Hearing and Sight

An applicant who does not pass the required hearing test on the DOT physical will not be able to obtain a New Mexico commercial license. New Mexico does not offer a medical waiver for hearing to commercial drivers.

An applicant who cannot pass the required color blindness test on the DOT physical will not be able to obtain a New Mexico commercial license. New Mexico does not offer a medical waiver for color blindness to commercial drivers.

Medical Examiners Certification

Every commercial license applicant (except a government employee, who is medically qualified through his government agency) must provide evidence that he is medically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Applicant must present a Medical Examiner Certificate which indicates that the applicant has passed a "DOT" physical. In order to be acceptable, the certificate must be filled out in each space. The Medical Examiner Certificate must have all of the following fields filled in:

• Printed name, address and signature of driver.
• Printed name, address, license/certificate number, telephone number, date of examination, expiration date and signature of medical examiner.
• Appropriate box must be checked by medical examiner.

Do not accept any certificate that has been altered or corrected.

Look over the CDL Medical Examiner's Certificate. Be familiar with the information that is currently required.

Because MVD electronically tracks the Medical Certificate the Commercial Driver License expiration date is no longer tied to the length of the Medical Certificate expiration date.

New Mexico medical waivers

• New Mexico does not have a Medical Waiver program.
• Medical Waivers must be issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Federal medical waivers/exemptions

1. Vision waiver -The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently offering vision waivers to commercial license holders who have at least 20/40 vision in one eye. To qualify the driver must have been legally driving in his state under a state vision waiver for 3-5 years. This Federal waiver would allow the driver to travel interstate. To apply a driver must contact the FMCSA in Washington at (202) 366-2897 and request an application package. When a Federal vision waiver is granted MVD's CDL unit will place the following tracking code under the driver's action: MED1 VI2 DATE ISSUED. These Federal vision waivers are good for two years. Under the medical waiver screen in your license issuing program you have a selection of "S" OR "F". Select "F" when driver presents a Federal vision waiver.
2. Loss of limb exemption - The New Mexico office of the FMCSA will take applications from drivers who are missing limbs but are wearing prosthetic devices. They provide a skills test and from that determine if an exemption certificate will be granted. This waiver will allow a commercial driver to drive out of state. The number the driver should call for an appointment is (505) 346-7858.
3. Diabetes Exemption – FMCSA is currently offering diabetes waivers to commercial license holders who do not meet the minimum physical requirements of the FMSCRs.