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Until Oct. 12, motor carriers and drivers can continue to use a copy of the MEC as proof of a driver’s medical certification for up to 15 days from the date of the certification. (Chinnapong/Getty Images)

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is temporarily allowing commercial driver license holders since 12 states failed to meet a June mandate for electronic records.

An FMCSA requirement replacing paper copies of Medical Examiner’s Certifications with a secure, electronic transmission system under the National Registry II Implementation was supposed to start nationwide June 23.

However, the following states are still using a paper process because they lack the modern system: Alaska, California, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Vermont and Wyoming.

“Drivers with valid medical certification and their employers should not be penalized for delays outside of their control as medical examiners and SDLAs [State Driver’s Licensing Agencies] transition to a new system,” stated Sue Lawless, who is listed as FMCSA’s assistant administrator in the waiver.

On July 14, she waived for three months the NRII deadline for CDL and commercial learner’s permit holders, which also applies to motor carriers.

“This waiver simply allows drivers and motor carriers to continue using a paper copy of the MEC for a 15-day period as they did prior to NRII implementation, during a limited transition period to NRII,” Lawless noted. “Interstate CDL holders, CLP holders, and motor carriers are covered under this waiver without further action.”

Until Oct. 12, motor carriers and drivers can continue to use a copy of the MEC as proof of a driver’s medical certification for up to 15 days from the date of the medical certification.

“During the period this waiver is in effect, no state shall enforce any law or regulation applicable to interstate commerce that conflicts with or is inconsistent with this waiver with respect to a driver or motor carrier operating under the waiver. States may also adopt the same waiver or policy with respect to operations in intrastate commerce,” the waiver explained.

RELATED: States Adopt Streamlined Medical Certification Rule Early

As of July 14, FMCSA noted 38 states and the District of Columbia were compliant with the mandate for electronic MECs. Even so, FMCSA also recommended certified medical examiners who are submitting electronic physical qualification examination results should continue giving drivers a paper MEC during the NRII transition period.

National implementation of the NRII has been problematic. FMCSA acknowledged July 14 it has delayed enforcement several times since issuing the mandate in April 2015 as a final rule (80 FR 22790). In June 2021, the agency had given states four years to meet this past June 23 implementation deadline.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles cited the June 23 deadline on its website, while admitting its inability to handle an entire electronic process. California “DMV is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. While significant programming updates are still underway, medical forms will continue to be accepted through current channels: online, mail, in person, and the Secure File Transfer Site.”

Despite the federal waiver deadline, Iowa has announced its compliance will be nearly a week later. “Beginning Oct. 19, 2025, CDL Medical Certificates will go digital in Iowa,” the .

Kentucky may lag until next year before going with a full electronic process. “Kentucky commercial drivers should continue to upload a copy of their medical examiner’s certificate to the MyCDL portal when applying for or renewing their license or permit. Starting in June 2026, we will begin accepting examination results directly from medical providers,” according to driveky.gov, which is under the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission stated on its web page for CDL self-certification and MEC that it “will provide updates on our website when we implement the National Registry II, date to be determined.”

After missing the FMCSA deadline by three days, the Wyoming DOT announced June 26 it is “delaying implementation until our Driver Services software upgrade is complete later this summer. We want to ensure the stability of the new system before adding to it. What does that mean for Wyoming CDL holders? Business as usual! Continue sending WYDOT your DOT medical certification cards as before.”