Tier 1 - (NI - Non Excepted Interstate) You drive interstate, meaning you cross state lines. Tier 1 is the most flexible option. It covers you anywhere you operate - in state or out of state.
- You need a Medical Examination Certification to drive a commercial vehicle.
- Any time you get a new Medical Examination Certification, your medical examiner will upload that to the national database, and it will be transmitted to the Wisconsin DMV within 48 hours.
Tier 2 – (EI - Excepted Interstate) You drive interstate, meaning you cross state lines. However, you do not need a Medical Examination Certification if you are operating under one of these federally excepted categories:
- All school bus operations.
- If you are a school bus driver, you will need to have a current school bus physical on file (Physical Examination Report form MV3030B). If you already have a Medical Examination Certification, it may be used in place of the MV3030B.
- Transportation performed by the Federal government, a state, or any political subpision of a state, or an agency established under a compact between states that has been approved by the Congress of the United States.
- Transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons.
- Operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations.
- Operation of vehicles designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers not for direct compensation.
- Transportation of propane winter heating fuel during an emergency or responding to a pipeline emergency.
- Farm custom operation, custom-harvesting operations, transporting farm machinery, supplies, or both to or from a farm for custom-harvesting operations on a farm, or transport custom-harvested crops to storage or market.
- Operation of a commercial motor vehicle controlled and operated by a beekeeper engaged in the seasonal transportation of bees.
- Operation of private motor carrier of passengers (non-business).
- Occasional transportation of personal property not for compensation or commercial enterprise.
Tier 3 – (NA - Non Excepted Intrastate) You drive intrastate, meaning you
do not cross state lines.
- You need a Medical Examination Certification to drive a commercial vehicle.
- The information from your Medical Examination Certification will be posted to your record and will be available to law enforcement to confirm roadside.
- Your medical examiner will upload that to the national database and it will be transmitted to the Wisconsin DMV within 48 hours.
Tier 4 – (EA - Excepted Intrastate) You drive intrastate, meaning you or your cargo do not cross state lines. You do not need a Medical Examination Certification to drive a commercial vehicle because of one of the following reasons:
- You meet all federal exceptions in Tier 2 above.
OR
- You meet one of these Wisconsin exceptions:
- Drive tow trucks if requested by a federal, state or local officer to move a wrecked or disabled vehicle.
- You are grandfathered in (i.e. you held a valid CDL since July 29, 1996, that has not been revoked).