NCDMV CDL Handbook

Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System

(ii) Statement from treating physician(s) including: how long they have been treating you, a brief explanation of disability, prescribed medications (if any), and a recommendation regarding your driving needs and abilities (iii) A letter from your employer including: how long you have been employed, type of vehicle driven by you, working hours, and driving needs including region within the state and/or radius of miles. (If you are self employed, a letter is still needed.)

Upon receipt of all required information, applicant will be notified of a decision as soon as possible.

All information must be forwarded to the following address:

N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles Medical Review Unit Attn: Exemption Review Officer 3112 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-3112 (919) 715-7000

On March 22, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration amending it vision qualifications. The new regulation permits individuals who do not satisfy, with the worse eye, either the existing distant visual acuity standard with corrective lenses or the field of vision standard, or both, to be physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. • The individual must be evaluated by a license ophthalmologist or license optometrist. During the evaluation of the individual, the ophthalmologist or optometrist must complete the Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871 • Upon completion of the Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871, the ophthalmologist or optometrist must sign and date the Report and provide the ophthalmologist or optometrist's full name, office address, and telephone number on the Report • Examination by a me medical examiner. At least annually, an individual who does not satisfy, with the worse eye, either the distant visual acuity standard with corrective lenses or the field of vision standard, or both, must be medically examined and certified by a medical examiner as physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. • The medical examiner must determine whether the individual meets the physically qualification to operate a commercial motor vehicle. In making that determination, the medical examiner must consider the information in the Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871, signed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist and, utilizing independent medical judgment, apply the following standards in determining whether the individual may be certified as physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle • The examination must begin not more than 45 days after an ophthalmologist or optometrist signs and dates the Vision Evaluation Report, Form MCSA-5871. • The recorded vision finding is included as part of the medical examiner’s physical qualifications, and if the examiner finds the individual meets the physical qualification standards, may issue a Medical Exam iner’s Certificate, form MCSA -5876, for a maximum of 12 months.

This rule eliminates the need for the current Federal vision exemption program, as well as the grandfather provision in 49 CFR 391.64 for drivers operating under the previously administered vision waiver study program

Section 1 - Introduction

Page 1-15

Version: July 2017