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!
I had hip surgery on May 9 2014. .my orthopedic surgeon release me to go back to full duty as a delivery driver. .I go in on September 5 20 14 for a DOT card.. will I have any problems getting that card? ?
@Kathy
Take a medical release form completed by your doctor and you should not have any problems.
If you are bipolar and take wellburtin , clonazepam and adderall with prescription. Will that disqualify you and not pass dot exam .
@Chris
With proper documentation from your prescribing doctor, as well as a medical release form completed by your primary, you may be able to pass.
A lot will depend on what your doctor says and how well you are going about handling life in general. That will all fall into the realm of the CME examiner’s evaluation. Good Luck.
I am A 27 year old male from Georgia. I have Hypertrophic Cardiomiomathy, High Blood Pressure, And Stage 3 Kidney disease (which is controlled by medicine), I was wondering can I get a cdl license and a dot medical card with these conditions?
@Marquis
The best thing you can do is down load the medical release form and have your doctor read the job description of a CDL driver. If he feels that is something that you can do and will sign the release, with all the needed info, then you know where you stand in this situation.
Another possibility is looking at an intra-state only card. The states are more lenient than the feds. Good Luck.
If my blood pressure is only barely over which would land me in high blood pressure range would this cause me to fail dot physical?
@Ben
No, but it may reduce your medical card to a one year certificate, so you can get your blood pressure under control.
For more information see FAQ – Blood Pressure and Hypertension
I have been on Tramadol for 15 years for arthritis. The has been absolutely no bad side effects. My primary doctor has tried many other pain meds. and we can’t find one that works or doesn’t give me diarrhea other than Tramadol. I have been with this doctor for at least 20 years. Can I continue to take Tramadol? I have a class B CDL in NJ
@Barbara
As a class B driver and having been on this medication for a prolonged period, you shouldn’t have any issues.
Get a medical release form completed by your primary doctor explaining your meds and take that with you when you go for your next medical certificate. Good Luck
I have been a type 1 diabetic for around 30 years and luve in Missouri. My question is, do I need an insulin waiver to drive for hire with only a class e license and do I even need a dot physical exam? Occasionally I will be driving into kansas but not often.
@Jeremy
I am not familiar with a class E license.
I suspect, since you are not driving interstate, that your state has the answer to your question better than I.
Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding your condition. Given that you have been driving and are a diabetic and have done so for years without a waiver, I doubt anything has changed for you.
Check with your state Drivers License Department.
I had a convergent heart surgery (double ablation) July 23, my heart doctor has cleared me after 6 weeks. It has been brought to my attention that there is a standard of 8 weeks after any surgery. My question is do I need another dot physical and what do I need to bring with me other than the standard release form from my heart doctor. I am not symptomatic at this time.
@Jimmy
Yes, you will need a new DOT medical examination to return to driving.
Yes, get a medical release form completed by your doctor before you return to your DOT examination. This completed information helps the examiner with his decision making process.
Be aware that your medical card will be good for one year at the time.
is there any dot medical places that does not require a sleep apnea test for local drivers to a medical card ?
@Lonnie
NO DOT physical exam should ‘require‘ a sleep apnea test in order to get a medical card.
Sleep apnea screening is a much misunderstood issue, not only amongst drivers, but medical examiners have been caught up in the confusion as well.
Here are a few resources to better understand sleep apnea screening, testing, and compliance:
Can a DOT Medical Examiner Refuse You A Medical Card Unless You Have A Sleep Study Done?
FAQ – Sleep Disorders
Articles – Sleep Apnea
See if you can find DOT physical locations near me. The DOT certified doctors in our network understand the FMCSA rules and the challenges that drivers face.
Hi, My husband has been hauling fuel for 40 years. He has a CDL with hazmat. His last Medical exam last month found a Abdominal Aneurysym. The doc obviously could not sign his certificate at that time. He had it repaired last week and we got a medical release from his vascular surgeon. We went this AM to the DOT doctor get his card signed. And we were informed that there was a 3 month waiting period after surgery before she could sign it. Is there an appeal or anything we can do about having to wait.? By the way we are in Texas.
Thanks,
TN
@Tami
Minimum wait period following surgical repair is 3 months and a medical release form completed by your primary doctor.
This is a FMCSA regulation not a guideline. So really nothing to appeal.
This is a safety issue. Your vascular surgeon does not have any real idea of what a commercial driver does for a living and is not in a position of knowledge to make the claim to return to work as a CMV operator.
