On July 14, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a temporary waiver allowing interstate CDL holders, commercial learner's permit holders, and motor carriers to continue relying on a paper copy of the medical examiner's certificate as proof of medical certification for up to 15 days after the certificate was issued. The agency has now modified this waiver to allow CDL holders, CLP holders, and motor carriers to rely on the paper copy of the medical examiner's certificate as proof of the driver's medical certification for up to 60 days after the date the medical examiner's certificate was issued.

FMCSA notes that it strongly recommends that, in addition to submitting physical qualification examination results electronically, all Medical Examiners continue to issue paper Medical Examiner's Certificates, Form MCSA-5876, to drivers at the time of their examination until further notice. This waiver is effective July 14, 2025, and expires on October 12, 2025.

As of the date of this waiver, 12 states have not yet implemented electronic integration of the Medical Examination Certificate into the CDL Information System to tie the medical qualification status to a driver's CDL or learner's permit. These states are continuing to rely on the paper MEC. FMCSA is aware that during this initial period of transition, some CLP applicants and CDL holders may face delays in the time between receipt of their medical certification and the update to their CDLIS driver MVR as medical examiners and State Driver Licensing Agencies adopt the new system.

States that have not implemented this electronic process are Alaska, California, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Wyoming.

As now modified, this waiver:

1. Extends until October 12, 2025, the ability of a motor carrier to continue to use a copy of the MEC as proof of the driver's medical certification for up to 60 days from the date of the medical certification by waiving the end date of June 22, 2025, and the 15 day time period in 49 CFR 391.23(m)(2)(iii) & 49 CFR 391.23(m)(3)(i)(C).

2. Extends until October 12, 2025, the ability of a driver to continue to use a copy of the MEC carried on his or her person as proof of the driver's medical certification for up to 60 days from the date of the medical certification by waiving the end date of June 22, 2025, and the 15 day time period in 49 CFR 391.41(a)(2)(i)(A) & 49 CFR 391.41(a)(2)(ii).

3. Extends until October 12, 2025, the ability of a motor carrier to continue use a copy of the MEC in the driver qualification file for up to 60 days from the date of the medical certification by waiving the end date of June 22, 2025, and the 15 day time period in 49 CFR 391.51(b)(6)(ii).

Interstate CDL holders, CLP holders, and motor carriers are covered under this waiver without further action.