Chapter 6. Medical Standards for CDL Medical standards for Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) There are specific Massachusetts and federal medical guidelines that must be met for a driver to be eligible to operate a commercial vehicle. You must meet minimum, federally-mandated medical standards to get a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). You are physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if you either: * Have an interstate medical exemption or a Massachusetts medical waiver * Meet the physical qualification standards outlined in Federal Regulation ยง 391.41, found on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Website. To ensure that you meet these medical standards, you must pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examination. A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination must be conducted by a licensed " medical examiner " listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. Follow this link to find a medical examiner who is certified by the FMCSA to perform DOT physical exams: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/home A DOT medical examiner's certificate is generated by this examination. Medical examiner's certificates are valid for a maximum of 2 years. In order to operate a commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle rating in excess of 10,000 pounds in interstate commerce, a medical examiner's certificate may also be required, even if you do not have a CDL. Medical Waivers Interstate exemptions The federal government has a vision and diabetes medical exemption program for interstate commercial driving. If you do not meet the federal vision and/or diabetes medical standards, you may be able to obtain an exemption from those standards for interstate commerce from the federal government. A commercial driver who has obtained a medical interstate exemption should continue to have in his/her possession the original or copy of that medical exemption documentation at all times when operating a commercial vehicle. 03/18https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/39141-cmv-driver-medication-form-mcsa-5895-optional https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/b/5/3?reg=391.41 https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/home https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/medical/driver-medical-requirements/driver-exemption-programs