Please read through the Q&A before posting a question. 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.
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.
Can’t Find An Answer For Your Question?
If you have a question that you feel has not been answered, scroll down to the Questions and Comments box and post your question.
- Before posting, please make sure you are on the appropriate Category page, so that relevant questions and answers can be found by other drivers too.
- To save us all from zombie spammers, your question will not appear on this page until it has been approved.
- Trucker Docs™ will answer your question as soon as possible.
- Visit this page again soon to see our response.
P.S. Your email address will not be published.
Your comments are also welcome.
I have been a city bus driver in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN for 28 years. Over the past year I have developed Cataracts in my right eye rendering me well above the 20/40 visual acuity. My left eye is still 20/20 and clear but sensitive to night glare. However, because of my relatively young age (56) I have been told by my eye doctor that lens replacement surgery is very high risk for Retina Detachment until I’m in my 60’s. He recommends I find a different profession because my cataracts is progressive and unstable, and will eventually affect my left eye too. I’m only 2.5 years away from full retirement with rule of 90. What are the chances I can get a vision waver for this when corrective surgery is available but I don’t wish to take the risk at this time?
@Russell
So lets see you are losing your vision in one eye and one is sensitive to light at night and you drive a bus with other people on it and you are wanting to skirt correcting the eye problem. If we got this correct, then the best thing to do is get this issue corrected and keep going, or get a different job.
But you can check with your local drivers license department and see if they think you are safe enough to drive a bus with one eye. They may have a waiver for you. This is a state issue not a fed issue.
I don’t feel the best thing to do is get the correction because it could lead to retina detachment which is a medical emergency with a 48 hour window to save the eye afterwards assuming I even know when it happens. I’d rather try and wait out the cataracts than risk permanent blindness, so I need to try and get a waiver for two more years then retire. If I get a different job I lose my rule of 90 and all my retirement benefits. I was only asking what you thought my chances of success at getting a waiver were?
@Russell
Since you are going to fall under state variances and they will be the one’s to issue you the vision waiver, then you still need to cheek with your state. Your concerns are a state related, not FMCSA. Good Luck.
First, detached retina does not require a 48 hour window to save sight, I went three weeks before getting surgery. Second, you will know she it detatches because your vision goes away in the area detached. Third, your primary responsibility is the safety of your passengers, not your pension. Fourth, if you are a city employee they can not fire you because you have a vision disability. They will find another position for you to finish your time or arrange for early retirement with disability.
I Ave a retina detached in my left eye and I’m going through several surgeries to correct it with a 20/40 in right eye with corrective lenses. With Dr. documents on what’s taken place can I get my dot physical. Plus I wear hearing aids with document on them.
@Tony
Once you have healed from the surgeries and your vision has corrected to 20/40 or better in both eyes and each eye individually, you should be good to go. Just tell the CME what is going on and make sure you have a medical release from the surgeon stating that you have been released to normal work duties.
Can I have a CDL license if I have been diagnosed with Macular Degerneration?
@Crawford
If you can perform the job description for a CDL driver based on the level of your drivers class license, then you could be OK. It all depends on how much visual loss you have and how fast the condition is progressing.
I can only see in my right eye which is 20/20.
1. Has it been your experience that I could qualify for a CDL Class B intra state license? If yes….what sre the steps to take and the order
2. If yes….will I be able to drive shuttle busses (intra state) within another states border for 5 months a year that is different from the state my CDL Class B License will issued where I live?
Thank you so much for the help.
Mike
@Mike
You are going to fall under the states variances and not under federal, so check with your state drivers license department. Also, because you will be limited to driving within your state you would need to check with the other state drivers license department to answer your second question, otherwise you are driving interstate. That would be a no no.
I have no vision in my right eye.
Is there any way I qualify for any level CDL license?
History: lost my eyesight in the right eye when I was 8 years old. Have passed every non CDL drivers license test including the vision part.
Thank you for your help.
Mike B
@Mike
Check with your local drivers license department on this one.
You would not be qualified for interstate, but may qualify for intra-state only. So check with your local DLD.
I don’t have a CDL, but I was curious what the vision requirements are in Kentucky for a driver carrying hazardous waste. If they have 20/20 vision and have limited horizontal vision, could they still be licensed in Kentucky?
@Cindy
You’ll need to contact Kentucky DMV about your limitations and see if they have any kind of state waiver.
Okay, thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving. Safety in your travels.
Cindy
Attempting to verify something reported by our facility Nurse. If a driver is required to wear a hearing aid they are required to have a backup power source for the hearing aid while they are driving.
Is there also a requirement for corrective lenses? I.e. if you are required to wear prescription glasses/contact lenses do you have to keep a spare set of lenses with you?
I have been unable to find a specific statement in the FMCSR about having spare lenses.
@Shane
It’s one of those highly recommended things. It would make sense to have a backup pair of corrective lenses just for your own sanity.
What are the four colors used on the eye exam for tanker endorsement for your cdl