Definitions of Self-Certification Categories

Interstate Commerce is when you drive a CMV:

• From one state to another state or a foreign country;
• Between two places within a state, but during part of the trip, the CMV crosses into another state or foreign country; or
• Between two places within a state, but the cargo is part of a trip that began or will end in another state or foreign country.

Intrastate Commerce is when you drive a CMV within a state and you do not meet any of the descriptions above for Interstate Commerce.

Interstate Non-excepted – Operates in interstate commerce and is both subject to and meets the requirements under 49 CFR part 391, and is required to obtain a medical examiner’s certificate.

• This class applies to: o All Class A, B, or C privately or self-employed commercial drivers who operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce, and are subject to meet the federal medical standard and, therefore, are required to obtain a medical examiner’s certificate
  • All Class A, B, or C drivers who do not fall under any other category or who have been granted a federal vision or diabetes exemption or a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE)

Interstate Excepted – Operates in interstate commerce and does not have to meet the Federal DOT medical card requirements.

• Drivers who operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce but engage only in transportation or operations that are not required to meet all or parts of the federal qualification requirements and are, therefore, not required to obtain a medical examiner’s certificate. Examples are:
  • Farm Custom Operations – driver who operates a CMV controlled and operated by a person engaged in custom harvesting operations, if the CMV is used to
    • Transport farm machinery, supplies, or both to or from a farm for custom-harvesting operations on a farm.
    • Transport custom-harvested crops to storage or market.
  • Apiarian Industries – driver who operates a CMV controlled and operated by a beekeeper engaged in the seasonal transportation of bees.
  • Certain farm vehicle drivers – farm vehicle driver who drives an articulated (combination) CMV as defined in 390.5.
  • All school bus operations
  • Transportation performed by the Federal or State Government
  • Occasional transportation of personal property
  • Transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons
  • Fire trucks and rescue vehicles
  • Commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport between 5 and 15 passengers (including driver)
  • Commercial motor vehicles used primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel.

Intrastate Non-Excepted – Operates in intrastate commerce and who meets the physical qualifications of 49 CFR section 391 and is required to obtain a medical examiners certificate. Louisiana has chosen to adopt FMCSA regulations.

Intrastate Excepted – Operates in intrastate commerce and must meet Louisiana’s physical qualifications and possess a valid medical examiner’s certificate. Louisiana has a vision waiver program only. Louisiana has chosen to adopt FMCSA regulations.

• Drivers who operate in intrastate commerce but engage exclusively in transportation or operations that are not required to meet all or parts of the state driver qualification requirements.
• Examples of excepted Intrastate Drivers include city, municipal, or state employee commercial driver’s license holders.

Note: 

• If you operate in both Intrastate Commerce and Interstate Commerce, you must self-certify as Interstate Commerce.
• If you operate in both excepted interstate commerce and non-excepted interstate commerce, you must self-certify as non-excepted interstate commerce to be qualified to operate in both types of interstate commerce.