Changes Announced for CDL Holders in Alabama

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has revealed significant updates that will impact both commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders and applicants. These amendments include new procedures for submitting medical certifications and an overhaul of the skills test set to commence this summer.

Beginning June 23rd, ALEA mandates that all Department of Transportation (DOT) medical certifications be submitted electronically by a licensed healthcare provider. This change aligns with the National Registry II and complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines. Consequently, paper medical cards and manual online uploads will no longer be permitted.

ALEA has also embraced the modernized version of the CDL Skills Test developed by the American Automobile Administrators Association (AAMVA), with this aspect set to take effect on July 1st. While the road skills portion of the test will remain unchanged, both the Vehicle Inspection (VI) and Basic Control Skills (BCS) components have been significantly reworked.

The updated VI section has streamlined processes and incorporates new terminology to match current commercial vehicle technology, emphasizing high-security components. For the BCS, four key operations have been included, specifically forward stop and forward offset tracking. These modifications have been informed by crash data highlighting a prevalent occurrence of front and side impacts involving commercial vehicles. The revised tests aim to provide a more accurate evaluation of drivers’ capabilities to manage their vehicles in real-world driving scenarios.

CDL holders can review or update their DOT medical cards and self-certification information through the designated website. To amend the self-certification category, users are required to select the “Send Self-Authentication” option within the Actions tab. In cases where the medical card seems incorrect or is missing, CDL holders should reach out to a medical inspector for assistance.

ALEA encourages both existing and prospective CDL holders to check out the Alabama CDL Supplementary Guide, which can be found at ALEA Driver Licensing Offices throughout the state or downloaded online.