#cdl medial exam near me

[rayanabee]

What Is a DOT Physical?

A DOT physical is a comprehensive physical examination that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires for people who hold commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and are employed as commercial vehicle drivers.

CDL drivers must take and pass this exam every 24 months. It is required to protect public safety by ensuring commercial drivers are physically and mentally fit to drive.

Who is Required to Get a DOT Physical?

The following drivers must get a DOT physical exam:

Those who transport hazardous materials are required to affix a placard to their trucks

Those who operate vehicles designed to carry 15+ people

Those who are employed to operate vehicles carrying more than eight passengers

Those who operate vehicles with gross weights of more than 10,000 pounds

What Does a DOT Physical Consist of?

1. Vision Test

CDL drivers must have a minimum 20/40 visual acuity in both eyes. This can include corrected vision with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The examiner will also test to ensure the driver has a minimum peripheral vision of at least 70″ in both eyes.

2. Hearing Test

Examiners test the driver’s hearing to see whether he or she can hear a “forced whisper” from five feet away or less.

A driver can pass the hearing exam with or without the use of hearing aids.

The forced whisper test checks to see whether the driver has a hearing loss in their good ear of fewer than 40 decibels.

3. Blood Pressure and Pulse Checks

The blood pressure and pulse rate of the driver will be taken.

The examiner will check for irregular heartbeats and hypertension.

4. Urine Test

Drivers must undergo urine tests as a part of the DOT physical.

The examiner will analyze the sample for indicators of underlying health conditions, including diabetes.

5. Sleep Apnea Test

Drivers who report the following symptoms might have to undergo a sleep apnea test:

Daytime fatigue or drowsiness

Headaches in the morning

Sore throat/dry mouth upon waking

Gasping while sleeping

Heavy snoring

6. Physical Examination

During the physical examination, the medical examiner will check the driver’s:

Overall appearance

Eyes (to check for specific conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and others)

Ears (to check for problems such as perforated ear drums, tympanic membrane scarring, and others)

Throat and mouth (to check for swallowing or breathing problems)

Heart (to listen for extra sounds, heart murmurs, and other issues)

Chest and lungs (to check for respiratory conditions)

Driver’s abdomen (to check for muscle weakness, liver enlargement, and visceral issues)

Vascular system (to check for abnormal pulse rates, varicose veins, and carotid problems)

Genito-urinary system (to look for hernias)

Extremities (to check for limb deformities or defects that could interfere with driving)

Spine and musculoskeletal system

Neurology (to check for neurological impairments and reflexes)

DOT Disqualifying Medical Conditions

Drivers with certain physical or mental health conditions will be disqualified from driving.

Depending on the disqualifying condition, however, they might be able to get an exemption from the FMCSA based on a statement from their doctor that they are safe to drive.

Disqualifying Physical Conditions

Loss of a hand, foot, leg, or arm unless they have received a skill performance evaluation certificate

Hand or finger disorders that prevent grasping

Limb defects or impairments that prevent drivers from safely operating a commercial vehicle

Diabetes mellitus, including insulin-controlled diabetes without an exemption

Cardiovascular disease or congestive heart failure

Respiratory disease that could result in loss of consciousness

High blood pressure that could interfere with the safe operation of a commercial vehicle

Musculoskeletal disorders that could interfere with the safe operation of a commercial vehicle

Epilepsy and other conditions that could result in a loss of consciousness

Visual acuity in either eye with or without correction of greater than 20/40

Peripheral vision of less than 70″ in either eye

Red/green colorblindness

Hearing loss that can’t be corrected to less than 40 dB or less from five feet away

Disqualifying Mental Conditions

Drivers must also meet the DOT mental health requirements, including rules for taking certain prescription drugs such as antidepressants.

Some disqualifying mental conditions include the following:

Major depressive disorders with a history of suicidal or homicidal ideations, psychosis, or suicide attempts

Psychotic disorders

Antisocial personality disorders

Obsessive-compulsive disorders

Bipolar disorders

DOT Disqualifying Medications for 2024

Under FMCSA rules, drivers will be disqualified if they use any Schedule I controlled substance. This prohibition includes marijuana even if the driver has a prescription for it.

The FMCSA also states that a CDL driver who takes a prescription medication without a valid prescription will be disqualified.

