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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 resident of the state of Florida. I had a cataract removed from my left eye this past August 2014. I now have 20/30 vision in that eye, and it is correctable to 20/20. I have corrected 20/20 vision in my right eye. When I went to get a DOT physical 2 days ago, I was told by the medical examiner about a new law that went into effect this past May. According to him, It requires that every time I have a DOT physical, I now have to have an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist do a complete eye exam before I can be given a DOT Medical card. He also told me I am allowed only 1 year on the card, due to having had cataract surgery. I have had 2 other DOT physicals in the .last 4 months, (since the surgery). At those 2 times my vision was well within the DOT requirements as it still is as well. Both those times the full 2 years were allowed before a new DOT Physical was to be required. Is what this doctor told me in the last 2 days accurate, or is he misinterpreting the law?
Thank you for your attention,
Steve
@Steve
It’s called CYA on the doctors side. He may be being very cautious about doing a DOT examination so close to your surgery, but the reality is, if you correct to better then 20/40 in each eye then there is no reason to restrict your medical card and there is no law stating such.
I have further questions regarding my previous question.
1. You said it was CYA in this doctors case. This Doctor told me there was a new law requiring me to get a complete eye exam EVERYTIME I get another DOT physical. I am curious is it true there is a new law requiring that, or is it just him exercising “CYA.?
2. I have had 3 DOT physicals in the last 4 months. My DOT physicals I had in September and November this year says it is good for 2 years, does this latest one done in December over ride that?
Thank you for your time, Steve
@Steve
1. No new law, just CYA
Why would you have had three DOT examinations in the past few months? That in and of itself raises questions. FMCSA should be asking questions regarding the need for so many examinations and CME’s putting examination findings on the FMCSA data-base.
But to answer your question.
2. It would be reasonable that your earlier examinations would override your last physical you had, unless there was reasoning for the last physical to have you re-instated as a driver due to some health related issue that removed you from behind the wheel. Each time a driver has a situation that removes him from behind the wheel, then he must have a new medical examination to determine his medical fitness for duty. But that being said, you are not required to have a complete eye examination each time you have a new DOT examination, just confirmation that you are correctable to 20/40 or better in each eye and both eyes together.
The reason for the multiple exams are as follows: I renewed my CDL in July as it was coming due to expire. At that time the state of FL determined I could not drive interstate and limited me to intrastate only. I quickly got cataract surgery and remedied the problem. At the time I was between jobs and my current DOT physical was about to expire, so I had to go get a new DOT physical card. Once the Ophthalmologist gave me the OK to be gone away long enough to run over the road I got an OTR job which required I get a new DOT physical. That job went to hell in a hand basket right off and I resigned. Then I landed a new job and their requirement also was a fresh DOT physical. A lot of trucking companies do that, I do not know why but they want you to go to their Doctor and get a physical. I found it odd the last Doctor limited me to one year after he was the one telling me I had to have another exam by an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist before he would approve me. I went back to my Optometrist and he examined me and filled out the paperwork saying I was good for 2 years and then The DOT physical Doctor ignored that and limited me to 1 year. That made it seem like the Optometrist visit was not needed, I mean he either respects the optometrist’s evaluation or he doesn’t.
@Steve
Personally I would be asking questions regarding the CME’s thought process.
He has the right to do what he has done, but why? What other issues is he taking into consideration? There is no regulation regarding this issue, so why the limitation of a one year card, other then to make sure he is keeping an eye on you for some reason, and will that change on your next DOT examination?
I just took a DOT Physical last Friday(5th of Dec. 2014). I passed everything but discovered I was partially color blind. I can see the whole color spectrum, but my question is, If I can see all colors, but am red/green minor challenged when trying to see numbers in the charts at the test facilities, is there anything I can do or should I just go look for another job?
@Mark
Color blindness is not an issue with the FMCSA, as long as you can distinguish red, green and amber for traffic signals.
There is no additional distinctive testing needed for a color blind driver, unless it creates a problem for you.
I want to know more on this. I had a driver with zero ability to distinguish red, green, blue, purple. Isihara failed, fine…. But simple what color is my marker? This other marker? No ability. However, he is driving and likely able to tell me which one lights up (top, bottom) so then why does it even ask on the form? Should I really go out and get a simple red, Amber, green light up toy so he can tell me which light on the box lights up or walk the guy out to the nearest intersection!? The regulation said he has to distinguish the colors, not tell me the top circle is lit, etc. Where do you weigh in?
@Dedee
The Isihara is not really required within the FMCSA regs. But the driver must be able to distinguish red, yellow/amber and green. If he is unable to make this basic differentiation, then he does not qualify as a safe class A driver. You do not need anything fancy, just those three colors in any order for the driver to make the distinction for you.
I have a NY CDL license.I have been driving a truck for 35 Years. I am blind in one eye i can see shapes but can not read and it is not correctable I am also color blind does this disqualify me from the new terms of passing for the medical card. I have been told its a automatic disqualification and so say no
@Richie
There are no new rulings regarding vision.
If you have been driving for 35 years and you have been blind all during that time, then keep doing what you are doing.
Federal interstate driving has always required a vision waiver to drive interstate.
For intra-state, each state is different, but to the best of my knowledge most states made NO new changes to how they would qualify you.
I am legally blind in my right eye, have been since birth. It is not correctable even with surgery. Can I get a waiver to drive interstate?
@Tim
Yes. First check with your local Drivers License Department.
Then go to the FMCSA website to begin the process of attaining your interstate waiver.
My left is 20/20 my right eye is 20/60 I applied for a job with Fed Ex for job was disqualified for vision the vehice was a cargo van. The Doctor said that both eyes had to be 20/40 atleast
@Johnie
That is correct.
Can your right eye be corrected with a corrective lenses? If you can correct with a contact or glasses then you would be qualified.
I am blind in my left eye and have been since birth but have good vision in my left eye. Will this disqualify me? I am obtaining my DOT medical card for my Class E endorsement in the state of MO. If this does disqualify me what do i have to do to be able to work around this?
@Cody
The CME should inform you of the visual waiver which will be needed for your situation. See MO DOT Medical Program.
Traveling intra-state is less demanding than traveling interstate which has stricter rulings and regulations.
So it all depends on what type of driving you will be doing, to determine your needs.
Thanks for the reply.
Where do I submit the physical documentation to get my medical card? I will need the waiver and have the appointment with my opthamalogist next week.
I’m sorry about being clueless, but I’m on my own here and this process is unclear to me.
Thanks.
@JJ
1. See your opthamologist. Get a report from the opthamologist.
2. Go to a certified medical examiner for a DOT physical exam. Take the opthamology report with you, it’ll be helpful information for the medical examiner. If you qualify for a medical card other than the monocular vision, you may get a medical card with the condition that a vision waiver is needed.
3. Start the vision waiver process.
4. Start driver training if the school will allow, while the vision waiver is in process.
If I do fail the eye test portion due to a cataract– what happens? Do they allow me to drive in the meantime until I get the cataract removed? Its borderline right now and my regular eye doctor says we can just monitor it for now, which I’d prefer to do– but I’m concerned about the test in a couple months.
@Natasha
Visual acuity must be 20/40 or better in both eyes and each eye individually. That includes using corrective lenses. If you do not pass the eye test due to a cataract, then you don’t get to drive until it’s corrected.