Paper Medical Cards Still Valid: FMCSA Issues 60-Day NRII Transition Waiver for CDL Drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a new waiver related to the National Registry II (NRII) medical certification process, extending temporary flexibility as the industry continues transitioning from paper medical certificates to full electronic medical certification.

This waiver is designed to prevent drivers and motor carriers from being penalized due to system delays and uneven state implementation during the NRII rollout.

Here’s what you need to know.

What’s Changed?

FMCSA has granted a waiver allowing interstate 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 medical qualification for up to 60 days from the date of issuance.

Waiver timeline:

• Effective: January 11, 2026
• Expires: April 10, 2026

While electronic submission through NRII remains mandatory, FMCSA is strongly recommending that medical examiners continue issuing paper MECs at the time of the exam during this transition period.

Why FMCSA Issued the Waiver

NRII officially became mandatory on June 23, 2025, shifting medical certification from a driver-submitted paper process to an electronic transmission from the National Registry to State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), with records posted to CDLIS.

However, implementation has not been uniform across the country.

Current NRII status:

• 42 states plus Washington, D.C. have implemented NRII
• 8 states have not yet onboarded and still rely on paper MECs
• FMCSA has acknowledged system delays, data transmission issues, and onboarding challenges

The waiver is intended to bridge these gaps and ensure drivers and carriers are not cited, placed out of service, or disrupted due to delays outside of their control.

What the Waiver Allows (Through April 10, 2026)

During the waiver period, FMCSA is temporarily extending compliance timelines in key areas:

For Drivers

• Drivers may carry a valid paper MEC for up to 60 days as proof of medical qualification, even if the electronic record has not yet posted to CDLIS.

For Motor Carriers

• Carriers may rely on a copy of the paper MEC for up to 60 days:
  • To verify a driver’s medical qualification
  • To maintain documentation in the Driver Qualification File (DQF)

Important Conditions to Know

This waiver only applies if all of the following are true:

• The driver has a valid paper MEC issued within the last 60 days
• The motor carrier maintains a copy of that valid MEC
• The driver was examined and certified by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry

The waiver does NOT change:

• Physical qualification standards
• Medical examiner requirements
• The obligation for states to fully implement NRII
• The long-term requirement for electronic medical certification

Safety & Compliance Takeaway for Carriers

This is a temporary transition waiver, not a rollback of NRII or a return to paper-based compliance.

Motor carriers should continue to:

• Verify medical status through CDLIS whenever available
• Maintain paper MEC copies during the 60-day allowance
• Monitor state NRII implementation status
• Ensure no driver is dispatched without current, valid medical certification

As with many DOT compliance issues, early verification, documentation, and redundancy remain your best defense against roadside violations, audits, citations, and costly downtime.

How CNS Can Help

CNS Occupational Medicine and our Compliance teams work closely with drivers, carriers, and medical examiners to help navigate NRII requirements, medical certification tracking, and Driver Qualification File compliance.

If you have questions about NRII, medical certification delays, or how this waiver impacts your fleet, CNS is here to help keep your drivers qualified and your operations moving safely and compliantly.

For more information, contact us at 888.260.9448 or info@cnsprotects.com.