DOT Physicals

DOT (Department of Transportation) physical exams are specific medical examinations conducted to assess the physical qualifications and health of individuals seeking certain commercial driving positions. These exams are mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the United States. Here are some key requirements of a DOT physical exam:

1. Medical Examiner Qualification: The exam must be conducted by a qualified healthcare professional listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). These medical professionals have completed training and certification to perform DOT physical exams.

2. General Health Assessment: The medical examiner will review the applicant’s medical history, including information about chronic conditions, past surgeries, medications, and any current health concerns.

3. Vision Requirements: Applicants must meet specific vision standards, including having at least 20/40 visual acuity in each eye, with or without corrective lenses. They should also have a field of vision of at least 70 degrees horizontally.

4. Hearing Requirements: Applicants must be able to perceive a forced whisper from a distance of 5 feet or less, with or without hearing aids.

5. Blood Pressure: The applicant’s blood pressure should be below 140/90. If it is above this threshold, the individual may receive a temporary certification and be required to provide evidence of ongoing treatment.

6. Cardiovascular Health: The medical examiner will assess cardiovascular health, looking for signs of heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, and other related conditions.

7. Respiratory Health: The applicant should not have respiratory conditions or a history of disorders that could impede their ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle.

8. Diabetes: If an applicant has diabetes, it must be well-controlled through diet, oral medications, or insulin. Additional documentation and monitoring may be required.

9. Drug and Alcohol Testing: A DOT physical typically includes mandatory drug and alcohol testing, following specific guidelines set by the FMCSA.

Our office offers quick and same day DOT physical exams.

Please bring the following items to your physical (only if needed):
-Current driver’s license
-Exemption form(s)
-CPAP report if currently using one
-List of ALL current medications along with dosage and frequency
-Eyeglasses (if using for driving)
-Hearing aid

“In appropriate circumstances, means of compliance with ASME physical requirements may include, but are not limited to, a current Department of Transportation (DOT) Medical Examiner’s Certificate.”

Please also refer to: www.nccco.org/home.com

The general purpose of the history and physical examination is to detect the presence of physical, mental, or organic conditions of such character and extent as to affect the ability of the driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safely. This examination is for public safety determination and is considered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to be a “medical fitness for duty” examination.

All drivers, including part-time, holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and operating CMVs (greater than 26,000 combined gross vehicle weight rating, or transporting more than 16 passengers, or placarded hazardous materials) on the public roadways must be U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol tested. This means any driver required to possess a CDL, including:

• Drivers employed by Federal, State, and local government agencies.
• Owner operators.
• Equivalently licensed drivers from foreign countries.
• For-hire motor carriers.

NOTE: Drivers who only operate CMVs on private property, not open to the public, do not require testing.

The 13 standards are used to determine driver medical fitness for duty. Four of the standards: vision, hearing, epilepsy, and diabetes mellitus have objective disqualifiers that do not depend on medical examiner clinical interpretation. These standards are the “non-discretionary” standards. For the other nine “discretionary” standards, the medical examiner makes a clinical judgment in accordance with the physical qualification requirements for driver certification.

49 CFR 391.41 Describes the physical qualification requirements for drivers.

The examination is based on information provided by the driver (history), objective data (physical examination), and additional testing requested by the medical examiner.