FMCSA Medical Certification Is Going Digital – What You Need to Know by June 23, 2025
Starting June 23, 2025, the FMCSA will fully implement its Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule (NRII), modernizing how medical certification data is shared and verified for CDL drivers.
Currently, drivers must carry and submit paper Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MECs) to their state licensing agency. That entire process is about to be digitized. Certified medical examiners will now send exam results directly to the FMCSA’s National Registry, which will electronically transmit that data—including qualification status and medical variances—to State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs). In turn, SDLAs will post the results to the driver’s CDLIS motor vehicle record (MVR).
For drivers, this means no more paper med cards—and for motor carriers, it means you can no longer use a physical MEC as proof of certification. Instead, you’ll need to access the driver’s MVR from the licensing state and confirm that the medical certification is current and valid. This verification must be documented in the driver’s qualification file before the driver is allowed to operate.
The goal of this change is simple: reduce paperwork, eliminate fraud, and ensure faster, more secure updates to medical status across the industry.
English Proficiency Now Grounds for Out-of-Service Orders
In a major policy shift, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has voted to make English language proficiency violations an official out-of-service (OOS) offense for commercial drivers. This move aligns with a recent executive order from President Trump, directing the FMCSA to revise federal OOS criteria to reflect stricter enforcement.
Under long-standing federal regulations, all CDL drivers must be able to read and speak English well enough to:
• Converse with the general public
• Understand highway signs and signals
• Respond to official inquiries
• Complete required reports and records
While this requirement has technically been on the books for years, enforcement has been inconsistent. That’s now changing. With this CVSA board vote, drivers found to lack sufficient English proficiency during a roadside inspection or enforcement stop may be placed out of service immediately—no exceptions.
This change reinforces the general qualifications for drivers under §391.11, which also require drivers to be at least 21 years old, medically qualified, properly licensed, and road-tested. But English proficiency is now being treated with new urgency and consequences
Brake Safety Week Set for August 24–30 — Focus on Drums & Rotors
Mark your calendars: The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced that Brake Safety Week will take place from August 24 to 30. Throughout this week, enforcement officials across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will be conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections, with a special focus on brake drums and rotors.
The goal is twofold: to ensure mechanical safety and to raise awareness about brake maintenance. Inspectors will be looking closely at brake system components—especially drums and rotors—which, if worn or damaged, can severely reduce braking performance. In some cases, broken pieces can dislodge during transit, creating dangerous road hazards and increasing the risk of collisions or injury.
Any vehicle found with brake-related out-of-service violations will be immediately removed from the road until the issues are corrected. That includes violations not just in the braking system, but also any other condition that meets federal OOS criteria.
Now is the time to schedule preventative brake inspections—especially on drum and rotor wear!