In addition to the DOT physical, CDL drivers must submit a urine sample for a DOT drug test, which checks for recent use of the following illicit substances:

Marijuana

Cocaine

Amphetamines (methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, or MDA)

Opiates (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, oxymorphone, hydromorphone)

Phencyclidine (PCP)

Drivers can also be disqualified for taking any other scheduled drug, including amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and others that are habit-forming or narcotic.

When a CDL driver has a valid prescription from a licensed medical doctor for a non-schedule I drug, they won’t be disqualified if the doctor has advised them that the drug will not adversely affect their ability to drive after reviewing their medical history.

[rayanabee]

Is it hard to clear a DOT physical?

Not if you are in good physical and mental health. You need normal healthy vision, hearing, and mobility, and you need to be free from debilitating medical conditions that prevent you from safely operating a motor vehicle for long periods of time.

In addition, there are multiple exemptions for existing medical conditions, provided you can show that they are corrected (for example, with eye glasses or limb prosthetics) or controlled (for example, with medication).

How often is the DOT physical required?

The exam is required every two years, unless you have applied for a medical exemption or have a potential DOT disqualifying medical condition, in which case it may be every 12 months or less.

Is a DOT physical required to keep a commercial driver’s license?

While the procedures vary by state, yes, a valid FMCSA medical certificate is required to maintain a commercial driver’s license.

Who performs the DOT physical exam?

The exam is performed by doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals certified by the FMCSA and listed in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME).

Will I be disqualified if I have a medical condition?

As discussed in the main article above, the medical examiner may not certify you if you have a DOT disqualifying medical condition. However, many conditions are assessed based on the individual and the subjective medical judgment of the examiner. In addition, objective medical disqualifications can sometimes be reversed through exemptions granted by the FMCSA.

If I fail the DOT physical, is it permanent?

This depends on whether your disqualifying medical condition is permanent. Medical disqualifications can be reassessed if your condition improves or becomes controlled through treatment.

What can disqualify me from getting the DOT medical certification?

Potential disqualifying medical conditions include vision or hearing impairment, epilepsy or seizure disorders, fainting spells, uncontrolled hypertension, heart or respiratory conditions, diabetes, sleep disorders, psychiatric disorders, alcoholism, and drug abuse. As explained in the article above, the majority of these are assessed based on the overall capabilities of the individual, so if you suffer from any of these conditions, it does not necessarily mean you will fail the physical.

Can high blood pressure disqualify me from passing the DOT physical?

If you have stage 3 hypertension (BP higher than 180/110), you are considered high risk and will fail the DOT physical exam. You can retest if you reach a stable 140/90.

Those with stage 2 hypertension (160–179 systolic and/or 100–109 diastolic) may be given a one-time certification of three months, during which if they reduce their BP to 140/90, they may be granted a 12-month certification.

If you have stage 1 hypertension (140–159 systolic and/or 90–99 diastolic), you may be certified for a 12-month period.

Does diabetes disqualify me for a CDL?

Previously, diabetes was a blanket DOT disqualifying medical condition. Standards were revised in 2018 to permit insulin use for diabetic CMV drivers, provided medical recertification is acquired every 12 months and certain physical requirements, such as visual acuity, are met.

Is poor vision a DOT disqualifying medical condition?

Not if corrected to a specific level with glasses or contact lenses. To pass the physical, you are required to have 20/40 vision in each eye and both eyes together, with or without glasses or contacts, and a field of vision of at least 70 degrees in both eyes. If you are unable to meet these levels, then impaired vision is a disqualifying medical condition and you will fail the test.

Color blindness is also an issue: You must be able to distinguish traffic signal colors (red, green, and amber).

If you are unsure whether you meet the above requirements, you should obtain a Vision Evaluation Report from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist covering visual acuity, field of vision, and recognition of colors prior to your DOT physical and bring this document with you to the test.

Do they check for hernias in the DOT physical?

Yes, the medical examiner will perform an abdominal examination for hernias, and any current or past hernias should be self-reported in the first part of the FMCSA Medical Examination Report Form.

I’m an amputee – can I still get a CDL?

Yes, if corrected with prosthetics or other means and demonstrated by receiving a Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate from the FMCSA. This will show that you have no limiting mobility or dexterity issues, and are able to drive CMVs across state lines.

Cannabis products are legal in my state; do they check for marijuana use in the DOT physical?

No, and the urinalysis does not screen for any legal or illegal drugs. However, in the self-reporting section, you need to answer the question, Have you used an illegal substance within the past two years? Depending on the state where cannabis use occurred, this could create an issue for the user.