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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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Getting different information. A company I was hired with, wants me to get a DOT physical for intrastate driving, no CDL required. The physician says I will need a federal waiver for vision, but the federal vision phone number representative said cause it is intrastate driving onnly they will not do a waiver for intrastate driving, and I need to go thru my state for an exemption. The local DMV has a form I can get filled out from an eye doctor, but the physician completing the physical said the only way to pass the DOT physical is to have the waiver from the FMCSA, and that it doesn’t matter if it is intrastate or interstate driving the requirements for the physical are the same. How do you handle that when the FMCSA won’t do waivers for intrastate driving and the doctor will not take a state DMV approved waiver?
@Greg
Your local doctor is over-reading the DOT examination. Your medical card to drive is only to determine medical fitness for the job. As an intra-state driver all you need is the vision waiver from the state to drive intra-state.
I do not have a cdl but want to obtain one. I have monocular vision and know I will need a waiver. My question is about process. Do I go through the training and take the exams first or do I get the medical waiver and then go through training. I’m getting mixed answers from my DMV and my school. Thanks.
@JJ
Most states require that you have a medical card before starting your training.
The visual waiver will take a bit of time to acquire and some steps must be gone through first. The medical card will state that a waiver is required.
Medical card first, then start process for waiver and training.
I have been seeing all kinds of vision questions but none pertain to me. How about an answer about glaucoma. Mine is treated and pressures are well within requirements. 12 in both eyes. Now I have seen two different Dot examiners and both won’t sign off on my dot physical even though I see 20/20 in one eye and 20/15 in the other. My horizontal field of vision is within specification. They both want my eye specialist to tell them I can see well enough to drive. Now my eye specialist says that he won’t sign off that I can drive. He says that if I get into an accident then it could come back on him. I have read the regulation and I see nothing pertaining to my problem, so what am I to do? I can’t keep spending $100 every 3 months to renew my dot physical card. It isn’t fair.
@ Douglas
So FMCSA wants any driver to pass the vision test with at least 70 degrees of peripheral vision in each eye. Corrected and / or uncorrected eyes must see 20/40 or better using 1. both eyes and 2. each eye individually.
Your eye doctor is not being ask to do anything but to confirm your present visual acuity. If you have a visual / eye condition which requires medication, then you need to have your prescribing doctor complete a medical release form explaining what meds and if any restrictions exist.
The CME’s job is to determine medical fitness for duty as a CMV operator. The CME needs the medical release form from your prescribing doctor to determine your medical fitness and the eye doctor is only answering the most basic question, is your condition stable, safe and effective? He is not being held at any level of risk.
Hoe would you arrange to be skills tested by FMCSA if you have a vision problem in one eye less than 20/40
If my Texas intrastate vision waiver is approved and I get the required experience driving a commercial vehicle to apply for the FMSCA vision exemption if it is granted does that overthrow the intrastate Texas restriction and allow me to driver interstate?
@Corey
In most cases FMCSA regulations override state regulations.
To pass the class A, drivers medical examination is more strict than most states.
Once you have the DOT vision exemption, you should be good to go. Good Luck
Was told I will probably have to get a vision waiver for my Amblyopia. But also have seen exemptions for amblyopia to be able to drive interstate? How long does it normally take to get the waiver to drive intrastate? Do I need experience doing intrastate before I can try for exemption for interstate? I’m trying to start trucking school around October.
@Corey
Most states are a bit more lenient with intra-state drivers. So check with your state regarding that issue.
Inter-state is under federal ruling and is more strict. You would have to have a vision waiver, which could take some time to acquire. So it all depends on what type of driving and whether it’s intra or inter-state.
So if I stick to intrastate about how long does it take to get the waiver. I’m in texas if that helps any.
@Corey
Start with contacting your State drivers license department for this answer.
For federal, check with FMCSA. Here is a link to download the Vision Exemption Package from FMCSA.
This is the FMCSA phone number to call with vision exemption questions: 703-448-3094
How often does dot require vision to be tested.
@Destiny
Depends how long you qualify for a medical card. Vision is not a separate exam. It’s part of your DOT physical exam.
I had a eye injury a few months back my eye has healed but i lost my peripheral it is only at 50 percent and at night the headlights of on coming cars cause migranes also my vision gets blurry after a couple of hours of driving in that eye. Will i be able to get a waiver for this thanks
@Ron
Check with the FMCSA to better answer this question.
I believe that a vision exemption is going to be required.
Here is a link to download the Vision Exemption Package from FMCSA.
This is the FMCSA phone number to call with vision exemption questions: 703-448-3094
Good Luck.