DOT/CDL Physical Exam for drivers
The DOT/CDL physical exam will be required for drivers who:
- Transport hazardous materials
- Operate motor vehicles to carry more than 15 people
- Have a gross combination weight rate of over 10,000 pounds
The DOT/CDL medical test is valid for 24 months, but the driver with the following medical conditions requires an annual DOT/CDL medical exam:
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular diseases
DOT/CDL physical test consists of:
1) Health history
DOT/CDL physical test consists of the health history of the driver. It includes the medicine you’ve taken in the past, surgeries in past, alcohol addiction, and existing health conditions.
2) Physical examination
The DOT/CDL physical exam considers the vision, blood pressure, and medical history of drivers, etc.
- During the vision test, the doctor will test you for at least 20/40 vision in both eyes.
- During the hearing test, the ability of a driver to hear whispering from less than five feet away is evaluated.
- During the urinalysis, the driver’s medical condition is determined and is mainly used for drug testing purposes.
- During a pulse test, the driver’s blood pressure is determined to ensure that the driver is healthy enough to sit for a longer period.
3) Appearance examination
During an appearance examination, DOT/CDL physical doctor examines the appearance of drivers and considers the following:
- Neurological to examine reflexes
- Skeletal to examine tenderness
- Limbs to examine damage or weakness
- Abdomen to explore the masses or cysts
- Lungs to determine breathing rate
- Mouth and throat to examine swallowing
- General appearance including weight and tremors
4) Needed vaccinations
Your following vaccinations certificate are also needed to pass DOT/CDL medical exam, including
- Hepatitis A & B
- Polio
- Typhoid
- Influenza
- Tetanus
Medical examiner
Medical examiners to perform DOT/CDL medical exams are listed in the FMCSA National Registry. Medical examiners can be of the following categories:
- Medical doctor
- Osteopathic doctor
- Chiropractor
- Physician Assistant
Documents for DOT/CDL Physical Exam
The following documents are required by DOT/CDL physical doctor when you go for DOT/CDL physical exam:
- Medical records
- Recent laboratory results report
- Your auditory or visual aids (hearing aids and glasses)
- List of prescription medications with dosage, medicine name, and timing
Preparation for DOT/CDL Physical Exam
The following precautionary measures should be taken strictly to prepare for the DOT/CDL medical exam:
- Take your medicines regularly as prescribed
- If your wear eyeglasses or a hearing aid, update your prescription
- Avoid drinking
- Avoid food that increases blood pressure and glucose level
- Regulate your weight with healthy diet and exercise
Hard to pass DOT/CDL Physical Exam
Passing the DOT/CDL physical exam is not difficult, but certain conditions can disqualify you, including
- Poor vision
- Narcolepsy
- Poorly managed diabetes mellitus or heart disease
- Epilepsy
DOT/CDL physical forms
Several physical forms are associated with the DOT/CDL medical exam, including
1) Medical examination report form
The medical examination report form contains the medical history of the driver and the findings of the DOT/CDL medical doctor during the exam.
2) Insulin-treated diabetes mellitus assessment
Commercial drivers suffering from diabetes mellitus will be required to fill out this form by their treating clinicians. Without this form, they won’t be able to get the license or medical examination certificate.
3) Medical examiner’s certificate
The certified drivers will receive the medical examiner’s certificate after passing the DOT exam.
If you want to become a commercial vehicle driver, then a DOT physical exam is mandatory. A certified medical examiner takes a DOT medical exam. The primary purpose of the DOT medical exam is to make sure that the driver’s health condition is satisfactory and drives a commercial vehicle. CDL physical exam is done every two years for most drivers, but drivers who have diabetes or cardiovascular diseases are required to perform DOT physical exam annually.
