Montgomery, Ala. (WDNews)
– The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is rolling out two major updates for Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders that take effect this summer, aimed at increasing road safety and making the certification process more efficient.
Electronic Medical Card Submission Starts June 23
Starting June 23, CDL drivers must have their DOT medical certifications submitted electronically by an authorized medical provider. Paper cards and online uploads from drivers will no longer be accepted.
CDL holders can review or update their medical status and self-certification by visiting
www.alabamadl.alea.gov
. ALEA urges all CDL drivers to confirm that their self-certification category is current and correct.
New CDL Skills Test Begins July 1
Beginning July 1, ALEA will switch to the updated CDL Skills Test format created by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). While the Road Skills portion will stay the same, major updates are coming to the Vehicle Inspection and Basic Control Skills sections.
The revised Vehicle Inspection will focus more on safety-critical areas and remove repetitive steps. Basic Control Skills will now include four maneuvers, adding Forward Stop and Forward Offset Tracking, which are designed to test real-world driving skills based on crash data.
ALEA says drivers can pick up a copy of Alabama’s CDL Supplemental Guide for Modernized Testing at any ALEA Driver License Office or download it online.
These updates align with federal guidelines and reflect the latest safety and technology standards in the commercial driving industry.
