New federal requirements for CDL holders

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- If you are a commercial driver license (CDL) holder, the federal government now requires that you let the state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) know two things:

Drivers who are required to carry a Fed Med Card must now keep a current copy of that card on record with the DMV.

“DMV is concerned that some drivers either haven’t yet heard about this new requirement or, if they have, that they might need more clarification,” notes DMV Driver Qualification Chief Alison Lebwohl. “We don’t want anyone surprised on January 30. We want drivers driving and on the road, so we’ve worked to make it easier for them to tell us where they operate and, if needed, submit a Fed Med Card.”

CDL holders who have not yet told the DMV where they operate with their CDL, and, if needed, uploaded their Fed Med Card, should do it now. Those who don’t do it by January 30, 2014, will lose their commercial driver license.

The fastest, easiest and cheapest way to do this is to go online to the WisDOT web site at www.cdl.wi.gov. The process takes about five to ten minutes. The online application is designed for mobile devices as well, and can be completed with a smart phone. The application requires:

CDL holders may choose one of four tiers, a process called certification. The tier they choose will determine where they are allowed to drive. DMV recommends choosing Tier 1 because it is the most flexible choice and covers all commercial driving circumstances. Those choosing Tier 1 will also have to provide DMV with a copy of their Fed Med Card. Lebwohl stresses that this is most simply done with WisDOT’s online application at www.cdl.wi.gov. She notes, “We even have an online instructional video for those who want to see a demonstration of how to certify and upload their Fed Med Card. We’ve tried to make it easy for drivers.” Employers may also use the same online application, or they may choose to use our employer notification system – Public Abstract Record System (PARS). PARS can also be found at www.cdl.wi.gov.

Those who prefer not to use the online application may print out a form called the MV3230 which can also be found at www.cdl.wi.gov (type MV3230 in the search box). Print it, fill it out and either:

Lebwohl notes that “drivers who have not yet done this receive a letter from us with an MV3230 form, but going online is faster, and available right now 24/7, so don’t wait until the last minute.”

Find out more about this new federal requirement for CDL holders at Wisconsin’s official DMV web site, www.wisconsindmv.gov, in the announcements section.