If you’re a commercial driver, a fleet manager, or anyone dealing with DOT compliance, you’ve probably heard about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and what you need to do now that the June 23 deadline has passed.
The FMCSA Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule covers how commercial drivers’ medical certification information is collected, stored, and shared. Currently, drivers with commercial learner permits (CLPs) or commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) must provide a paper copy of their Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) to their state’s driver licensing agency. This certificate, often referred to as a med card, confirms that they are physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
The long-term goal is to digitize the entire process. The FMCSA wants certified medical examiners to send the results of the DOT medical exam directly to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The FMCSA will then electronically transmit those results to state licensing agencies, eliminating the need for drivers to submit paper certificates themselves.
This digital system was initially proposed to go live in 2018; however, due to technical and security issues with the FMCSA’s IT system, it has been pushed back to June 2025.
Here’s what the delay means:
It's important to note that some states have already started implementing the new process. The FMCSA website provides more details on these states.
Related Foley Blog Article: The Ultimate Guide to DOT Medical Card Compliance
Starting on June 23, 2025:
Medical examiners in states that have implemented the digital process will electronically submit results directly to the FMCSA. The FMCSA will forward those results to state licensing agencies. Drivers will no longer need to submit their own medical certificates. Employers will no longer need to manually verify the medical examiners’ credentials.
What does this change mean for me?
Foley's Dash Platform automatically tracks and notifies you of medical card expiration dates. Avoid DOT violations and get a free Dash demo now.
What You Should Do with DOT Medical Certificates Now
The FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule is moving toward automation, but until June, the DOT med card submission process will remain the same. To avoid being caught off guard when the new FMCSA system is in place, keep submitting your medical certificates, verifying DOT compliance, and following FMCSA updates here on the Foley blog.
Foley's DOT compliance platform, Dash, notifies you of medical certificate expirations with sufficient time to schedule DOT physicals and get new med cards for your drivers. Get your free Dash demo now to get ahead of the digital medical certificate integration rule.