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Q&A
What are the vision requirements to get a DOT medical card?
What if I have monocular vision?
Can I wear contact lenses to do the vision test?
What if I have had laser eye surgery?
I need to obtain a vision waiver. Where can I get the forms?
What are the vision requirements to get a DOT medical card?
You must have a distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 with or without corrective lenses:
- see at least 20/40 with both eyes together
- see at least 20/40 with the right eye
- see at least 20/40 with the left eye.
Monovision is a disqualification. Use of a contact lens in one eye for distant visual acuity and another lens in the other eye for near vision is not acceptable, nor are telescopic lenses acceptable for driving a commercial motor vehicle.
Exemption: A driver with monocular vision may be able to get a Federal Vision Exemption Certificate, if medically fit for duty in all other categories of the physical exam.
What if I have monocular vision?
If you pass all other aspects of the DOT physical, and you meet all vision requirements in the functioning eye, then you may be considered for a Federal Vision Exemption.
Can I wear contact lenses to do the vision test?
You are permitted to wear contact lenses provided you’re used to wearing them and have a good tolerance for wearing contacts. Be aware that monovision is a disqualification, so use of a contact lens in one eye for distant visual acuity and another lens in the other eye for near vision is not acceptable.
What if I have had laser eye surgery?
Provided you meet the vision requirements, you should have no problem.
I am legally blind in one eye from an injury? With documentation from my eye specialist can I pass the DOT physical?
This type of injury will require documentation.
If you are going to drive only within your state borders, it will be easier. Just check with your DMV to see what the states rules and regulations are.
To pursue an interstate medical card will require an exemption that you can only get from FMCSA. Check out the requirements to determine if this is something you want to pursue. It is possible, but a bit tough to do. Lots of hoops, but do-able.
I need to obtain a vision waiver. Where can I get the forms?
FMCSA has a Vision Exemption Program which has specific requirements for each application. You will get a decision within 180 days of completing your application. To find out more and get the forms go to this FMCSA official webpage.
I have 20/20 vision corrected, right eye. 20/200 uncorrectable in my left eye, 70 degree plus horizontal left and right. Does this fail the DOT physical?
DOT requires you have a minimum of 20/40 vision in each eye, and in both eyes together, either non-corrective or with corrective lenses. Your peripheral vision is within normal limits.
All that being said, you could be driving skills tested with a FMCSA exemption. Check with the FMCSA for the requirements for that particular exemption.
I’ve been a CDL driver for 16 years. Last week, for my DOT physical the doctor made me do the color test from a book with numbers and dots. I could get only half of them right. I have always been able to see the colors red, green and amber and pass my DOT physical. Now the book test has made me fail the color portion of the DOT physical. What’s going on with this?
It looks like the doctor is trying to determine if you may be color blind. But the primary reason for the DOT physical color test is to determine your ability to distinguish red, amber/yellow and green – not a color blindness examination. Not really sure as to why they would do this. Especially since you have been driving for so long. You are correct to question this.
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I am a bit color blind. Can you give me the colors on the color part of the test? And are they always in the same order?
@Fred
To meet the color blindness standard, commercial drivers must be able to distinguish between the specific colors of traffic signal red, amber, and green. Color blindness should very rarely disqualify a driver.
When I was tested for colors on the test there were 4 colored boxes on the left hand side and in descending or i answered red, yellow, what looked like grey or green and then brown.i have been driving for 6.5 years and now that I am attempting to get my tanker and hazmat endorsements, I can’t make out the last two colors. Are there any records or info stating what the four colors are and in what order are they?
@Fred
The point is to determine whether you are color blind or not and fit to certify for your CDL, not to fudge the test.
In Arizona can I take my eye exam at a doctors office before going to get my license renewed? I do good in the doctors office but am too nervous at the dmv.n if so what paperwork does the dr. Have to fill out?
@Jan
Are you asking about license renewal or DOT medical certificate?
Medical certificate can use your doctor’s information.
Not sure about the state license renewal.
What if I have Glaucoma? Can I drive a commercial vehicle?
@Steve
A medical release form from your doctor and a valid prognosis will be a big help. A lot will depend on where your visual capabilities are at this moment and what can be expected in the very near future.
I served in the military for many years. I can see colors just fine. I have no problem with traffic lights or traffic signs. But, I cannot pass a color vision test. But I can see individual colors just fine. Will this disqualify me from receiving a CDL to be an over the road trucker?
I was born with. Lazy right eye. 20/400 vision I had Sergey on my right twice will this stop me from getting a vision. Waver
@Willis
You will probably need a skills performance evaluation to determine your capabilities, along with the vision waiver. Best bet is to check with your local drivers license department to make your final decision and determination.
