Worried about getting your DOT Medical Certificate?
Anxious about the DOT Physical Examination?
Concerned about the appointment? Will you pass or fail?
Will you need to go back for further evaluation?
Stressed about conditions like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and what this means for your future as a commercial driver?
Not sure where to find a DOT doctor?
(New Federal regulations state that after May 21, 2014, CMV drivers can get medical certificates only from a National Registry Certified Medical Examiner)
Here’s What You Need To Know:
When you know the rules you’ll be able to get your DOT Medical Certificate with as few hassles as possible.
How to be on the “same page” as the doctor, and relate the demands of your job to the physical examination.
Everything you need to bring to your appointment so you can get it done right, first time.
What to expect so there are “no surprises” during the DOT Physical Examination.
What additional information to bring if you have/had a medical condition that has restrictions.
How to go about getting the required information from your primary care physician, if necessary.
Understand the Medical Certificate qualification periods, and where you fit in.
What about waivers and exemptions.
Where to go if you still need more answers.
Find a Certified Medical Examiner that’s convenient for you.
What Drivers Are Saying…
Allen & Rita, OTR drivers, WA.
As a team driving for Landstar we found this booklet a great help to prepare for our DOT physicals.
We definitely recommend this booklet to any driver, especially new drivers who have not had a DOT physical yet!
It helped to know what to expect and what we needed to bring with us.
•••
Know Before You Go!
Eliminate The Hassles!
Don’t go to your DOT Physical Exam before you’ve read this guidebook. Prepare for everything we’ve outlined! Then it’ll just be a matter of you and a Certified Medical Examiner getting together at the appointment and checking through each item on the Medical Examination Report (Long Form).
Get It Done Right, First Time!
Have everything you need for the appointment! When you and the Medical Examiner are “on the same page”, and you have everything you need to meet all the standards and requirements, you should be done with the DOT Physical Examination and set with your Medical Certificate in about 30 to 45 minutes.
Grab a Complimentary Copy (A $15 value, free)
Know Before You Go!
1. Can a dot ( urgent health care ) doctor make you get Psychological test through a drug rehab center requesting a doctors letter stating ” your ” not a alcoholic ? I have had no prior violations till said accident in personal vehicle NOT commercial.
The law states I Can I get a second opinion as I feel I was discriminated against from said doctor.
2. Would this be considered doctor shopping ?
I had pass all requirements in doctors office and yet my accident is what she said was the issue of not passing me.
I’ve never had any issues with my Cdl in a commercial vehicle.
I was involved in a motorcycle accident that was not my fault and was not arrested for any violations but the hospital had taken a drug/alcohol blood test at time of surgery for my broken leg and had reported my bac in my medical chart that I was over the legal limit in my state. Missouri. Again I passed all requirements at day of test but she would not sign off giving me my card but marked the box for Determination Pending. Due to the 90 day prior accident that was not commercially involved.
@Joe
Go get a second opinion, you have the right and someone is over-reading the FMCSA guidelines.
I just had one beer before mine to settle my nerves I don’t even drive yet and she said the same thing
Can you be a city bus driver if you had a heart valve replacement?
@LeeAnn
You want to check with your local drivers license department. You fall under your states variances and not FMCSA.
Will a non- disqualify disease not mentioned in previous DOT physicals get me disqualified when I mention it on the next one.
You mean disqualify. Not necessarily. But when you lie and get caught, which you will, you will lose your license and get fines and imprisonment. Be honest, jump through the hoops for the waiver process. Lie and lose license and maybe go to jail.
Let’s say I take a medication that is on record through my GP. Will the DOT physical include a call to my GP to confirm the answers I wrote down are true?
Sorry if this comes off as dishonest – I know it is, I just really need this job. My family depends on me and I don’t want to let them down.
@Steve
You should be asked to provide a medical release form from your prescribing doctor. So it will fall to the GP to tell the CME what you are taking and what, if any, side effects the medications could induce. But in most cases it is up to you to tell the truth and since you sign the federal form stating that the above information is correct, then you have to weigh it all out.
