Driver qualification file management after the paper waiver

The nationwide exemption that let drivers show a paper medical certificate ran April 11 to October 11, 2026. FMCSA said it did not expect to grant more nationwide NRII waivers or exemptions afterward. As of October 12, 2026, CDL holders licensed outside Alaska and their employers can no longer use a paper medical examiner's certificate as proof of medical certification, even briefly. Alaska is the only state that hasn't implemented the NRII rule, and FMCSA's provisional exemption renewal for Alaska is limited to one year. For CDL and CLP holders covered by NRII, carriers must verify medical certification through the driver's CDLIS MVR and keep the required record in the driver qualification file. Good driver qualification file management now means checking each file for that record, not just a paper copy.