@Nicholas
No, FMCSA wants to know that you can determine the basic colors of the traffic signals, that’s it.
Hi.
In the vision field, I am passable in my left eye with 20/20. In my right eye, I am legally blind, but also passable in my EYE Doctor’s office when he completes his tests.
I see there is now just one form to take the CDL Doctor.
In the past, I had my eye Dr. fill out the vision portion, and the CDL Dr. filled in the other parts to make a completed Medical Exam.
With the new “one-form” to filled out by the CDL Dr., where can I get a waiver papers for my EYE Dr. to fill out for INTRAstate travel within the state of New Jersey? I am a current CDL holder, but do not drive, I only have my CDL as a back up in case.
Thank you!
@JP
All you should need is to take the vision report from your eye doctor, to the medical examiner. The CME will add the eye doctor’s report as an addendum to the new certification form.
My husband has just been diagnosed with severe glaucoma in both eyes. Will he be able to keep his cdl license. We live in NY…
@Carol
Probably not. His CDL will be downgraded due to not having a valid medical card.
He may be able to get a valid medical card again if he can get the condition corrected.
For someone who is trying to get a CDL permit can they also receive an exemption for vision? We have been trying to get my boyfriends permit for a year. we have been to eye doctors and specialist and they have all said he could drive perfectly fine and his vision is only lazy in the left eye. Right eye is 20/20 and peripherals are above requirements. We are not sure what to do after the Department of Transportation denied him due to not having three years of driving experience, so they had sent us to Motor Carrier Services. Any one have advise on what else to try. I know this will be a longer struggle and more money but he is willing to keep trying.
Thank you
I am getting my cdl class a in California but i have 20/20 vision in one eye and the other is 20/400 i have been driving my personal car for 11years with no preblem can i still get my cdl and yes i can drive a combination vehicle with no preblem. Any help really need a cdl job
@Daniel
As long as you can get the 20/400 eye corrected to better than 20/40 you will be ok.
If you cannot see 20/40 in that eye with correction, you will need to apply for a vision waiver from FMCSA.
DOT examiner give me the medical card with my lift eye I can see the big e at 20/200 and he give me other test for color and he said that I am ok and got exam card and he told its up to the dmv now don’t know if this is ok
as well he stated that i have monocular vision and i meet standards in 49 cfr 391,41; qualifies for 2 years certificate so can i get my cdl class a interstate
@Daniel
Not without a valid FMCSA vision waiver and a skills performance evaluation.
But if you drive intra-state only, then it is up to the state drivers license department to make the final decision.
But class A interstate and no vision waiver – No!
@Brittany
FMCSA is going to want 20/40 or better in both eyes and each eye individually. That can be with or without corrective lenses. If his lazy eye is outside the FMCSA perimeters, then he should be able to drive cdl intra-state only. That will fall into the states variances and should be confirmed with your local state drivers license department.
Federal DOT would want a skills performance evaluation before a visual exemption waiver would be issued, But if you are going for the CDL permit now, then check with the state first.
If a driver fails the eye exam (i.e. vision in one or both eyes is worse than 20/40) do I choose the box “does not meet standards” and refer them to go to the eye specialist for vision correction and tell them to come back for an entire new physical once the vision is corrected?
OR
Can I choose “determination pending” and place a 45 day hold on the medical card and again refer the patient to the eye specialist for vision correction and have them bring back a note stating the vision has been corrected and once I receive the note from the eye specialist I then sign off on the medical certificate?
We have a debate in my office… the way I read the guidelines we should fail the patient and have them come back for a new physical including eye exam once his/her vision is corrected. My peers argue that the patient should be able to be placed on a 45 day hold, get his/her vision corrected and then present back to our office with a note from the eye doctor stating the vision has been corrected and the patient does not have to have a repeat eye exam.
@Theresa
Technically – “If the CME examines the driver and the condition is something that the CME feels is disqualifying, the CME should not use the determination pending category. Instead, the CME should disqualify the driver.” So you are correct in failing him/her.
The “determination pending” category is only to be used while waiting for additional information to make a qualification determination.
This is where black and white rules may create unnecessary hardship.
In this case make the call that best suits you and the driver, but it’s your call either way. You may choose to work with him and give him a few days to continue to drive on his current medical card while he has the vision corrected. Once corrected and a new vision examination is done, then you can issue a valid medical certificate. You want to have him repeat the eye examination in your office to determine that the problem has been corrected to DOT standards.