You need a medical card before you can take the permit test?

That form you fill out after you already have your CDL. You do not need to have a medical card to take the written tests and get your permit. Only to take the road tests and receive your actual CDL.

 

I think most cdl courses take care of the medical card on the first or second day anyways. Mine did.

 

If you are going to a company, or anywhere else, to get CDL training you will have at least 2 physicals.
One for the school, and another during orientation.

 

You don't need to self-certify until you actually have a CDL.
Look at the wording: Every one starts out with "I drive a commercial vehicle...".
You can not attest to that fact until you have actually driven a commercial vehicle.

And you will never drive a commercial vehicle before you have at least a permit to do so.
Not legally, anyway.

That form is not meant to declare an 'intention'.
It is meant to declare what type of driving you ACTUALLY are doing at the time of signing it.

 

If you select NI or NA You will need a medical certificate. 383.73 a) vii . This is required prior to issuance of a CLP, but some states have been somewhat lax. The state should not test you without the med certificate. And yes, you now need to self certify in order to obtain your CLP.

 

Exactly what is a CLP?

And in any case, it has nothing at all to do with getting a learners permit.

 

The FMCSA really screwed this up in my opinion. I understand and agree with the medical examiner database. But marrying the medicals to the CDL was in my opinion a huge mistake.

 

In what way?

In MN they only want a copy of the small card, not the long form.
The last two years I have come in with both, but they only want the little card.

And when every state is up and running we should not need to carry anything for proof.