The New FMCSA Digital Medical Card Rule Is Almost Here
Bye-bye paper medical cards.
On June 23, 2025, the FMCSA Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule finally goes into effect, significantly changing how commercial drivers’ medical certification information is collected, stored, and shared. On that date, paper medical cards will be officially phased out for all DOT-regulated drivers in favor of a streamlined, electronic system.
This rule was first published a full decade ago and originally had a compliance date of 2018. That deadline has been pushed back numerous times due to cybersecurity and IT infrastructure challenges. With no notice of another delay, it appears that the IT development tasks needed to support this process will be ready within the next month.
What DOT-Regulated Employers Need to Know
Once this rule takes effect, DOT-regulated employers will stop collecting and storing medical cards for their CDL drivers. As such, you’ll no longer need to keep a physical copy of each driver’s medical card in their driver qualification file.
Important note: If you hire non-CDL drivers, this new process doesn’t apply to them. You’ll continue to request a copy of each driver’s medical card and keep it in their driver qualification file, per FMCSA regulations.
It’s also important to understand that once this system is in place, medical card status will flow directly between the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, the FMCSA, and State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs). If a driver’s medical card expires or they become medically disqualified after a DOT physical, the SDLA will automatically revoke their CDL or CLP within 60 days.
As an employer, it will be as important as ever to track these dates and each driver’s medical status to ensure they (and, in turn, you) remain fully compliant. While this change may seem like it will simplify file management, that’s not necessarily the case. With more information moving behind the scenes electronically, it’s becoming even more important to have the right systems—and partners—in place to help you track key dates and maintain complete, accurate driver files.
How the New FMCSA Medical Certification System Will Work
Currently, when a DOT-regulated driver sees a certified medical examiner for a DOT physical (and provided they pass the exam), that medical examiner provides the driver with a paper medical certificate. The driver must then submit that certificate to both their employer and their SDLA. Drivers are also required to carry a copy of the medical certificate whenever they drive.
As of June 23, 2025, the system will work like this:
- The driver sees a certified medical examiner for a DOT physical.
- The medical examiner submits the exam results directly to the FMCSA by midnight of the next calendar day.
- The FMCSA verifies that the exam was conducted by a certified medical examiner and electronically transmits the results to the driver’s SDLA, where it will be integrated into the CDLIS and the driver’s motor vehicle record.
The goal is to create a more secure and automated way to verify each driver’s medical qualification to operate a commercial motor vehicle. In the past, the manual process often created inconsistencies and missing information. For instance, it wasn’t uncommon for drivers’ medical certification statuses to be out of date in state systems. The manual system also made it easier for fraudulent or falsified medical cards to slip through the cracks.
And while paper medical cards are being phased out, the FMCSA hasn’t clarified whether drivers should stop carrying them. Until enforcement is consistent, we recommend advising drivers to keep a copy on hand temporarily.
Why MVR Monitoring Matters More Than Ever
These changes remove a layer of manual paperwork, but they also eliminate one of the easiest ways to confirm a driver’s medical status.
That’s where MVR monitoring comes in.
Without physical copies of drivers' medical cards on file, employers will need a reliable way to confirm that each CDL driver remains medically qualified. Monitoring MVRs regularly is the best way to do that.
In addition to showing current medical certification status, MVRs provide visibility into new violations, suspensions, or restrictions. If a driver is disqualified—or flagged for a medical lapse—you’ll see it there.
We recommend setting up an automated MVR check process to coincide with this regulation. It’s the most practical way to ensure your drivers operate safely and compliantly.
Need Help Updating Your Procedures?
At US Compliance Services, we make transitions like these easier. From updating your driver qualification file procedures to setting your drivers up with continuous MVR monitoring, we help you stay compliant without the guesswork.
If you’d like help getting ready for the June 23 rule change—or want to review your current process—we’d love to talk.