CHARLESTON, WV–The West Virginia DMV (WVDMV) has restarted a process to automatically downgrade CDL holders who have an expired Medical Evaluation Certificate (MEC). The Federal Motor Vehicle Carrier Association (FMCSA) had allowed for a series of extensions of MEC’s during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as facilities were not performing exams or access was restricted. Now, doctors and facilities that provide MEC evaluations are once again able to provide this type of service.
The FMCSA extensions allowed CDL holders to continue to be certified, even when their MEC had expired. Prior to this waiver, the downgrade occurred automatically 30 days after the expiration of the MEC.
The automatic downgrades will apply to any CDL holder with a MEC that expired before 9-1-2020. If a CDL holder is downgraded due to an expired MEC, they can’t legally operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle. The latest FMCSA extension waiver that approved extensions for expiring MEC’s on or after Sept. 1, 2020, is still in effect until Feb. 28, 2021.
Any CDL holder with a MEC that expired on or after Sept. 1, 2020, will need to provide a current MEC by Feb. 28, 2021, or the CDL will be automatically downgraded. As a reminder, earlier extensions for CDL holders with an MEC that expired before Sept. 1, 2020, were already downgraded if they did not present a current MEC. To rectify the downgrade, a CDL holder need only present a current MEC to resume CDL privileges.
CDL holders can provide updated MEC’s to the WVDMV by any of the 3 following methods:
Fax: 304-926-3890
Email: dmvlicenseissuance@wv.gov
Mail: P.O. Box 17010, Charleston, WV 25317
For more information, please visit the DMV website at dmv.wv.gov.