Last Updated on April 7, 2014 4:23 pm
North Carolina has about 35,000 commercial driver license holders who have still not certified their driving to the N. C. Division of Motor Vehicles by this week’s deadline.
During the past two years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has required all CDL holders to certify to NCDMV whether they drive interstate or intrastate and for what purpose. If required, they must also provide their current DOT medical card to NCDMV. The final deadline for contacting NCDMV with this information is April 10, 2014.
In making a final push to reach out to North Carolina CDL drivers, NCDMV’s Commissioner Kelly Thomas was emphatic. “Tell your brothers, your husbands, your cousins, your friends.” he said. “We need your immediate support to complete this Federal requirement and prevent anyone from being at risk for illegally driving a commercial vehicle.
“It is every driver’s responsibility to ensure their licenses are up to date and qualified,” Thomas said, “and I want to eliminate any possible impact to their livelihoods.” Thomas reminded drivers that they could face a downgrade of their commercial license to non-commercial status if they do not comply with the federal requirement.
About 312,000 North Carolina drivers hold commercial licenses. To date, more than 277,000 drivers have reported their medical status to NCDMV. Commercial drivers must provide medical information that they are certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle or their North Carolina commercial driving privilege will be downgraded, allowing them to drive a Class C regular motor vehicle only.
NCDMV supplies information and a special Form CDL-MED-1 on its website to help drivers report and certify their driving. The form should be signed, scanned and emailed to a special DMV address or turned in to any driver license office. Documentation may also be faxed to the following numbers: (919) 861-3915, (919) 861-3990, (919) 861-3535 or (919) 733-0126.
Commercial drivers must continue to provide a copy of their medical card to their employer and carry a copy with them at all times. Commercial drivers with questions about complying with the requirement are urged to call (919) 861-3599.ext
