are ways to come up with a medical card.

TOM

opus · September 01, 2011, 06:06:29 PM

Which is what I generally did [looks around]. I was there the day my license expired....my fault.

Hi yo silver · September 01, 2011, 06:10:24 PM

Nope, they didn't make me update my medical. I have had my CDL for about twelve years and haven't had a medical since I first got it.
Dennis

John316 · September 01, 2011, 06:37:51 PM

As a commercial driver (when I am in our bus, but we are in a different category then most...long story) I have to have a current medical card (as most know).

I know that is not what you were asking...Whenever I have been in there (even when I got my CDL), they have never asked to see a DOT medical card. They have asked if I have it with me, at the time I didn't. It was no problem.

I would try calling them, and seeing what they say....shouldn't hurt.

RJ · September 01, 2011, 07:39:21 PM

Paul -

Having trained over 250 bus drivers in my career, this is a topic I'm VERY familiar with!

Dunno about VA, but here in Californication, if you have a Class A or B CDL and your medical card expires, your license automatically becomes a Class C (cars, pickups & most RVs only).

If you don't present a current medical when you renew your license, you will be issued a standard Class C instead of the A/B CDL.

If you've had a CDL and you "lost it" due to renewing w/out a current medical, and you want your CDL back, you have to start all over again at the beginning, just like a "newbie," including the fees.

Bottom line (at least in CA) - if you have a CDL and you want to keep it, keep the medical current. I suspect VA is similar, simply because the CDL is a federal program that crosses state lines in terms of requirements.

Now, as far as the timeline, there are lots of "walk-in" medical clinics around that will do a DOT physical for $50-60 bucks, you're in/out in about 90 minutes. You don't have to use your normal physician, so that might help. You don't say where in VA you are, but check with your local school district, some trucking companies, the local transit agency, etc. and ask them where they send their drivers to update their medical. From those conversations, you'll get referrals. Take cash to the clinic - speeds up the process!! BTDTHTS!

I haven't needed my CDL professionally since 1999, but I keep the medical current, because I don't want to go thru the hassle of getting it re-issued should I decide to take my steering wheel down off the wall.

FWIW & HTH. . .

luvrbus · September 01, 2011, 08:32:22 PM

Here in AZ you need a medical card for CDL our licenses are good for so long you may need 2 or 3 medical cards before your license expires but if you don't get the card they will suspend your license.Here you can get a medical card anywhere but a dentist lol I get mine from my chiropractor but you can a medical card here from a MD,DO,DC,ANP or PA kinda of of joke isn't it

good luck

azdieselman · September 01, 2011, 09:07:00 PM

They offer restricted health cards in AZ also. You will get a 6 mo or 1 yr card if you can't pass the test, and aren't in danger of keeling over too soon. Any vehicle over 18K GVW needs a health card, CDL or not.

TomC · September 01, 2011, 09:19:21 PM

In Calif, you need a bi yearly DOT medical card to keep the Class A commercial and non commercial license current. Also-in California, you only need a Class B non commercial license if you're driving an over 40ft motorhome and/or trying to pull a trailer heavier then 10,000lbs. You need a Class A non commercial license if you're pulling over a 10,000lb pull trailer or a 15,000lb 5th wheel trailer. No additional certificates are needed for driving an air brake equipped motorhome (do figure!). Good Luck, TomC

Busted Knuckle · September 01, 2011, 09:28:52 PM

It's a federal requirement not state to state. Some states may do a better job enforcing it than others but it is required to have a current medical card when renewing a CDL. I know my mom just went through it and I've been through it in every state I've ever held a CDL.
(KY, MN, OK, AR, NM, KY,TN, OK, & TN) Yes several are mentioned twice. Back when I was sa truck driver I was a "renegade" independent owner operator and got lots of tickets. Back then there was a loop hole where many states did not cooperate with "the system" and did a poor job showing violations from other states. And there were states that didn't recognize tickets from other states. So every time I was in jeopardy of losing my license I would go to another state and get one there. It worked like a charm except one time there where I had no license because the "system" closed that loop hole and I went totally "renegade" as an outlaw bull hauler for a yr with no license. (ain't something I am proud of, or would do these days, but back then I did what I had too do! And did it well for a yr. But got 2 tickets the day I got them back. Boy was my ol' lady PO'd that day!)

But even with all the switching from state to state an all I always had to provide a copy of a medical card that wasn't expired! (that said some times the info on it was as bogus as my license was for that one yr.)

Any Dr can give you a DOT physical if you take him the paper work and card from the DMV office! (I ain't say'n how I happened to have a bogus one from time to time, but it should be easy enough to read between the lines.)

BK

oldmansax · September 02, 2011, 04:53:47 AM

BK,

Your system worked for me too until I got pulled over in a state where my license was already revoked.......

Didn't have a good day........

TOM

bevans6 · September 02, 2011, 04:55:11 AM

In Ontario you can have up to a Class D license without a medical, which is commercial/non-commercial makes no difference, single vehicle unlimited weight, trailer up to 10K lbs. Higher classes of license including carrying over 12 passengers (bus, in other words), school bus, Class A for trailers over 10K all need medicals. I had a Class B because I drove school bus while in college, it reverted to Class D when I didn't renew my medical. Class D with Z for air-brakes lets me drive my bus - but if it was still a seated coach I couldn't drive it, with or without passengers.

Regular everyday license is a Class G. It's my understanding that most commercial bus drivers have a Class B, I think that's required so they can carry children on their coach.

Brian

wal1809 · September 02, 2011, 04:57:56 AM

Quote from: Busted Knuckle on September 01, 2011, 09:28:52 PM
It's a federal requirement not state to state. Some states may do a better job enforcing it than others but it is required to have a current medical card when renewing a CDL. I know my mom just went through it and I've been through it in every state I've ever held a CDL.
(KY, MN, OK, AR, NM, KY,TN, OK, & TN) Yes several are mentioned twice. Back when I was sa truck driver I was a "renegade" independent owner operator and got lots of tickets. Back then there was a loop hole where many states did not cooperate with "the system" and did a poor job showing violations from other states. And there were states that didn't recognize tickets from other states. So every time I was in jeopardy of losing my license I would go to another state and get one there. It worked like a charm except one time there where I had no license because the "system" closed that loop hole and I went totally "renegade" as an outlaw bull hauler for a yr with no license. (ain't something I am proud of, or would do these days, but back then I did what I had too do! And did it well for a yr. But got 2 tickets the day I got them back. Boy was my ol' lady PO'd that day!)

But even with all the switching from state to state an all I always had to provide a copy of a medical card that wasn't expired! (that said some times the info on it was as bogus as my license was for that one yr.)

Any Dr can give you a DOT physical if you take him the paper work and card from the DMV office! (I ain't say'n how I happened to have a bogus one from time to time, but it should be easy enough to read between the lines.)
BK

Outlaw!!!

Busted Knuckle · September 02, 2011, 06:23:00 AM

Quote from: wal1809 on September 02, 2011, 04:57:56 AM
Outlaw!!!

Wayne I never claimed to have always been the angel I am today!

And I didn't even mention TX and tickets! Shoot I didn't even break a sweat when getting pulled over in TX! They have what they call a "deferral fee" (I called it a bribe or "hush$") but if you paid the ticket right away with an extra $50 bill, check or $ money order (with no name on it) the ticket never went to Austin, and if it didn't go to Austin it couldn't go to your home state!

BK