FMCSA Issues New Temporary Waiver: Paper Medical Certificates Allowed for 60 Days (Jan. 11–Apr. 10, 2026)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued another temporary waiver that allows CDL holders, CLP holders, and motor carriers to continue relying on a paper copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC), Form MCSA-5876, as proof of a driver’s medical certification for up to 60 days after the MEC is issued. nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov
This waiver is designed to help drivers and carriers avoid operational disruptions during ongoing National Registry II (NRII) implementation and medical certification data transmission updates. nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov
At WorkforceQA, we manage DOT physicals and provide physical reviews that help carriers and drivers stay compliant with medical certification requirements. That includes staying current on FMCSA waivers and helping you apply the correct documentation and verification steps during the waiver period.
Waiver Dates and What It Means for Carriers
✅ Effective: January 11, 2026 (12:00 a.m.)
✅ Expires: April 10, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
✅ Key Allowance: A paper MEC may be used as proof of medical certification for up to 60 days from the date it was issued.
Bottom line: drivers may operate using the paper MEC temporarily, but documentation and verification still matter.
3 Key Reminders to Stay Compliant Under the Waiver
1) Keep the MEC in the Driver Qualification File (DQF)
If your company is relying on the paper MEC to allow the driver to operate during this waiver period, the motor carrier must have a copy of the MEC in the driver’s qualification file.
WorkforceQA tip: Make sure your DQF process includes immediate intake and filing of the new MEC the same day it’s received.
2) Drivers Must Carry the MEC While Operating
Drivers must have a copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate in their possession at all times when operating a commercial motor vehicle.
WorkforceQA tip: Add “paper MEC present” to your dispatch or pre-trip checklist during the waiver period to reduce roadside compliance risk.
3) If CDLIS Doesn’t Match, You Must Verify Before the 60 Days Ends
If the driver’s license is issued in a state that has already implemented NRII, but the driver’s CDL MVR/CDLIS record fails to reflect the most recent medical certification information (including the DOT physical date and MEC expiration date), the motor carrier must:
✅ Before the 60-day waiver grace period ends, have a copy of the driver’s CDLIS from the SDLA showing that the most recent medical certificate has transmitted from the National Registry to the SDLA—and that the driver is medically certified.
WorkforceQA tip: Don’t wait until day 55. Build a workflow that triggers record verification and follow-up within the first 2–3 weeks after the DOT physical.
NRII Update: 8 States Still Not Compliant
As of today, there are 8 states that are not compliant with NRII:
- Alaska
- California
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oklahoma
If you have drivers licensed in any of these states, you may see additional timing gaps or administrative delays.
Why This Matters: Compliance Risk + Operational Downtime
Even with a waiver in place, medical certification issues can create real business impact:
- Drivers pulled OOS due to missing or mismatched medical certification records
- Audit findings due to incomplete DQFs
- Delayed hiring/onboarding when certification status isn’t reflected properly
- Increased admin time chasing documentation across locations and states
- Roadside inspection complications due to unavailable proof of certification
The waiver provides flexibility—but only if motor carriers maintain clean documentation and proactive verification.
How WorkforceQA Can Help
WorkforceQA helps motor carriers keep drivers moving by managing DOT Background Checks, Drug and Alcohol Testing and DOT physicals, supporting physical reviews, and helping ensure medical certification documentation is handled correctly—especially when FMCSA issues temporary waivers like this one.
Want to reduce admin time and prevent driver downtime?
WorkforceQA supports carriers with DOT physical coordination and physical reviews so your team can focus on safe operations—not chasing paperwork.
✅ Improve audit readiness
✅ Strengthen medical certification workflows
✅ Reduce driver downtime caused by compliance gaps
