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.
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When I did my DOT physical yesterday, I noticed something about controlling BP with two or more medications, and that somehow that was unacceptable, that your BP has to be controlled with just 1 medication. I do take one medication, but it has two medicines in it (Lotrel). What if any are the rules concerning the type/amount of medication you can take to control BP, and where would one find out if a certain medication is acceptable?
Thanks
@Brian
Really your best bet is to have your primary healthcare provider fill out the medical release form and take it in with you to the DOT examination.
There are many OTR drivers that take the same medication and it is not a problem.
As far as finding a list of meds…, no such thing.
That is information your primary doctor and the DOT examiner should know, as well as what other effects these medications can have. And the two or more medications really only become problematic when they are not working anyway.
I have white coat syndrome every time I step into a doctor’s office. Waiting and taking more than one reading in the office does not help. At home I am below 120/80 but in the doctor’s office it goes above 140/90. I am on blood pressure medicine and still have the problem. How can I pass the CDL Physical?
@Rose
It may help to get an official note from your primary care physician stating the normalcy of your blood pressure controlled by medication.
This information together with the understanding of white coat syndrome, plus more than one blood pressure reading, ** may ** be taken under consideration by the DOT examiner.
I failed my dot physical because I could only get one good blood pressure reading out of three. I never had to have three before and other drivers have said the same. I had the physical done at a CVS Minute Clinic in Crystal Lake, Illinois. I had one physical before that at this location and they only did one reading. Do I have to have three good readings?
Thanks,
Kirk
@Kirk
One good reading is all you should need. At present the recommendation for multiple readings is a guideline not a rule.
My 3 month card is up April 2nd. I am seeing a Dr now and she says she may not have my blood pressure down under DOT spec’s by April 2nd. Can I get another 3 month card or should I wait until she has it under control to retake exam?
@Mike
You can’t get another 3 month card. You’ll have to wait until you have your blood pressure under control.
Is a blood draw required for a DOT physical?
@ Lyn
No, there is no blood drawn during a DOT medical examination.
I AM ON BP MEDICINE FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS BP IS 120/80 DO I STILL HAVE TO GET A PHYSICAL EVERY YEAR OR IS THERE A FORM THAT MY DOCTOR CAN FILL OUT SO I CAN GO BACK TO 2 YEARS
@Robert
If you are taking any type of blood pressure medication, then you are limited to a one year medical certificate by the FMCSA.
There is no special form that gets you back to a two year card, unless you are no longer taking the medications. And even at that, you will need a note from your primary healthcare provider stating that he has taken you off your blood pressure medications.
Can doctors tell if im on bp medicine during dot physical if i dont tell them?
@shawn
Just be aware that this is a federal form and if you choose to lie to the DOT examiner and it comes to light that you lied on the form, then you lose your license.
My bp reading for cdl medical recert on 09232013 was 146/102. PA stated I am at risk to black out. I have not once experienced even moments of dizziness. She declined my renewal.
I do not nor do I have expectations of operating any type of commercial vehicle within next 12 months. I am in process of correcting my health status. I am overweight. PA said I do not qualify for a 3 month permit. While I have no plans to utilize my cdl within the next year I don’t want to throw the expense of 3,000.00 down the tubes either. I am not an unhealthy heavy person. My only medical issues 2 date were 2 tooth extractions.. I honestly felt the PA was for lack of a better term power tripping. She herself appears 2 be heavier than me, so is her opinion/interpretation suspect?
She adv me 2 seek help at a sleep clinic. I do not suffer ant type of disorder. I don’t snore or have issues sleeping, waking, etc. She would not hear me. She was insistent the test indicates I am at risk. I’m more at risk getting shot by a kook. Do I have any options or accept my cdl will expire?
@Justin
Well, a blood pressure of 146 / 102 would qualify you for a 3 month medical card only. Not really sure what other issues this PA may have had.
I would check with your state and see their regulations for intrastate self-certification. Information on state regulations is available by state via the state pages on our website.
Some states, e.g. Florida, do not allow exemption from medical certification requirements, but do allow you to downgrade to a non-commercial license for a time, and then upgrade later back to a commercial license, without additional testing.
Since you do not expect to drive a CMV within the next 12 months, use the time to correct your health issues so you can medically qualify and upgrade back to a CDL.
Hope this helps. Thanks for the question. Trucker Docs.
Because your diastolic number (the bottom number) was 102 on a recertification exam, you do not qualify for even a 3 month certificate the number ranges are 140-159/90-99. So the PA in this case was correct, I won’t speak to the power tripping aspect you mentioned, but she followed the guidelines. They are located for all of public to see, there is no secret to them at:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/medical.htm.
As for sleeping issues, when people don’t get adequate sleep, it has a large effect on blood pressure. Most people are unaware of how effective their sleeping is. Most of us don’t think we snore either-women included.
The thing that people can control the most for their health is what they put in their mouths.
Good Luck!
According to the Medical Advisory Criteria for Evaluation Under 49CFRPart391.41 at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/medical.htm
“A blood pressure of 160-179 systolic and/or 100-109 diastolic is considered Stage 2 hypertension, and the driver is not necessarily unqualified during evaluation and institution of treatment. 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. A blood pressure in this range is an absolute indication for antihypertensive drug therapy. Provided treatment is well tolerated and the driver demonstrates a BP value of 140/90 or less, he or she may be certified for one year from the date of the initial exam. The driver is certified annually thereafter. “