DOT Physicals for $59
All medical examiners performing DOT physicals must be trained and certified by the FMCSA.
Why did the FMCSA regulations change?
Driving a commercial motor vehicle means long, hard hours on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has updated the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations to better reflect the physical demands drivers face and to help them be safer on the job. The new regulations require all medical examiners performing DOT physicals to:
- Be trained and certified in the FMCSA standards
- Report exam results monthly to the FMCSA.
What are DOT physicals?
All commercial drivers whose current medical certificate expires on or after May 21, 2014, at expiration of that certificate must be examined by a medical professional listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
How long is a DOT physical exam certificate valid?
A DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months or 2 years maximum. The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner's certificate for less than 24 months when it is indicated to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Physical requirements defined by the US Department of Transportation include:
- Vision: You must have 20/40 correctable vision in each eye. Glasses or contact lenses are acceptable to correct a driver’s vision.
- Hearing: You must perceive a forced whisper voice at 5 feet or more with or without hearing aid. Otherwise, you must undergo a formal hearing test with an audiometer and pass.
- Blood Sugar: Your blood sugar level must be under 200 for a finger stick test or under 10% for a Hemoglobin A1C test.
- Diabetes controlled through diet and/or an oral medication is permitted
- Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form (ITDM), MCSA-5870, must
be completed by the ITDM individual’s Treating Clinician attesting that the
individual has a stable insulin regimen and properly controlled diabetes.
- You can download the Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment at Form MCSA-5870
- Your blood pressure must meet the following criteria:
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- 140-159/90-99 for 1 year certificate
- 160-179/100-109 for a 3 month temporary certificate at examiners discretion
- Greater than 180/110 is disqualifying
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- Use of medications varies. Please see your physician, contact your local DOT office, or visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
- If you have a current diagnosis of cardiac insufficiency, collapse, congestive cardiac failure or any other cardiovascular disease you will be required to provide the Medical Examiner with a stress test (needs to be performed within the last 12 months) along with a release from your cardiac physician stating that you can drive a commercial motor vehicle without restrictions.
Factors or conditions which could prevent you from obtaining the required DOT clearance include:
- Uncontrolled or untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Back injury (recent)
- Major surgery (recent)
- Hernia (currently)
- Workmen’s compensation claim (recent)
- Any uncontrolled health condition that could cause unsafe driving
Common Medical Conditions That Can Disqualify a Driver
- History of epilepsy (seizure disorder).
- Diabetes requiring the use of insulin, UNLESS you bring a Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form (ITDM) MCSA-5870 to your DOT Physical exam.
Form MCSA-5870 Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form
- Failing to meet the minimum vision standards or having a chronic eye disease like glaucoma
UNLESS you bring the Vision Evaluation Report Form MCSA–5871 completed by your
ophthalmologist or optometrist to your DOT Physical exam. - The use of some medications:
- Methadone use automatically disqualifies you.
- Medical Marijuana automatically disqualifies you. Details at DOT Physical “Medical Marijuana” Notice
- Use of a narcotic, amphetamine, or other habit forming drug without a prescription from a treating physician automatically disqualifies you. Recent use of any of these medications with a prescription would require a CMV Driver Medication Form MCSA-5895
- Loss or impairment of an arm or limb that interferes with commercial driving or tasks related
to driving, unless accompanied by a Skills Performance Certificate (SPE). - Inner-ear disorders that cause vertigo or other balance issues
- Heart conditions
- Sleep disorders
- Psychiatric disorders
- A history of alcoholism disqualifies you.
DOT Physicals for $59
Dr. Channing C. Bolick, D.C.
National Registry #: 5724319540
Certification Test Expiration: 05/23/2034
Medical Examination Report for Commercial Driver Fitness Determination
