The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is giving commercial drivers and carriers more time to adapt to its new electronic medical certification (MEC) requirements. As of July 14, 2025, drivers may use a paper copy of the MEC as proof of certification for up to 15 days after it’s issued—a move designed to help with the transition to the National Registry II (NRII) electronic system.
Since the NRII system’s rollout on June 23, not all states and medical examiners have fully adjusted, creating confusion. According to FMCSA, “As of the date of this waiver, 38 states and the District of Columbia have implemented NRII. Twelve states have not yet implemented NRII and are continuing to rely on the paper MEC.” Some drivers are dealing with delays in updating their records.
The waiver runs through October 12, 2025, and applies to interstate CDL holders, CLP applicants, and carriers—as long as the driver or carrier keeps a paper MEC issued within the last 15 days. FMCSA stressed, “Drivers with valid medical certification and their employers should not be penalized for delays outside of their control as medical examiners and SDLAs transition to a new system.”
Drivers or carriers who don’t have a valid MEC aren’t covered. The agency urges everyone to stay aware of compliance updates as states continue transitioning to NRII to avoid penalties and ensure timely record updates.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
