A DOT (Department of Transportation) physical is a medical examination required for individuals seeking to obtain or renew a commercial driver's license (CDL) in the United States. The DOT physical is mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to ensure that commercial drivers meet specific health and fitness standards.
If you’re a bus or truck driver, you’ve most likely heard of the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. Required to ensure the public’s safety and your safety, this check-up verifies employees are in the best of health to work safely. Here’s everything you need to know about the DOT physical.
Who Needs a DOT Physical?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates a DOT physical for everyone applying for a commercial vehicle driver’s license. This includes people who operate:
- Vehicles that carry more than 15 people or more than eight people if the driver is paid
- Vehicles that transport hazardous material and have a placard
- Vehicles that have a gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more
What Does a DOT Physical Consist Of?
All DOT physicals must be completed by a medical examiner licensed by the FMCSA. In the first part of the physical, you will need to fill out a medical examination form with your detailed medical history. This form can also be filled before the appointment to save time.
For the medical checkup, your doctor will test:
- Hearing
- Vision
- Blood pressure
- Urinalysis (this is not a drug test, but rather tests urine for protein, sugar, blood, and hydration levels)
- Heart and Lung sounds
- Range of Motion
- Abdomen
- Back/Spine and extremities
- Reflexes and Circulation
What to Bring to a DOT Physical
Before you come to your physical, bring a complete list of all medications with dosage amounts and the prescribing doctors’ names and addresses. If you’re a driver with medical issues, you’ll have to bring documentation from your physician. Below are a few examples:
Drivers With Vision or Hearing Problems:
- Bring contact lenses, glasses, or any device you normally use to see
- Hearing aids
Drivers With Heart Issues, Brain Tumors, or Previous History of Strokes or Seizures:
- A detailed history of your health and a letter that designates you as safe to work from your cardiologist or neurologist.
- For heart issues, results from a recent stress test or cardiogram test
- If you have had a seizure within the last 10 years, please speak with Dr. Jauernig about your eligibility for the DOT exam
- If you have an automatic implanted defibrillator you are not eligible for CDL in the United States
Drivers With Permanent Limb Loss:
- A Skilled Performance Examination (SPE)
- An overview from your doctor about any work restrictions of the injury
Drivers With Diabetes:
- A printout of the most current HgB A1C, which must be under 10%.
- For those with diabetes who are required to take insulin, you must take the ITDM FMCSA form 5870 to your treating physician to be completed.
Drivers Taking Blood Thinners:
- need to be regulated at least 1 month prior to certification (or recertification) and have their International Normalized Ration (INR) number