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Q&A
What if I’ve have a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
What if I’ve have coronary artery bypass surgery?
What if I’ve have angioplasty surgery or stents?
What if I’ve have ventricular tachycardia?
Can I get a DOT medical card if I have a defibrillator?
What if I take nitroglycerine for angina?
My medical certificate only expires in nine months. What if I recently developed a medical condition that I couldn’t drive. Can I drive truck again now?
Even if you currently have a ‘current’ medical certificate, you are prohibited from driving a CMV with any medical condition that would be disqualifying or may interfere with the safe operation of a CMV. Once a disqualifying medical condition is resolved, and before resuming operation of CMVs, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
You will need to be off work for at least two months. You will need to get an Ejection Fraction and Exercise Tolerance Test, and be cleared by your cardiologist before returning to work. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have coronary artery bypass surgery?
You will need to be off work for at least three months. You will need to get an Ejection Fraction and Exercise Tolerance Test, and be cleared by your cardiologist before returning to work. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have angioplasty surgery or stents?
You may return to work once you’ve been cleared by your cardiologist, which may be as soon as one week after the procedure. You will need to get an Exercise Tolerance Test three to six months after the procedure, and again at least every other year. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have ventricular tachycardia?
If you have recurring episodes you should be evaluated by a cardiologist to see if the underlying cause of the ventricular tachycardia is disqualifying.
Can I get a DOT medical card if I have a defibrillator?
The defibrillator is a disqualifier for inter-state driving. The defibrillator is designed to correct problems when they occur, but it still leaves a safety risk.
You may be able to drive inter-state, based on your state’s regulations.
What if I take nitroglycerine for angina?
Taking nitroglycerine is, of itself, not a disqualifier. The medical examiner may require an evaluation by your treating physician to make sure that your angina is stable.
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I had a stent placed on October 23, 2023 I am a school bus driver My heart pumping is 35-40% can i be released to drive?
@ Donna J C
You fall under the states guidelines and variances not federal DOT/FMCSA, so confirm with your local drivers license department.
I had a annuloplasty. Heart valve repair. What are my requirements to pass my DOT medical exam. I will have a 100% release to drive a commercial vehicle per my Cardiology team. My medical card has expired during procedure recovery window.
@ Joseph K
With proper medical documentation and a full medical release from your cardiac team, you should be good to go. Medical card will be for one year at the time, from now on.
Had a heart attack in May of 2020. Came back to drive in January of 2021 with a echo showing my EF of 57%. I’ve gotten two medical card since the echo. It’s now past two years so wondering do I need another echo?? I understand the stress test needed every two years but can’t find info if a new echo is also required every two years?? Thank you.
@ Tim H
DOT/FMCSA, stress test every two years, yes. Echo, only if the CME feels he needs additional imaging.
Thank you!
@ Tim H
You are welcome.
I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, after fluid was found in my lungs February 2023, due to an ultrasound of my gall bladder. No MI, No bypass, No stents, no blockage. I don’t have symptoms of syncope, dyspnea or collapse. All EKGs are NSR, blood pressure is normal. I have an EF less than 40.
@ Michelle A
And the questions is…? For a class A cdl, LVEF has to be above 40% to pass a DOT/FMCSA medical certification examination. Lesser class cdl’s fall under the states guidelines and variances.
I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I was seen by an electrophysiology cardiologist who stated my condition was very mild. I’m not on any medications, no scar tissues, etc. Per the cardiologist, he didn’t see any risk factors. Will I be able to pass the DOT physical with this diagnosis?
Hello I’ve had Head and Neck Cancer and the Radiation shrunk my right Carotid Artery 100% shut ! I still have my left side which has no blockage and the veins up the back of my head supplying blood to my brain ! They put a pacemaker in me due to dizziness when I stand up from a sitting position! I have no problem with sitting and driving just when I stand up to quickly and start to walk . I just have to stand a moment to get my head together. I need to get my physical to reinstate my Cdl’s! I haven’t drove in 5 years and feel that I would be ok ! Just on a part time basis ? Any advice would be appreciated !
@ Greg P
Lots will depend on your class cdl and whether you are interstate or intra-state only. Best to start with your local drivers license department (DLD) and follow their process in having your cdl reinstated. Then go from there. Good Luck in your comeback, drivers are needed.
while on the subject, what is the wait time for a carotid endartectomy??
@ big john
If it was asymptomatic before the surgery, then a release to return to work and a medical release form from your physicians and a new medical examination. If symptomatic, it’s a whole new thing. The CME will have to explore what options you may have based on your condition prior to surgery.
My Question is I have a ICD ( implant Cardiac Device), I get mixed answers. I known I can drive interstate. I live in Los Angeles California I want to drive intrastate only and when I check the DMV website it state any cardiac condition that cause shortness of breath, fainting, etc is disqualifying I have any of those symptoms can I pass DOT certification, and you don’t have a clear answer can you point me in the right direction.
Hello thanks for the great information.
Question: had recent PVC ablation and not very many DOT Doctor’s seem to know the actual guidelines. Is there specific location where a PVC ablation DOT guideline can be found? I have a letter from cardiologist stating I am cleared for DOT physical with all the good bullet points, not a stroke risk, tolerates meds, successfully treated PVC arrhythmia, proper sinus rhythm and rate etc etc
Just nervous I’ll run into a road block of lack of knowledge of guidelines. Want to be armed with all the correct information if need to present to Doctor’s.
@ Keith
DOT/FMCSA guidelines, pages 87,88,254, and 259. One month waiting period post abolition and supporting medical documentation from cardiologist. Annual re-certification from this point forward.
