Your DOT medical card is proof you're healthy enough to drive a commercial vehicle. Here's what the exam covers, how long it lasts, and what changed for CDL holders in 2025 — in plain English.
The "medical card" is your Medical Examiner's Certificate. To drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce you have to be medically qualified, and the certificate is your proof. The exam must be done by a provider listed on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners — a regular family doctor who isn't on the registry can't issue a valid card.
A DOT physical is a general fitness-for-duty exam, not a full physical of everything. The examiner reviews your health history and typically checks:
Conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, or heart issues don't automatically disqualify you, but they may require extra documentation from your treating doctor.
A medical card is good for up to 24 months. The examiner can issue a shorter card — commonly one year or a few months — if they want to keep an eye on something like blood pressure. The expiration date is printed right on the certificate, so know it and schedule your next physical early.
Since June 2025, certified medical examiners submit your exam results directly to FMCSA, which passes your certification status to your state licensing agency. That means most CDL drivers no longer have to hand a paper copy to the DMV — but you should still keep your own copy and confirm your driving record shows a current "certified" status. Non-CDL interstate drivers still carry the paper card itself.
Drive with an expired card and you can be placed out of service at a roadside inspection, and a CDL holder's license can be downgraded until the medical certification is current again — a paperwork problem that parks your truck. It also shows up on your CSA record, and it's an easy find during a DOT inspection.
The medical card is one piece of a bigger compliance picture that also includes your logs and driver-qualification documents. TruckSpot ELD keeps your Hours of Service and driver records in one dashboard, so nothing about a driver's compliance status has to live on a sticky note — and an expiring med card doesn't surprise you at an audit.
Keep your fleet compliant — start for $1 →Up to 24 months. A certified examiner can issue one for a shorter period — often a year or a few months — if they're monitoring a condition like high blood pressure.
Since June 2025, certified examiners submit your exam results electronically to FMCSA, which sends your certification status to your state. Most CDL holders no longer file a paper copy — but keep your own copy and confirm your record shows "certified."
No. The urine sample checks for medical issues such as sugar or protein in your urine, not drugs. Drug and alcohol testing is a separate program.