BOSTON – Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian today announced a new federal regulation that requires action by all 180,000 licensed commercial drivers, commercial permit holders, and new commercial applicants in Massachusetts beginning this spring.

The new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulation requires all CDL operators to self-certify based on the type of commerce they engage in, interstate or intrastate, and whether or not they are required to obtain a US DOT Medical Certificate.  Additionally, drivers requiring a US DOT Medical Certificate must provide a copy of it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.   

“A handful of states will begin accepting self-certifications at the end of January 2012.  However, Massachusetts, along with over 30 other states, is now updating its processes and should be able to handle the influx of certifications this spring at RMV branches across the Commonwealth and via online transactions,” said Registrar Kaprielian.   

This change by FMCSA aims to better enforce medical qualification and fitness standards of CDL operators and calls on states to add US DOT Medical Certificate information to the driver’s record for better access by other jurisdictions and law enforcement.  This will help insure that CDL operators are medically sound to operate and improve safety on our roads.

Failure to self-certify by January 30, 2014 will result in the downgrade of one’s Commercial Driver’s License to a Class D license.  Self-certifications must be renewed at least every two-years.  US DOT Medical Certificates must be kept up to date and on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. 

CDL license holders should monitor the RMV’s website:  http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/ for the most up to date information on this topic and for the date that the RMV will begin accepting certifications. 

For transportation news and updates visit MassDOT at our website:  www.mass.gov/massdot, blog: www.mass.gov/blog/transportation, or follow MassDOT on twitter at www.twitter.com/massdot.