Reading through the handbook 87,88,254 and 259 none talk about PVC’s directly. Is their a general category you go off of for PVC’s in the handbook? PVC’s are common in most people and benign, assuming they don’t cover much for that reason? And common sense comes into play or at list it should. Ran into Drs. whom feel it’s their job to make life miserable for a driver;) Thanks!
@ Keith
You are right, seems like some just want to be a pain in the A#%. Most, especially if they work with drivers all the time, use common sense with this issue. The DOT/FMCSA guides are just that a set of guidelines with some regulations that must be adhered to.
I have Afib and I am required to have a stress test every two years, I have done the treadmill in the past, I had a pacemaker installed this year and my cardiologist advised that I would need a nuclear test because of the pacemaker, will the dot still require the treadmill?
@ Steve
As long as the pacemaker does not contain a defibrillator, then you should be fine.
Q. concerning AFib. Newly diagnosed with AFib. Just started Eliquis 2 weeks ago. I have a cardiac clearance letter to drive CMV. Do I still have to wait 1 month?
@ Tamika J
If the cardiologist notes indicates that treatment to date has shown to be positive/effective with this medication and there have been no noted side effects, then it is a judgement call on the CME.
I had a PVC ablation on June 5, 2023 and went to renew my medical certificate today. They said they couldn’t do it as there was a 6 month waiting period. No one informed me of this and I’ve been driving after a two week recovery. Is there a wait period? And should I have been driving?
@ Richard B
There is a one month waiting period following the ablation. DOT medical card will be good for one year at a time. As soon as you were treated, you needed a new medical certification. Then one month wait and medical release from your cardiologist.
Did you ever get this resolved?
Hello, I have an ascending aortic aneurysm 5.0 and stable will i pass a dot Physcial ?
Thank you
@ Ger
For a class A cdl, you will need supporting documentation from your cardiovascular doctor. And a medical release form.
Lesser class cdl will fall under your states regulations and guidelines.
Is an Nstemi the same as an MI?
@ Edward
No, Nstemi is a severe narrowing of the coronary artery. MI is a full restriction of blood flow to the heart muscle.
How often do I need a med card after an MI is it one year or 2 years?
@ John M
Every year, 1 year at a time.
If you have a heart attack and 7 years later have a double bypass, can you still qualify to drive a commercial vehicle, after 3 months and pass a stress test and blood fraction test and cleared by your cardiologist?
@ Jerry
It will require supporting medical documentation, and a medical release forms from your doctors. Medical card will be good for one year at the time with stress test every two years.
What are the current rules governing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
I found this, but nothing showing since the 2015 recommendation what the ruling was.
Section 10: CMV drivers with cardiomyopathy
@ Ken PC
No major changes. It still falls to the medical examiner to take all available information, including supporting documentation from your cardiologist, into consideration as part of his decision making process.
what is the min. cardiac ef to have a cdl?
@ Douglas E C
LVEF must be 40% or better.
I have been driving for 5 years OTR,but I had a heart attack and need a defibrillator. Can I still drive?
@ Camille
Not as a class A OTR driver. You may drive as an intra-state only, so confirm with your local DLD for guidance.
Afib cardiomyopathy chronic heart failure
@ Jerry B
And the question is….? Class A, probably not.
I HAVE MODERATE AORTIC STENOSIS CAN I DRIVE A FMCSA
@ Wadden
All depends on the symptomatic condition of the stenosis.
If no symptoms then no problem. If you have symptoms, then the CME will request additional information before making final decisions.
I am an amputee above the knee on my right leg and I take opiates for phantom pain. Will this disqualify me from obtaining CDL
@ Tyson P
2 thing will be in play. 1. Your cdl is a state issued document, so you will need to check with your local drivers license department (DLD). 2. Much will depend on the class cdl you are striving for. Class A is going to be the toughest and any lesser class cdl will fall under your states guidelines and variances.
had by -pass 13 yr go do i have to do a Stress test early to renew my d.o.t Medical Card
@ Paul A F
Class A cdl, DOT/FMCSA, stress test every two years. Stress test results must be within the past two years.
Good Morning. I was diagnosed having elevated triponin levels and heart attack in April of 2022. During my catheterization, my Right Coronary Artery was 100% blocked. Of course the blockage was cleared and a med coated stent was inserted. Fast forward to April of this year. U cardiologist gives me a clean bill of health and encouraged me to live my life with the restrictions bring moderation and good sense.
Will I be eligible to receive a CDL and take a driving job??
@ Eric P N
Lots will depend on the class cdl you are striving for. Class A is going to be more difficult due to federal regulations. Lesser class cdl’s fall under the states regulations and requirements. Make sure your medical examiner knows the difference between the two.
Trucker Doc I need to know. I’m trying to get a NON CDL driving job. Emphasis on NON CDL. MEANING NO CDL REQUIRED I JUST NEED A DRIVER’S LICENSE WHICH I HAVE. ARE THEY ALLOWED TO BASE DECISIONS TO DISQUALIFY ME DUE TO AN ICD EVEN IF IT IS NON CDL
@ Robert
We know what a non-cdl physical means. NO NEED TO SHOUT, thank you. There are two standards here. 1. DOT/FMCSA for cld class A OTR drivers, that ain’t you. 2. Your states guidelines, variances, and regulations. This is you. The medical examiner in your state has to know the differences and evaluate you accordingly. Apparently your examiner held you to DOT/FMCSA standards and not your states requirements. Find a medical examiner that knows the difference.