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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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IF I have night blindness am I disqualified from driving a CMV for an interstate operation? If not what restrictions do I have and will I need a waiver?
@Dan
The medical examiner is going to have a lot of questions because of the night blindness. It can be caused by a multitude of issues. If you go in with a medical release form from your eye doctor explaining your condition and situation with a working prognosis, then you have a much better chance.
I’m from California. On the 5th of April I went to get my DOT Physical done and was told to see an eye doctor before I would be cleared to drive. I have a Class A CDL and I drive Interstate.
My vision tested at 20/50 and 20/70 uncorrected and 20/20 both eyes with corrective lenses (glasses). Also I passed the peripheral vision test and I am not colour blind. However the doctor did a cranial nerve test for ocular movement where he had a pen that he moved and he wanted my head to stay still but my eyes to follow the pen. That is where the issue is and my eyes hardly moved so he told me to see an eye doctor before clearing me. Is that within regulations? What are my options? My current physical expires on the 8th of April.
@Dale
Not sure why the examiner would go to such an extreme on your examination, especially since you passed the requirements of the DOT/FMCSA. Some examiners over-read the requirements and some look at obscure issues. You may want to go for a second opinion elsewhere.
How do I do that and not get in trouble for doctor shopping?
@Dale
It’s just requesting a second opinion, not doctor shopping.
A co-worker of mine lost an eye due to cancer. Being in a supervisory capacity, our department head has us maintain a valid DOT/CDL for buses, although it is highly unlikely we would drive one any more than around the shop. Would he qualify for an exemption under these circumstances?
@FT
All he has to do is check with your local drivers license department. Have him move his status to intra-state only and he will be just fine. The intra-state only status is for cdl, but he can operate his automobile anywhere.
Does it matter what your peripheral vision is for your DOT medical card?
@RJ
Yes it does. You must have at least 70 degrees of lateral vision from straight ahead with each eye individually.
I have 20/20 in Right eye, 20/40 in Left eye with corrective lenses, but I cannot pass the Vision test at the DMV for a CDL. Multiple eye doctors with multiple prescriptions have been tried. Taken the test multiple times, but I cannot pass it. I’ve applied for a waiver several times, but keep getting denied. What are my other options?
@Tony
You may want to consider driving Intra-state only. That way you fall under the states variances and not the Fed. Check with your local drivers license department and see what their rules are regarding intra-state cdl.
My name is Ramon.I have a dot physical all ready.but a job send me to get another one .I failed the eye exam .because one of my eye I only see blurry. But I could see good with both eye .but the doc said I failed. My question is do I loose my cdl even if I have another physical.? I don’t care about the job .
Good afternoon Doc,
So my husband is eligible for a NH only Intrastate Waiver. He’s had one before and we have all the stuff to get one. But the M.E. who did his physical stated that she cannot give him the medical card since the company he is wanting to work for is considered an “Interstate” company. She is refusing to do a card (even though we paid for the exam) to be established for an Intrastate waiver. The company my husband is applying to understands he cannot cross state lines with one of their trucks and is hiring him to be local only. Without the NH waiver, no job. He has not driven commercially for the past 2 years. He needs to have 3 years up to the date of the date of the Federal Waiver application date. The DOT in Washington DC states that he needs to get a NH Waiver and be employed as a commercial driver (it does not matter doing what) within state lines for 3 years before he can be considered for the Federal waiver. I am looking for confirmation that this M.E. does not have the right to withhold my husbands medical card for a NH Waiver based on who he is looking to work for. It is based on whether my husband crosses the state line in the driver’s seat, not the company itself if someone else is driving. Or am I reading the statutes wrong?
Any advice you can give will help
I had a restriction on my cdl where i couldn’t go out of state due to my vision in my left eye and i got my dot physical done and they certified me to drive in state. I just recently rent back to the dmv to retake my vision test and i passed and they took the restriction off my license. Now do i have to go back and have a new physical done or am i fine to drive out of state now?
@Shane
Your first examination was for intra-state, so yes you would need to have a new interstate medical examination done, if you want to drive a commercial vehicle out of state.
Also, a lot will depend on the type of driving you are going to be doing. Check with your local drivers license department first and get your questions answered, then go for the medical certification examination. Good luck.
Hello Sir/Ma’am,
My name is ajay kori I have a 1 query please suggest me, I have an uncle his age may be 40 years he was driving a big tancker of chemical in mumbai when he was just 20 years. but before 7-8 years ago he lost his left eye because of that chemical he can’t see from his left eye but he still can drive well. so my question is can he renew his license again ? do he need any certificate to renew. now he don’t want to drive big vehicles just want to drive 2 and 4 wheelers. he also have his old license. please solve my query.