FAQ – Blood Pressure DOT Guidelines

 

What are the blood pressure requirements to pass the DOT physical?

Can I get a DOT medical card if I have hypertension?

Can I pass the DOT physical if I’m on blood pressure medication?

What if I don’t normally have high blood pressure, but I have “white coat syndrome”?

What are the blood pressure requirements to pass the DOT physical?

Here are the medical guidelines according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Note that employers are allowed to impose more stringent medical requirements.

Normal Range:

A driver with a BP of less than 140 / 90  may be medically certified to drive for a two-year period.

First time BP elevated:

Stage 1:

A driver with a BP of 140 – 159 systolic and /or a BP of 90-99 diastolic, has stage 1 hypertension, and may be medically certified to drive for a one-year period. Certification examinations should be done annually thereafter and should be at or less than 140/90.

Stage 2:

A driver with a BP of 160-179 systolic and/or a BP of 100-109 diastolic, has stage 2 hypertension, and is a candidate for antihypertensive drug therapy. The driver is given a one-time certification of three months to reduce his or her blood pressure to less than or equal to 140/90. Provided treatment is well tolerated and the driver then demonstrates a BP value of 140/90 or less, he or she may be re-certified for one year from the date of the initial exam. The driver is certified annually thereafter.

Stage 3:

A driver with a BP at or greater than 180 systolic and / or 110 diastolic has stage 3 hypertension and is disqualified. The driver may not be qualified, even temporarily, until blood pressure is reduced to equal to or less than 140/90 and treatment is well tolerated. The driver may then be certified for 6 months and biannually (every 6 months) thereafter, if at recheck BP is equal to or less than 140/90.

Other Medical Conditions:

Drivers with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, or kidney disease require treatment if their blood pressure rises above 130/80, since they already have a high risk of heart disease.

Can I get a DOT medical card if I have hypertension?

The DOT blood pressure limit for you to get a medical card depends on your level of hypertension. You can get a limited medical card for first-time stage 1 or 2 hypertension. The hypertension stages and limits are laid out in the Q&A above which describes the FMCSA blood pressure requirements to pass a DOT physical. The medical examiner may require clearance from your treating physician before you can be considered for certification.

Can I pass the DOT physical if I’m on blood pressure medication?

Taking blood pressure medication will reduce your DOT medical certificate to one year. Your blood pressure must be controlled and be below 140 / 90 at the time of your DOT examination.

Help the CME to certify you: Bring a note from your treating physician that states that your condition is being treated and that the treatment has been shown to be effective, safe and your condition is stable.  This information helps the medical examiner back up a decision to pass you on the DOT physical.

What if I don’t normally have high blood pressure, but I have “white coat syndrome”?

First off, we understand that this is a very real concern for some drivers. If you have “white coat syndrome”, tell the CME. Ask to have multiple BP’s taken. The examiner should be taking 2-3 readings anyhow, especially if you say so up front.

Look for certified medical examiners on this website.  Each DOT Physical Doctor in our trusted network has a page describing their office and services. Find one who you would feel comfortable with. This should help reduce your “white coat syndrome”.

Please read through some of the questions and answers posted below. This will help everyone to not have duplicate questions. Thank you!

If you still can’t find a related answer, then you are welcome to ask your question in the comments section below.