Commercial vehicle drivers across the country will notice major changes to the medical certification process starting in late June.

Beginning on June 23, 2025, medical examiners will electronically submit the results of a commercial vehicle driver’s exam directly to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Results of exams must be submitted by midnight of the calendar day following the exam, per the new rule.

The FMCSA will then electronically transmit all driver identification, examination results, restriction information, and medical variance information to State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs). SDLAs will then post a medical qualifications status on the CDL driver’s record.

After June 23, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) holders will no longer be required to submit their own Medical Examiner Certificates (MEC) to SDLAs.

Having medical examiners submit exam results electronically directly to the FMCSA is intended to reduce errors and streamline the medical certification process.

Additionally, after the June 23 compliance date, motor carriers will no longer be required to verify that CLP/ CDL drivers were examined by a certified medical examiner listed on the National Registry.

The FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule was adopted in 2015. The compliance date was initially set for June 22, 2018. It was pushed to June 22, 2021, and then to June 23, 2025, due to IT system issues.

Drivers should continue to carry a paper copy until the June 23 deadline and after in case of any issues with the implementation of the online system.