FAA medical in lieu of DOT medical for CDL ?

CFI A&P

CFI A&P

Exploring the world one toilet at a time.
My CDL is due for renewal and I'm trying to skip getting another medical by using my FAA 1st as a substitute. Anyone have any luck with this? A couple years ago this worked by simply explaining to the DMV clerk that the FAA medical had a DOT symbol it, so it qualifies. It was fun explaining that "The FAA says I'm healthy enough to fly anything that weighs more than 1,320 pounds. So an 80,000 lbs truck is nothing." If that strategy doesn't work this time, I'm looking for info to help out. Searching the internets with words such as "FAA, DOT, medical, in lieu of, or substitute" only results in information pertaining to sport pilot stuff.

Thanks.
 
Best bet is find a Doctor that does both. Offer to pay a few extra bucks and have them fill out both sets of paperwork. I've done it that way in the past.

The FAA might in the future allow you to substitute a DOT for a 3rd class but that's just a maybe.
 
CFI A&P said:
My CDL is due for renewal and I'm trying to skip getting another medical by using my FAA 1st as a substitute. Anyone have any luck with this? A couple years ago this worked by simply explaining to the DMV clerk that the FAA medical had a DOT symbol it, so it qualifies. It was fun explaining that "The FAA says I'm healthy enough to fly anything that weighs more than 1,320 pounds. So an 80,000 lbs truck is nothing." If that strategy doesn't work this time, I'm looking for info to help out. Searching the internets with words such as "FAA, DOT, medical, in lieu of, or substitute" only results in information pertaining to sport pilot stuff.

Thanks.
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Sorry, but...
No!
You lose!
They GOT'S ta git PAID!
 
fawnsdad said:
Now that your DOT medical is tied to your CDL, (as in searchable by a DOT Bear), it won't work.
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Went to the DMV this morning and struck out. Yup, that's part of the reason. The clerk explained to me that the changes were because of two reasons: 1) CDL medicals are now in a searchable national database and 2) Tens of thousands of baby-boomers have a CDL but don't use it and these stale CDLs are clogging up the DMV somehow and new legislation came out requiring renewals in an effort to remove these inactive CDLs from the DMV database.
 
Sol Rosenburg said:
do these "stale" cdls become expired or are they like airman certs that just "renew privileges" with a new medical?
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As it was explained to me, they downgrade just like a 1st-2nd-3rd class medical. Just present a qualifying medical card and the CDL will be reinstated without retest or certification. This is in Florida, by the way.
 
Just in case anyone was interested, here's the update. Real easy resolution, my AME also does DOT physicals and it was no different than the FAA physical. He performed them simultaneously. The only difference he said was the DOT wants the physician to test the urine for blood.

Hope this helps someone out there.
 
The DOT physical is in some ways more stingent than the FAA. Blood pressure limitations for one. DOT is good for two years, but can be reduced to one year if blood pressure is over prescribed standards (140/90, I believe).
 
Last time I made a change to my license they wanted to see a DOT medical but I was able to sign some form that said I was exempted from having a medical and keep my CDL. I don't know what kind of driving requires a CDL but doesn't need a DOT medical. They never asked but I was about to tell them I drove a church bus. Maybe that would have qualified.
 
Van_Hoolio said:
Last time I made a change to my license they wanted to see a DOT medical but I was able to sign some form that said I was exempted from having a medical and keep my CDL. I don't know what kind of driving requires a CDL but doesn't need a DOT medical. They never asked but I was about to tell them I drove a church bus. Maybe that would have qualified.
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Weird. I'm curious too what CDL gig wouldn't require a medical.
 
MikeD said:
The DOT physical is in some ways more stingent than the FAA. Blood pressure limitations for one. DOT is good for two years, but can be reduced to one year if blood pressure is over prescribed standards (140/90, I believe).
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Cmon now. We both know that the right Doc makes all the difference. You don't win accounts from trucking companies by being a ball buster.
 
Van_Hoolio said:
I was curious so I looked it up. Here's the flow chart from my state's DOT:
http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/FedMedBrochure.pdf#page=2

I think my church bus explanation would have worked. Fire truck driver is one of them, along with some other government and agricultural occupations.
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Funny thing, many fire departments don't even require a CDL for the vehicles over 26K

desertdog71 said:
Cmon now. We both know that the right Doc makes all the difference. You don't win accounts from trucking companies by being a ball buster.
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Truer words never spoken. I agree.
 
I think it's a matter of intrastate vs interstate. If you don't cross state lines, you can be exempt from providing a medical to the DMV when you renew. I believe you still have to have one, though.
 
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