Transcript CDLs: What`s New(er)?–Skip Hood

So …..
What’s New(er) in CDLs
for School Bus Drivers?
Skip Hood, CDL Coordinator
Bureau of Commercial Vehicle
and Driver Services
Florida Department of Highway Safety &
Motor Vehicles
4/13/2015
But first …..
A tribute to Uncle Morty
The man who inspired my career
in the safety biz .....
Uncle Morty was a FEMA guy,
keeping us safe after natural
and man-made disasters.
4/13/2015
Helping people get back in
business
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Supervising toxic cleanups
4/13/2015
Today’s topics
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4/13/2015
Change that’s already here – The new
medical certification procedures
Change coming up – The new CLP,
Training, and Testing Rule
Whatever your questions may be
Medical Certification a couple key points
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The medical certification requirements
for school bus drivers and other CDL
holders have NOT changed
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What has changed is that, now, drivers
required to be medically certified must
prove it to get and keep their CDLs
Medical Certification new procedures
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Beginning last October 1st, drivers
coming in to get or renew a CDL must:
– Declare under oath whether they are
required to be medically certified
– If required to be certified, show a current
valid medical card
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Medical Certification new procedures
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The driver’s declaration can be made
in one of 4 categories:
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A. Non-excepted Interstate Commerce
B. Excepted Interstate Commerce
C. Non-excepted Intrastate Commerce
D. Excepted Intrastate Commerce
School bus drivers typically operate in
category C, but MAY choose to selfcertify in Category A
Medical Certification new procedures
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After the declaration, drivers present
their medical cards
– For school bus drivers this typically means
the ESE 479 med card. However, a
federal “DOT” card is acceptable to us.
– All of the information from the card will be
entered into the driver’s record. It must be
legible.
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Medical Certification new procedures
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Beginning July, 2012, drivers who
have not been into an office will be
notified by mail to complete the
procedures by other means
– Notices will be going out in monthly
batches, based on the drivers’ birthdays
– Drivers may go into an office to complete
the procedure before they are notified
...but we would prefer not
– All CDL holder’s medical information must
be on record by January 30, 2014
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Medical Certification the really BIG change
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Drivers have never before had to verify
their continued medical certification
between CDL renewals
Now they do, and will be disqualified
from commercial motor vehicle
operation if their certifications are
allowed to lapse
– The only way to keep a CDL without being
medically certified is to be in an exempt
category
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Medical Certification the really BIG change
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Procedures for disqualifying drivers
who have not kept their medical
certification information up to date
START NEXT WEEK
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About 4,000 drivers to start with will be
notified to update their information
within 20 days to avoid disqualification
Medical Certification but here’s the good news 
4/13/2015
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Our web site for drivers to submit
medical certification updates on-line is
up and running.
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https://services.flhsmv.gov/cdlmedcert
Medical Certification first the usual intro screen
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Medical Certification Enter DL # to locate your record
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Medical Certification a few steps later ...
Choose your self-certification
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Medical Certification a few steps later ...
Instructions and contact info
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Medical Certification Enter the data from your
medical card (ESE 479 for school bus)
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Medical Certification Scan or take a digital photo of your card, save to
your PC, and upload to us
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Medical Certification You can verify that it’s the right image - - AND
LEGIBLE - - before the upload
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Medical Certification –
And finish off with a promise
you’ve told the truth
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Now for the even bigger stuff –
The CDL Learner’s Permit,
Training, and Testing Rule
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4/13/2015
Overhauls FMCSA’s requirements on
states for many aspects of CDL
Learner’s Permits (CLPs), CDL testing
standards, training and monitoring of
CDL testers, and more
Became effective July 8, 2011
States have until July 8, 2014 to
comply
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the highlights,
in no particular order
4/13/2015
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No passengers, except trainers, may
be carried with P & S endorsed CLPs
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CLPs will look like CDLs, without the
photo
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CLPs must be held at least 14 days
before the CDL is issued
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the highlights,
in no particular order
4/13/2015
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The new medical certification for CDL
holders will apply to CLPs as well
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Your 3rd party CDL Skills Testers must
be co-scored (or other monitoring) at
least every 2 years
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CMV training schools may not test own
students *
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the highlights,
in no particular order
4/13/2015
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3rd Party Administrators must maintain
performance bonds *
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3rd Party Administrators must submit
schedules of skills test appointments
at least 2 days in advance
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3rd Party Testers must conduct at least
10 tests per year, or complete
refresher training or co-score.
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the highlights,
in no particular order
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4/13/2015
States must accept one another’s CDL
Skills Test results for CDL issuance
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New CDL restrictions for automatic
transmissions and air/hydraulic brakes
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CDL skills tests must be conducted in
English.
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the highlights,
in no particular order
4/13/2015
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The three-part CDL Skills Test must be
conducted and passed in this order:
Pre-trip, Basic Skills, Road Test
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CLP as well as CDL holders may not
elect traffic school to avoid points
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Mandatory refresher training for CDL
Skills Testers every 4 years
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the highlights,
in no particular order
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4/13/2015
National (FBI as well as State-level)
criminal history background checks on
all 3rd party CDL Skills Testers every
year *
CDL driver records
Questions ?
4/13/2015