DOT Physical Exam

Who Needs to Get a DOT Physical Exam?

In the United States and many other parts of the world, vehicular crashes are a public health concern. Injuries and deaths from crashes are preventable if we all take the necessary steps to ensure road safety for everyone. One crucial part of this is undergoing a DOT physical if you drive a commercial vehicle.

If you drive interstate for a living, getting from point A to point B requires you to meet health standards. Out on the highway, you’re responsible not just for your own safety but also for everyone else you share the road with.

Do I Need a DOT Physical?

In an effort to reduce crashes and the resulting injuries or deaths that involve buses and large trucks, drivers of commercial motor vehicles are required to go through a medical exam called a DOT physical every 2 years.

 

What Should I Expect From a DOT Physical?

After reviewing your medical history, you can expect to go through a standard physical exam covering your eyes, ears, mouth, throat, skin, heart, lungs/chest, abdomen, back/spine, extremities and joints, genitourinary system, neurological system, gait, and vascular system.

 

The FMCSA qualification standards span 13 areas assessing a host of factors that may directly affect your driving. Liberty Urgent Care will confirm that you have no limb loss and impairment. We will also check for any current clinical diagnoses or an established medical history of the following:

  • Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Respiratory dysfunction
  • High blood pressure and high cholesterol
  • Rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic diseases
  • Past surgeries and hospital stays
  • Sleep disorders 
  • Muscular, neuromuscular, or vascular diseases

Can I be Exempt from doing a DOT Physical Exam?

The standards for vision, hearing, and epilepsy are absolute from the FMSCA. You should have at least 20/40 vision in each eye with or without the need for corrective lenses, at least 70-degree horizontal peripheral vision in each eye, and recognize colors of different traffic signals. Liberty Urgent Care will note if you need the use of corrective lenses.

You should also have no established medical history or current clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any condition which can cause you to lose consciousness or control over the vehicle.

If you have an underlying medical condition that causes you to fall short of minimum health standards, you may apply for an exemption. This is for individuals seeking exemption from the hearing, vision, and seizure requirements.

Schedule a DOT Physical Today