FMCSA Extends 60-Day Medical Card Waiver for CDL Drivers Through April 2026

January 13, 2026

Commercial truck driver wearing a high-visibility safety vest seated in the cab of a semi-truck, holding the steering wheel, with a highway and trees visible through the windshield.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has once again extended its 60-day waiver to allow drivers, carriers, and medical examiners more time to come into compliance.

Effective Sunday January 11, 2026, through April 10, 2026, the FMCSA waiver extension allows a paper copy of the medical examiner’s certificate (MEC) to be carried by commercial driver's license/commercial learner's permit (CDL/CLP) drivers for up to 60 days after issue. The previous waiver, effective from October 13, 2025, through January 10, 2026, allowed the paper copy to be carried by drivers for 60 days as well.

Carriers can also use the certificate in the DQ file. However, the certificate must be replaced by a motor vehicle record (MVR) with updated medical certification information within 60 days after the exam.

The FMCSA made this update to give carriers and drivers more support while medical examiners transition to the secure electronic transmission to medical certification data update. The FMCSA decided drivers should not be punished for delays that may occur while medical examiners and State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) transition to the new system.

The agency strongly recommends that certified medical examiners (CMEs) continue to issue paper MECs (Form MCSA-5876) along with the required submission of examination results electronically, until further notice.

CDL drivers licensed in the following states must still submit their medical cards to their state of licensing until the state transitions to direct updates from the National Registry:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Oklahoma

Details of the paper med card waiver

This waiver applies to both CDL and CLP holders.

Non-CDL drivers aren't affected by this waiver since they're already required to be issued and to carry a paper medical card, which must be in the non-CDL driver's DQ file after each exam.

As a reminder, the two key impacts of this waiver include:

  • CDL drivers can use paper medical cards as proof of medical certification for up to 60 days after the certificate has been issued (following the DOT exam) while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
  • Carriers can use the medical card in the DQ file to be replaced by the CDL motor vehicle record (MVR) with the latest medical certification within 60 days.

The waiver’s terms and conditions

The waiver does not apply to:

  • A driver who doesn’t have a copy of their current, valid MEC that was issued by a certified examiner 60 days prior; or
  • A motor carrier that doesn’t have a copy of its driver’s current, valid MEC that was issued 60 days prior.

Additionally, the FMCSA reserves the right to revoke the waiver if safety conditions are negatively impacted in terms of the goals and objectives of the original order.

Our Driver Qualification and MVR Monitoring services are designed to streamline compliance and reduce risk — especially during regulatory transitions like this one. Learn more about how we can support you!

Rely on our team of experts to keep your team informed about regulatory changes and best practices. Our experts are available to guide you through the NRII transition and ensure your drivers remain qualified.