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”.
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A friend just called asking if the FMCSA was going to lower the BP requirements to 135/80 AND have a new BMI rule that no driver can have a BMI above 35. Any new rule making we should be aware about?
On Monday the American medical association reduced BP readings from 140/90 to 130/80 adding millions more people to so called high BP sufferers. Does this change the DOT regulations about BP for the DOT Physical?
I have white coat my blood pressure goes up when I think I can loose my job I know so many with this problem and now you lower it to 130 over 80 you people have no ideal how many school bus drivers will be off the road we just want to some day be able to retire but we need insurance and be able to pay bills your not helping us you are destroying lives
Exactly
I have been a full time OTR Professional driver for 32 years. In 2005 diagnosed with hypotension. Started with BP medicine and have never been denied a medical card with a constant BP of 130/70.
Ten days ago had my physical and medical card updated by a clinical Dr arranged by the company. He gave me a two year card.
My company is saying it should be a one year card.
Can the DR revolk (cancell) the current card before getting me a corrected card?
Steve I’m in same boat but your company is right. Below is the rule…
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
He probably won’t. That makes him look untrustworthy. . Like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He could become unregistered.At that point, everyone that he passed would have to do their physical over again. I’ve seen it done.
BP was 160/90, and they gave me 30 day period to come back for DOT retest. Just started BP meds….Can I take more than one test during that period ? What if I fail next one in 2 weeks ?
Q: Is there an option for those of us with naturally HBP and high Cholesterol? I can eat a box of donuts and not gain a pound. I can still run a triathlon or 10K… I don’t get it. My arteries are clean, all the way up into the carotid and that’s after an MR angiography.
My BP is normally high. After a trip to a special testing office for my CDL physical, it was high by about 50 points on each side. I am otherwise in good health and shape. No gut, etc…. So the doctor gave me a 30 day certificate to get my permit, but I missed the timing mark. My BP is now down to the borderline- below if I go all Zen-like before the test.
Having had HBP all of my life, I still don’t understand why people like us, also with naturally high cholesterol, THIN (especially by today’s GMO, Walmart-life-style induced “era of girth”), have to be under the same standards as those with average body chemistry.
I failed my first Dot physical due to high BP. The DOT Doctor sent a form with me to take to my doctor. He said when my BP is under control, that my Doctor should fax the form saying my BP is good. The DOT Doctor said he was putting my Medcial card on hold for 45 days. My BP is good now since taking medication. It’s been good for 2weeks. My Doctor is faxing the form from the DOT Doctor with my BP being good now do I still have to wait the 45 days to get my card.
@Mary
The medical examiner would like to see your BP stable for 30 days before issuing a medical card.
You have 45 days to change a “determination pending” to an actual medical certificate. If you show back up at the DOT examiner more than 45 days after the first exam they MUST do a complete new exam.
My husband has normal BP but his heart rate ranges 37-51. Will he pass a DOT physical?
@Autumn
Depends on body type and medical fitness or issues. It will be up to the CME to make the final determination.
I have high blood pressure and I take 3 medications to control said problem. I was told the other day at my DOT Physical that due to the number of medications that I take for my blood pressure requires me to do a sleep study test. The doctor stated that the rules changed 2 months ago.
I can not find this change any where. Is this true or only this doctors opinion.
Please help me
@Cheryl
There has always been a mulitude of issues that could warrant a sleep study. To our knowledge, there were no new rule changes with the FMCSA and the examiner can request a study if he feels that there is a question of risk. You could go for a second opinion elsewhere.