The COVID-19 pandemic led to several enforcement notices that extended expired medical cards and driver’s licenses.

The limited availability of vital services needed by motor carriers and their drivers led to the waivers released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

If you took advantage of the medical certification and/or licensing exceptions, your recordkeeping must show the driver met the terms of FMCSA’s notice and was fully qualified before its end date. A copy of each enforcement notice should be retained to show auditors, since copies may be difficult to obtain in the future.

June 1st is the deadline when all waivers will expire, and if all drivers wait, it may create a bottleneck at the State Drivers Licensing Agency (SDLA). To avoid a downgraded CDL and CLP, drivers should plan to have their updated medical cards to the SDLA by May 18, 2021, so their driving record is updated by May 28, 2021. The state has 10 days to process all medical certifications. But the waiver deadline lands on a federal holiday.

It is recommended that motor carriers obtain a new MVR prior to May 28, 2021, confirming any expired or downgraded license was brought up to date. If the driver’s record is not current, an MVR request on or after June 1st is too late. You have an unqualified driver on the road.

History books will no doubt document the global pandemic.

But your recordkeeping must document your motor carrier’s story for future reference. In the event of an audit, you will need to explain when you used a specific waiver and prove your driver qualified. You will also need to take all the necessary steps to get your files back in compliance.