Frequently Asked Questions
While the state driver licensing agencies are responsible for issuing licenses to commercial drivers, the FMCSA sets the standards (found in 49 CFR 391.41) for drivers' minimum levels of physical fitness, and determines who can perform the physical exams.
- The FMCSA Medical Programs website is the main source of information on FMCSA physical standards and programs.
- The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners lists medical professionals who have completed training and successfully passed a test on FMCSA's physical qualification standards, and are certified to perform FMCSA physical exams for commercial drivers.
- The Medical Examiner's Certificate is completed by the person who performed the exam, and certifies that the driver is physically qualified to drive a CMV. If they prefer a medical "card," Drivers can purchase a separate blank medical card from a supplier of motor carrier forms (e.g., State trucking association) before the exam and ask the examiner to complete and sign it, in addition to the Medical Examination Report form, or they can print the Certificate on cardstock.
- Drivers may apply for exemptions to some of the standards, such as loss of a limb, vision or diabetes standards. Information on how to apply for these exemptions is available on the FMCSA Medical Exemptions page.
For assistance with interpretation of FMCSA CDL medical standards, please contact the FMCSA Physical Qualifications Division directly:
- Email: FMCSAMedical@dot.gov
- Phone: 202-366-4001
You can find your reference number by logging into URS and checking the results of your identity verification attempt.
If the verification was unsuccessful, a reference code will be provided for each failed attempt by clicking on "Click Here to Proceed".
The disqualification will be item 10 in Table 1 of 49 CFR 383.51 – Disqualification of Drivers
For more information on the exact wording of the final rule, please visit the FRN at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/rulemaking/2019-15611.
All of the FMCSRs are listed numerically on the FMCSA's Web site at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguide.asp?section_type=A.
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
The Company Safety Profile (CSP) is a comprehensive summary that provides essential safety-related information about on an individual Company's operation. The information on the CSP is available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) record system known as the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). The CSP incorporates the most up-to-date data from MCMIS, including selected items from inspection reports, crash reports, as well as any reviews or enforcement actions involving the company. It serves as a valuable resource for assessing the safety performance of carriers.
Effective June 14, 2023: FMCSA will no longer fulfill CSP requests for a fee. Instead, authorized Company Officials can access the CSP report at any time through their FMCSA Portal account at no cost. To Download the report from your FMCSA Portal, please follow these steps:
-
Log into the FMCSA Portal.
-
Select the “Reports” tab from the menu at the top.
-
Select the date range and information you would like to include in the report .
-
Click the “Submit Request” button. A new window will open with confirmation that the request has been submitted. Click “OK”.
-
Click on the “Check Request Availability” button. Once the report has been generated, the “Download XML” and “Download PDF” buttons will then be active for you to click.
-
Select the applicable download button (“Download PDF” or “Download XML” button).
-
The selected file be downloaded to your computer.
Please note, CSP reports can only be accessed by authorized company officials with FMCSA Portal access. All other persons should file a request with the FOIA office. Information on making a FOIA request can be found online here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/foia/foia-requests
Hard copies of the MCS-150B are available through each FMCSA Division Office.
Downloadable versions of the MCS-150B are available on the FMCSA web site.
You can also register online.
Last Updated : April 14, 2014
Please go to FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance system and select “Carrier search” from the pull-down menu. If you do not have access to the internet, please call our toll free number: 1-800-832-5660.
Please send your CAP to the appropriate FMCSA Office:
Western: AK, American Samoa, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, , MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY, Northern Mariana Is.
E-mail: WSCCAP@dot.gov
Phone: 303-407-2347
Fax: 877-547-0383
Midwestern: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI
E-mail: MSCCAP@dot.gov
Phone: 708-283-3564
Fax: 877-547-0381
Southern: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN
E-mail: SSCCAP@dot.gov
Phone: 404-327-7351
Fax: 877-547-0380
Eastern: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, PR, RI, VA, VI, VT, WV
E-mail: ESCCAP@dot.gov
Phone: 443-703-2269
Fax: 877-547-0379
A CMV driver may apply for an exemption from any of the standards. Exemptions are granted only in those instances where the driver can show that safety would not be diminished by granting the exemption.
49 CFR 381.300
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
You cannot designate as your PPOB any location where your entity is not actively engaged in business operations. FMCSA will not accept a P.O. Box, a private mailbox, post office box centers that hold mail or packages for pickup, or other location with no legal or functional relationship to the applicant’s business including process agents.
The Medical Examiner cannot grant waivers or exemptions. Only the FMCSA grants waivers or exemptions for certain medical conditions if the individual is otherwise qualified to drive. Section 381.205 of the FMCSRs allow the driver to request a waiver if one or more of the FMCSRs prevent the driver from operating a CMV or make it unreasonably difficult to do so, during a unique, non-emergency event that will take no more than three months to complete.
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
Email us at NewRegSys@dot.gov if you have questions or need additional information about the new registration system or the changes coming to FMCSA registration. Please note that this email account is intended to gather feedback regarding registration modernization. For inquiries not related to registration modernization or any issues that need immediate attention regarding FMCSA registration, please contact the FMCSA Registration Customer Service Center.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations define Medical Examiner as a person who is licensed, certified and/or registered in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations to perform physical examinations. The term includes but is not limited to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses and doctors of chiropractic.
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
Generally, pilot programs are initiated by the FMCSA when the agency determines that there may be an effective alternative to one or more of the requirements in the FMCSRs, but does not have sufficient research data to support the development of a notice of proposed rulemaking to change the regulation. 381.400
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
For questions regarding transportation of hazardous materials, cylinders, scuba tanks, etc., please contact the The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
- Website: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- Toll-free Number: 1-800-HMR-4922 (1-800-467-4922)
- Alternative Phone Number: 202-366-4488.
For the PHMSA regional offices, the site is: Offices | PHMSA (dot.gov)
For Hazmat Regulations and Interpretations, the site is: Regulations and Compliance | PHMSA (dot.gov)
To access HAZMAT regulations and interpretations, please see 49 CFR 171-185. (Note: This link is to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-cfr).
The New Entrant Safety Assurance Program (New Entrant Program) under 49 CFR part 385, subpart D applies to all new U.S.- and Canada-domiciled motor carrier owners and operators seeking authority to conduct interstate operations within the United States.
For more information on the New Entrant Program, click here.
Either the applicant or process agent, on behalf of the applicant, can file Form BOC-3 (Designation of Process Agents) with the FMCSA. Only one completed form may be on file. It must include all states for which agency designations are required. One copy must be retained by the carrier or broker at its principal place of business.
For more information on filing form BOC-3 with the FMCSA, click here.
Household goods carriers and freight forwarders of household goods are required to have cargo insurance. For the minimum levels of financial responsibility required for each type of motor carrier, please see 49 CFR 387.9.
Section 391.43(g) requires the Medical Examiner to give a copy of the medical certificate to the driver and the motor carrier(employer), if the driver passes the medical examination.
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
As FMCSA introduces Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to its systems, all users with credentials for any FMCSA system will be required to transition to a Login.gov account in lieu of their current credentials to access FMCSA systems.