This repair needs to heal before you return to work, safely.
What about your Cdl? will you have to renew it as well? I had bariatric surgery and have not been released from my doctor yet, but my medical card expired and the dot doctor will not give me a medical card until I am released. I am worried about losing my Cdl. Please help.
@Ashley
You’ll need to contact your state Drivers License Department to find out the status on your CDL and what you need to do next.
My husband takes celebrex,losartan and norvasc. Also has a small heart murmur. What should he be worried about, if anything, to pass his physical. Great job offer awaits him,we need the job, he is strong and intelligent and does not want to make any mistakes.
@Dian
He shouldn’t have to worry about anything.
Just make sure he has his medical release form completed by his primary doctor in hand when he goes for his DOT medical examination.
Be aware that his card will be good for one year at the time and he will need to keep under routine doctor’s observation. His conditions are considered progressive and should be monitored routinely.
Good Luck
I work at a medical doctors office and from my understanding, in the state of Washington, you cannot laminate the DOT medical card. But we have had patients ask us to shrink and laminate the actual dot medical license. Would you be able to help answer this? thanks.
@Jenleija
Each state may have its own rules and regs.
I have been laminating medical cards for WA for years and never heard of any negative feedback.
Check with your DLD in WA to get the ‘official’ answer.
had shoulder surgery in June…..did dot physical in May before the surgery….July 29 physical card expires…still not all the way healed….will they give me an extension on my physical or will I have to go thru the whole dot Illinois Bus dot again
@royalbp
Well it looks like you got a very short term card to begin with.
In reality you need to be fully healed from the surgery before you can get a new medical card.
I would check with the state about any extension given your present circumstances. Based on that I do not believe you would have to go through the whole process again, just a new medical card.
I’m a type2 diabetic taking only pills to control my blood sugar levels (no insulin). What does my a1c level need to be to pass a DOT physical?
@Greg
Your diabetes has to be under control with no sugar spillover in your urine.
Also bring a medical release from your primary doctor stating you are compliant and have your condition under control and you’re able to performs the duties of a driver. A1C’s need to be in the normal ranges.
Is there a certain amount of time you have to use the cpac machine every night???
@Richard
You need to be on the unit for at least a month before returning to work, (as a driver).
After that, your primary doctor will probably want to see usage of around 80%.
I would check with the prescribing doctor and ask him for sure, but relatively constant usage is needed for the FMCSA.
If my weight is 300 lbs at 5 foot 10 inches does this mean that I will not pass my physical for my cdl?
@Mark
If you can perform the duties and are medically fit to operate a commercial motor vehicle, then, you should pass.
The requirements are covered in the Guidebook.
All the legal requirements are on the FMCSA website.
my husband had been taking celexa for depression for 8 years he stopped before taking his dot physical. Is he able to start taking it again and continue to have a cdl?
@Mary
Your husband needs to have his primary healthcare provider fill out a medical release form and take it to the DOT examiner on his next physical.
With proper documentation and correct answers, he shouldn’t have any problems.
Incomplete or untruthful federal forms can cost him his CDL, if it is found out after the facts.
As of May 2014 did they pass the guideline where no one that has ever had an enlarged heart can never have a CDL license?? My husband has had it all his life and has been driving truck for 15 years and never had a problem performing the requirements of his job…but because of this supposed new law his CDL doc. won’t pass him??
@Jamie
This is straight from FMCSA handbook:
“If you note an enlarged heart in a driver, you should not certify the driver until evaluation by a cardiovascular specialist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.”
So I would have his cardiologist fill out his medical release form and take it back to your examiner and request the examiner re-evaluate his standing.
I just had 2cervical spine fusions does this disqualify me from driving
@Charles
Not in and of itself, no.
You will need to fully recover and be able to fully return to work before you will be able to get a new medical card though.
Good Luck
I have a torn ACL in my left knee but I can walk fine and it’s not noticeable… will this disqualify me?
@Richard
No, as long as you can perform the duties required of a commercial motor vehicle operator then you shouldn’t have any problems.
I have type 2 diabetes and I was wondering if I can still drive if I would be placed as a type 1 that has to take insulin? My vision test is good and no high blood pressure. I do work out dailing and I try my hardest to stay away from sugar!
@Bradley
Type II is not a problem if your condition is stable.
If they take you to insulin, you would be disqualified until you got an insulin waiver from the FMCSA.
Or if they believe that you have to have an injectable, then ask about using a medication like Bietta.