NEW FEDERAL CDL/MEDICAL MERGE CRITERIA

This cover letter will help you interpret the accompanying document.  Effective January 30, 2012, all drivers applying for an Illinois CDL for the first time; and all current CDL holders renewing, upgrading or replacing their CDL must visit a CDL facility to declare which category of driver they are. 

In order to meet this federal requirement, you must appear in person at one of the 47 Illinois CDL facilities to declare what category of driver you are or intend to be, and this must be accomplished before January 30, 2014.  If you are a current CDL holder and you look at the expiration date on your license and if it expires between January 30, 2012 through January 30, 2014, you are required to visit a CDL facility and do both requirements at the same time.  You would first declare what type of driver you are and then you would renew your CDL within that same facility visit.  However, if your license does not expire during this two-year window, then you must personally visit one of the 47 CDL facilities to declare what classification of driver you will be.  There will be four (4) choices for you to pick from:

1.       Non-excepted interstate driver (NI)

2.       Excepted interstate driver (EI)

3.       Non-excepted intrastate driver (NA)

4.       Excepted intrastate driver (EA)

If you mark #1 (NI), then your current DOT Medical Card must be given to the facility employee prior to being allowed to renew your license.  All of the pertinent medical information which we need from your card will be loaded onto your driver's file.  Then three (3) things will happen:

a.       This information will be immediately submitted to CDLIS.

b.       Your driving record will be instantly updated in real-time, so all law enforcement officials throughout the U.S. will be able to see that you are an interstate driver and should have all of your updated medical information on file. 

c.        Your driving record will show the updated medical information in which you just provided, which then can be used in your company driver file by your employer. 

If you marked #2 (EI), #3 (NA) or #4 (EA) we will renew your CDL as before without asking for any medical information off of your DOT Medical Card.  Keep in mind, that all law enforcement officials in the U.S. will show that you did not declare as an interstate driver.  So, if caught in an interstate operation you will be medically out of compliance.  Anytime your driver's situation changes, you must notify our office so we may change your certification and the new information be sent out nationally. 

If you are a first time driver applying for a CDL, you are required to do the above procedure effective January 30, 2012.  As above, if you mark  #1 (NI) we will not be able to allow you to obtain a commercial driver's license until you provide us the current medical information off of your DOT card.  After this is done on your initial visit, you will then follow the above procedures of existing CDL drivers today. 

If you have any questions about this new federal law and how it affects you and your commercial driver's license, you may call our CDL Medical area at (217)-785-3002. 

NEW MEDICAL CERTIFICATION AS PART OF OBTAINING A CDL

UNDER TITLE 49, U.S.D.O.T., CFR PART 383, 384, 390, 391 STATES:

Any person applying for a CDL for the first time and/or renewing their current CDL on or after January 30, 2012, must certify with the Illinois Secretary of State's Office no later than January 30, 2014, one of the following four (4) categories: In order to certify you must appear at any one of the (47) Secretary of State's Commercial Driver's License Facilities.

1. Non-excepted interstate (NI). I certify that I operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce, and I am both subject to and meet the qualification requirements under 49 CFR Part 391, and I am required to obtain a medical examiners' certificate by 49 CFR 391.45.
2. Excepted interstate (EI). I certify that I operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce, but engage exclusively in transportation or operations excepted under 49 CFR 390.3(f), 391.2, 391.68 or 398.3 from all or parts of the qualification requirements of 49 CFR Part 391, and I am therefore not required to obtain a medical examiners' certificate by 49 CFR 391.45.
3. Non-excepted intrastate (NA). I certify that I operate only in intrastate commerce and therefore I am subject to and meet the current state's medical requirements.
4. Excepted intrastate (EA). I certify that I operate in intrastate commerce, but engage exclusively in transportation or operations that are excepted from all or parts of the state's medical requirements.

Upon the effective date of this regulation, CDL holders who certify to category 1 (non-excepted interstate) must provide the original copy of the medical examiners' certificate to any one of the (47) Secretary of State's Commercial Driver's License Facilities prior to the issuance, renewal, upgrade or replacement of a CDL no later than January 30, 2014, whichever occurs first. Failure to do so will result in downgrading your CDL to a non-CDL license. When a driver is certifying to non-excepted interstate requirements, downgrading the CDL to a non-CDL status will occur automatically whenever the CDL holder's medical certificate expires and a new one has not been given to the Secretary of State's Office.

On the back of this notice is a guide that will help drivers determine what self-certification category applies to him or her. The Illinois Secretary of State's Office is not responsible for determining a self-certification classification - this is the sole responsibility of the driver.

 For a complete list of these rules and regulations, refer to Title 49 CFR 383.71(a)

• All drivers for their initial certification with the Secretary of State's Office can only be done in person at one of our CDL services facility. After your original first time certification in person (01/30/12 - 01/30/14) you may visit the facility again in person or mail the certification to the Special License/Driving Record Unit in Springfield. (If mailing the new medical, you must allow thirty days prior to expiration of the current medical). At anytime, if your medical certificate expires and you have not notified our office, your CDL will be canceled. 

CDL Self-Certification Categories

This information is provided as a guide to help CDL holders determine how to medically self-certify when applying for a CDL on or after January 30, 2012, but prior to January 30, 2014, whichever is first. It is the driver's responsibility to determine how he or she will self-certify to the Secretary of State's Office.

What is deemed Interstate transportation? 

• Between a place in a State and place outside of such State including a place outside of the United States; or
• Between two places in a State through another State or a place outside of the United States; or
• Between two places in a state as part of trade, traffic, or transportation originating or terminating outside the State or the United States. 

There are four CDL self-certification categories: 

1. Non-excepted Interstate (NI) - Engaged in interstate commerce and meet 49 CFR Part 391 requirements (must have medical certificate---must provide the State's Driver's License Agency with an original or copy of the medical certificate);

a)       All Class A, B, or C drivers who do not fall under any of the other categories.

b)       All Class A, B, or C drivers granted a federal vision or diabetes exemption; or SPE-limb impairment (Skill Performance Evaluation).

1. Excepted Interstate (EI) - Engaged in interstate commerce and excepted from 49 CFR Part 391 requirements (does not need medical certificate to drive interstate);

a)       School bus operations. Use Category 2 if crossing state lines, or Category 3 if NOT crossing state lines. Medical Certificate must be carried by the driver in both cases.

b)       Transportation performed by the Federal government, a State, or any political subdivision of a State.

c)       Occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation nor in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise.

d)       The transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons.

e)       The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations.

f)        A 9 to 15 passenger van, including the driver, weight less than 26,001 gross vehicle weight rating not for compensation. For compensation, must stay within a 75 air-mile radius of the driver's normal work reporting location.

g)       Apiarian industries (Beekeepers).

h)       Farm custom operations (Custom Harvesters).

i)         Farm vehicle drivers operating straight trucks in interstate commerce that meet the definition of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as defined in 49 CFR Part 390.5 within 150 miles of their farm are exempt from the medical certification requirements.

j)        Private motor carrier of passengers (non-business). For example, organizations exempt from the Internal Revenue Code that provide transportation for their members.

k)       Emergency delivery of propane winter heating fuel and pipeline response.

l)         Drivers of migrant workers (must meet minimum standards only; 49 CFR 398.3).

1. Non-excepted Intrastate (NE) - Engaged in intrastate commerce and subject to State requirements as in law today.

1. Excepted Intrastate (EA) - Motor carriers while engaged in intrastate commerce and excepted from all or part of State safety requirements.