What expires October 11
FMCSA's temporary National Registry II transition exemption runs from April 11 through October 11, 2026. During that period, interstate CDL holders, CLP holders and motor carriers may rely on a paper medical examiner's certificate as proof of medical certification for up to 60 days after the certificate was issued.
The agency described the action as a six-month exemption and said it does not anticipate another nationwide NRII waiver or exemption after this period. This is the end of a temporary paper-proof fallback, not a new medical examination standard.
What drivers and fleets should do
Drivers with a recent DOT medical examination should confirm that the result reached the appropriate State Driver's Licensing Agency and appears correctly in the state licensing record before dispatch. If information is missing or wrong, the driver should contact the certified medical examiner and licensing agency promptly and keep records of the follow-up.
Fleet compliance teams should review upcoming medical-expiration dates and resolve mismatches before the temporary exemption ends. A paper certificate can document the examination, but after October 11 carriers should not assume the expired nationwide exemption makes paper alone sufficient for 60 days.
Keep the paper copy
FMCSA separately recommends that certified medical examiners continue issuing Form MCSA-5876 to drivers in addition to submitting examination results electronically until further notice. That recommendation remains distinct from the expiring exemption.
Drivers should retain the signed paper certificate as a backup and follow current FMCSA and state instructions. State record-access procedures and correction steps vary, so a driver should use the process provided by the licensing state rather than waiting for a roadside inspection or dispatch problem.
Primary sources and supporting records
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: FMCSA Issues Temporary Exemption to Support NRII TransitionPrimary official source for the April 11–October 11 term, 60-day paper-proof scope, no-additional-nationwide-exemption expectation and paper-copy recommendation • Published 2026-04-10 • Checked October 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Qualification of Drivers; Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance; Application for ExemptionPrimary final disposition confirming the granted exemption and its purpose • Published 2026-04-10 • Checked October 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM
- ProntoCDL: FMCSA Paper Medical Certificate Exemption Ends October 11Same-day discovery and driver-focused context • Published 2026-10-02 • Checked October 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM
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