Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Holders and Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) Applicants - Medical Examiner’s Certification Update

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) procedure for CDL/CLP medical certification is the following:

• Medical Examiners must electronically submit examination results performed for CLP applicants and CDL holders to the National Registry (NR).

• Medical certification information will be electronically transmitted from the National Registry to the State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA).

• No paper certificate (Form MCSA-5876) will be required for proof.

Commercial Driver License Self-Certification and Medical Examiner Certificate

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations 49 C.F.R. 383.73 and New Jersey regulations N.J.A.C. 13:21-23.28(l) require all Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders to submit a CDL Holder Self-Certification form ( view sample)to the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and have an electronic valid (non-expired) Medical Examiner Certification (MEC), on file with the National Registry if required. The CDSC-1 CDL Holder Self-Certification form is available for download or at a motor vehicle agency .

Self-Certification

CDL Holder Self-Certification form and MEC (if required) is required for, initial, first-time NJ CDL applicants obtaining a Commercial Learner’s Permit, transferring in from out of state, and upon renewal of your CDL.  Carefully review the commerce categories listed on the CDL Holder Self-Certification form and choose the category that best fits your type of driving. New Jersey regulations require all passenger (P) or passenger/school bus (P/S) endorsement holders to have on file an electronic MEC with the FMCSA’s National Registry regardless of the type of commerce in which they operate.

• CDL drivers listed as non-excepted interstate, (category 1) or non-excepted intrastate (within NJ only), (category 3) must have a valid (non-expired) MEC on file with the National Registry.
• CDL drivers under 21 years of age are only allowed to operate in intra-state (within NJ only) commerce and must select commerce category 3 or 4.
• CDL drivers who meet the excepted interstate, (category 2) or excepted intrastate (within NJ only), (category 4) requirements will only need to submit the CDL Holder Self-Certification form and are not required to have a MEC or variance on file with the National Registry unless you maintain a P or P/S endorsement.

Failure to submit a signed self-certification form will result in the decertification and downgrade of the CDL license and you will not be legally permitted to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

Medical Examiner Certificate

Medical examinations performed on or after May 21, 2014, must be completed by a federally certified Medical Examiner.  Please visit the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to locate a federally certified Medical Examiner near you.  To avoid licensing transaction delays, all data fields on the MEC must be fully completed and legible. An incomplete, expired or illegible MEC will be rejected.

       Checklist:        

• Medical Examiner Certificate Expiration Date (month/day/year)
• Medical Examiner Signature
• Date Certificate Signed
• Medical Examiner Telephone Number
• Medical Examiner State License, Certificate, or Registration Number
• National Registry Number
• Driver’s Signature

 

Failure to have a valid, electronic federally certified MEC or Variance on file with the National Registry will result in the in the decertification and downgrade of your CDL license, and you will not be legally permitted to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

Upon expiration of your MEC, CDL holders with P or P/S endorsement the medical examiner must submit the updated electronically transmitted MEC to the FMCSA’s National Registry through their National Registry account. Allow up to 24 hours before checking the status of your MEC please contact the Bus Application Unit at (609) 292-7500 ext. 5039

All other CDL holders that have questions regarding their electronically transmitted MEC please allow up to 24 hours before checking the status of your MEC please contact the CDL Unit at (609) 292-7500 ext. 5077.

CDL holders that change category on the CDL Self-Certification can fax the CDL/BUS Application Unit at (609) 341-3373 or (609) 984 -1245. Please allow time for processing and contact the CDL/BUS Unit at (6090 292-7500 ext. 5077. Alternatively, the Self-Certification may be sent via email to Bus.Unit@mvc.nj.gov or sent via regular mail to:

 

NJ Motor Vehicle Commission

Driver Review CDL Unit

PO Box 685

Trenton, NJ 08666

All other CDL holders that have questions regarding their electronically transmitted MEC please allow up to 24 hours before checking the status of your MEC please contact the CDL Unit at (609) 292-7500 ext. 5077.

NJ Motor Vehicle Commission

Driver Review CDL Unit

PO Box 685

Trenton, NJ 08666

Please visit a motor vehicle agency to downgrade to a basic driver license if you no longer wish to maintain your CDL privilege.

If you have any questions, please contact the MVC's CDL Unit at 609-292-5151 for assistance.