February 17, 2021
FMCSA issued another extension to the previous CDL/CLP and Medical Examination waivers that were set to expire the end of this month. This waiver becomes effective on March 1, 2021 and expires on May 31, 2021.
NOTE: MMTA has been advising members for months that renewal of CDLs and Medical cards should take place as normal. FMCSA permits do not require State Driver Licensing Authorities to extend the validity periods as part of the waiver. Maine BMV has chosen not to extend the renewal periods and is fully open for business. Drivers who do not self-certify their medical status and provide a valid DOT card on time will receive a downgrade letter from Maine BMV.
For CDL/CLP Drivers, the waiver will:
- Waive until May 31, 2021, the maximum period of CDL validity for CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020;
- Waive until May 31, 2021, the maximum period of CLP validity for CLPs that are due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020, without requiring the CLP holders to retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests;
- Waive until May 31, 2021, the requirement that CLP holders wait 14 days to take the CDL skills test;
Medical Requirements for CDL/CLP and non-CDL drivers:
- This notice will waive, until May 31, 2021, the requirement that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance that were issued for a period of 90 days or longer and that expired on or after December 1, 2020.
- This notice will also waive, until May 31, 2021, the requirement that, in order to maintain the medical certification status of “certified,” CDL or CLP holders provide the SDLA with an original or copy of a subsequently issued medical examiner’s certificate and any required medical variance, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after December 1, 2020.
For State Driver License Agencies (SDLA):
- This notice waives, until May 31, 2021, the requirement that the SDLA change the CDL or CLP holder’s medical certification status to “not certified” upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after December 1, 2020. Additionally, the notice waives certain requirements with regards to SDLAs downgrading a driver’s CDL or CLP upon expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance, provided the SDLAs have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after December 1, 2020.
The full waiver notice can be found here.