22 Dec I failed my medical for a commercial driver’s license. Can I take it again?

Q. I failed the medical — my blood pressure test — to renew my CDL license. Can I take it again?
— Driver

A. We’re sorry to hear this.

A CDL, short for Commercial Drivers License, is needed if you want to be a truck driver or bus driver.

If a CDL holder cannot get medically certified, due to high blood pressure or any other medical issue, their CDL will be downgraded, said William Connolly, a spokesman for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

Once downgraded, drivers have up to three years from the expiration of the license to submit the updated medical certification and get upgraded back to a CDL, he said.

“There is no mandated wait time for a medical examination, as the examination is at the discretion of a federally certified Medical Examiner,” he said.

You can learn more on the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

You can also call MVC’s CDL Unit directly at (609) 292-7500, ext. 5077 for assistance.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on Dec. 22, 2022.

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