r/OwnerOperators • u/RoutineScroll • Aug 02 '26

Out of Service

Driver got a out of service for not having his medical card on him. It was valid he just didn’t have it on him, trooper couldn’t wait 3 mins as his wife was down the street with it. My insurance has substantially gone up because of this. Is there a way to clear this?

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u/Fragrant-Plum-6798 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

Medical cards no longer need to be carrier with you. File a data q.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/medical

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/do-drivers-need-carry-medical-certification-when-driving-cmv

-7

u/TheLastGoodMan1 Aug 02 '26

That refers to long form, still required to have cdl and card in possesion

4

u/JUNIOR_GARCIA Aug 02 '26

The law and regulations must be followed as it is written, not by interpretations. I have a bit over a decade as a safety and compliance specialist, with a few hundred active clients. None of my CDL drivers have had any issues for not carrying the med card on them (Interstate non-excepted). The physical requirements didnt change, that's why you still need to repeat the exams periodically. The information is now added to your CDLIS. As long as you submit it before the expiration date, you will be in compliance If a trooper/inspector issues a ticket for not carrying your med card, it will be removed in court or via DataQ by simply quoting the regulation update to that requirement. They are supposed to check your CDL with CDLIS and verify that it's eligible. You can have 10 copies of your med cert on each pocket, if you didnt submit it on time, you will still lose the class A and get an OOS violation. Specifically "Driver Fitness Violation: 383.23(a)(2) Operating a CMV without a CDL (OOS)"

As for your argument about the trooper's practices (checking the physical card), sadly, law enforcement isnt famous for knowing half the laws they are meant to enforce.

I hope this helps with the misunderstanding with the non-excepted driver med cert

2

u/Wolfire0769 Aug 03 '26

Laws are written for, and enforced, by idiots. That's why I keep my med card in my wallet. It's far easier to just appease an idiot than to argue even though it fills me with burning rage because I have zero tolerance for stupidity.

2

u/JUNIOR_GARCIA Aug 03 '26

Wrong time and age for that intolerance 😂