Am currently on a 3 month medical card for BP issues, on medication to deal with it. Assuming the worst and I fail the next exam on BP I assume I will be disqualified, if so for how long, or is that basically the end of my commercial driving. Thanks in advance.
@Rodney
If you fail on blood pressure next time, you are disqualified until you get it under control. Not a career ender.
I am on morphine and have been for several years. The doctor has passed me with a one year card for the past three years. Now he says he won’t sign it and nothing has changed from the years prior. Can he do this?
@Dan
Yes, it appears that the FMCSA is overseeing everybody/CME. Just get a medical release form from your prescribing doctor and have him explain the need and the length of time that you have been on the medication. The CME simply needs a medical release form with this explanation and you should be back in business.
If a driver uses a drug identified in 21 CFR 1308.11 (391.42(b)(12)) or any other substance such as amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other habit forming drug, The driver is medically unqualified.
I have been clean for 6 months cold Turkey. Why am I required for a SAP program
I had a DoT physical done in Maryland and was given a 1 year card on the condition I have a sleep test done within that year. 2 weeks later I went to Iowa for a job and they redid the physical. In Iowa the company told me they refused my card and want the sleep test done before they will pass me.
My question is, is the MD pass still valid? Or does taking another physical in another state negate the previous test?
@Ed
The last physical exam done and reported to the FMCSA database overrides the previous test.
Read these articles for more information on issues related to Sleep Apnea Screening.
That’s a downer, but thanks for the answer. Follow up question.
I have my suspicions that I passed and was given a 1 year acceptance in Iowa as well. The Dr. told me that is what she was going to do. However the company then said I needed to get the test and claimed I failed. But I’m not convinced I failed the DoT, but instead the companies requirement. In which case I believe I have a valid DoT physical.
Aside from calling the Dr directly is there anywhere I can find this out? I asked at the company and they pawned it off on the Dr. Which may be true, I just want to verify.
@Ed
Did the last examiner give you a new DOT medical card (MCSA-5876)?
If yes, then you have a valid card until it expires, or until you take another DOT physical exam.
If no, then you’ll need to find out from the examiner if: 1. They just brushed you off (which means your previous medical card is still valid); or 2. They completed the exam and failed you, which would be updated in the FMCSA database and override your previous card.
In either case they should have given you a copy of the Medical Examination Report (MCSA-5875) if they completed the exam.
That is the issue I’m dealing with at the moment. They gave the results to the potential employer since I signed the form to do so. No problem there. But they are trying to refuse to give me the results which I believe violates HIPAA rules since no matter who paid for the test, the medical records are still mine.
I’m awaiting a phone call.
Is there any way I can access the FMCSA database to verify if my MD pass was overwritten?
@Ed
No access to the database, other than the medical examiners office that input the data through their online account.
If you are not going to work for that company, then go to another examiner and have another medical examination done, which will then become your current results. Tell them the truth about what is going on. Get a second opinion on the sleep apnea screening, and move on from there.
If I recently took my DOT Physical and was told that I need to take a sleep apnea test. I never was told this on any of my prior test in the past. Immediately after I went to another DOT doctor and I passed and was given a two-year medical certificate. My question is will the first one be reported to DMV? And if so will my second test over ride the first one?
@ Ray A
The first test results may have been input to the national registry, but the second examination findings over ride the first.
Can a nurse fail you on your dot physical. My blood pressure was 170/100 she said I failed and she was going to throw my file away. I just passed all my test to be a bus driver also have my cdl.
@Paula
If the nurse is on the national registry then she can fail you. As far as throwing your file away, she would be breaking the law to do so.
I have no medical issues at all, and need to know if there’s anything that would prevent me from just making an appointment and going to get the physical. My current job doesn’t require cdl, but I want to keep it active in case I get an offer for such a position.