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
I have a hernia. Will this disqualify me from passing a DOT physical?
What if I have a limb impairment? Am I disqualified?
I have a hernia. Will this disqualify me from passing a DOT physical?
If the hernia does not interfere with your operation of a commercial motor vehicle, then there is no problem.
If you have pain and are limited in some way, then you should take care of the problem before it does become a serious problem.
I had hernia surgery three years ago. There is some scar tissue which causes a little discomfort from time to time but in no way renders me unable to perform any tasks. Will this cause me to fail a DOT physical?
During the examination you will be questioned regarding the hernia surgery. Just let the medical examiner know how this effects you and whether it interferes with your daily activities. Some companies have restrictions, but this is a company policy not a DOT regulation.
I have a hernia that does not give me any trouble. The doctor I saw for my DOT exam says I have to get it repaired before my next exam. What if my regular doctor says that we can do watchful waiting instead of surgery? What are my rights under the law about this?
The DOT examiner is looking at a progressive condition, but if you will take a note from your primary doctor who has evaluated your condition and understands what you really do for a living, then the DOT examiner should consider your primary doctor’s opinion. However, the final decision to certify you, or not, remains with the medical examiner.
What if I have a limb impairment? Am I disqualified?
It is possible to apply for an exemption. FMCSA has a certificate program for drivers with limb impairments. FMCSA also has a special certification program for drivers with missing limbs. (see FMCSA Skill Performance Evaluation)
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.
Can you pass a DOT physical if you have degenerative hips? this makes it difficult to step up.
@Jeanette
You are trying to pass an examination that requires you to move around and under a vehicle that you also have to climb into. Does not sound like a good ‘fit for duty’ situation. You would probably have difficulty passing the examination.
I don’t move under a vehicle I pull up at docks and sit the freight at the back of the truck.
I have a medical condition called a drop foot. My right foot, It is only a slight drop I can pick it up a little. This is from an old injury. I can push down with no problem. I have been driving for 24 years with no problems. I do have a brace to hold it up but haven’t used it in many years.I see no safety issues. Should this stop me from getting mt DOT ?
Thanks, Chuck
@Charles
As long as you can perform the duties of a commercial driver, then there should be no problems. Make sure you have your brace with you if it is needed for the CME’s examination.
Will a torn rotator cuff cause me to fail a d.o.t physical
@Matt
Not as long as you can safely perform the duties of a commercial motor vehicle operator.
I live in NYS and was recently in an automobile accident. I fractured my left knee and bruised some ribs. While trying to concentrate on recovering just a week into my injuries I get a letter fom NYS DOT saying my DOT physical expired and I no longer can drive commercially. I was disrtacted and let it lasps unknowingly. The good thing is that they said in the letter that if I can get a DOT certificate Faxed into them before the “effective” date of termination i’ll be good. OK great! So I go to my doctors office to get the physical done but he won’t give me a full two years on the certificate because of my leg still healing.He wants to see me back in a couple months so I fax and email in a certificate that only extends me one month past the “effective” date of my CDL termination. Will NYS accept this or am I in trouble of losing my CDL license and job because of this. Didn’t think having this injury would put me at risk in this way, it’s just bad timing and that’s all. If my injury happened in the middle of the two year DOT certificate would any of this be happening??? Probably not i’m guessing. Confused and nervous of losing my job. Thanks
@Muz
This really is a question for your state Drivers License Department, and not a federal.
And the fact that you could have done this in the middle of your two year would still be a problem. So go to the state DLD office and ask them what you need for them to extend your drivers privileges until you are fully healed.
Doc: I am a forty year old class a local driver. I suffered a stroke at twenty five. Having state approval from neurology consult in 2008,open heart surgery to address ASD closure in September,2000. Recent doc demands that: I have cardiology consult every two years,SPE program for a mildly impaired left hand. The mandates I found about SPE are interstate driving and drivers with missing limbs! The testing parameters used by this occupational health doc are skewed and inaccurately portrayed my abilities. I am in fear of losing my dream job,having worked it two weeks already,as I am not a union member yet. This is a dock worker/driver job-also,I have a permanent fifty pound lifting restriction from my back surgeon.Bilateral wrist fractures and a t-11thru L1 lumbar fusion in December 2009. Sorry for jumbles of thought in my writing,Please Help Alan
@Alan
Look closely at your state information. You will find that you can be a class A driver and drive intra-state only. That would remove a lot of the interstate regulations from the medical examiner.
Just help the examiners with a medical release form completed by your primary doctor and check with the state DLD for the intra-state only regs.
I am having knee replacement done are there any regulations requiring me to be off for a certain length of time or can I return to work when I get released by my Dr. I know that I will have to get another dot physical
@Bill
Basically, as soon as you are medically fit to perform the duties of a commercial motor vehicle operator, then you get the new DOT examination and off you go. No designated time off, just fully recovered.
As of 2015 is a hernia test required by DOT on the examination for renewal of your medical card?
@Ray
Hernia testing has been, and will continue to be a part of the DOT examination.
I have been diagnosed with rhumatoid arthritis it effecting my hands mostly at this time. I did not pass DOT because of it. I have since started medicins that are helping an I functioning perfectly now. They say for me to b able get zz CDL back doctor has to sign paper saying my arthritis won’t progress well she won’t sign paper. Because everybody knows it will eventually. So my question is how do I fight to get my CDL back can I get lawyer or is their groups for truck drivers to help ?
@Kevin
Just get a medical release form completed by your primary doctor. No one is going to say the condition will not progress. But, each year and each time you go for the DOT medical examination, you will need to be able to perform the duties of a commercial driver.
If I have a spinal cord stimulator implanted for pain control will this disqualify me from DOT driving? I want to avoid regular use of pain medications. I did a trial implant and it helped control the pain.
@mlee
You will have to have your primary doctor complete your medical release form before you go for your DOT examination. The release will answer many of the questions that the CME will have regarding your situation.
can you still pass a dot physical & drive after having a right ankle fusion ?
@Dave
As long as you can perform the duties of a commercial motor operator, and are deemed medically fit for duty, then there should be no issue.
Long story short…..fell at work and developed an incisional hernia to a prior aorta bifemoral surgery. Im in a huge struggle with the insurance company. Naturally they want me back to work at all costs, including my health and well being. First hernia surgeon refused to operate due to causing more problems than I already had. Insurance company found a new surgeon that would operate, and he discovered during the surgery that the hernia was much larger than he anticipated and repaired it with mesh. I now have bigger troubles. Ilioguinal and genital femoral neauropathy from the fall, which magnified after the surgery. I am due for my DOT physical in January and wonder if these maladys are disqualifying? I am in alot of pain, but get some relief from using Lyrica and occaisionally hydrocodone(which I know I couldn’t use after going back to work.
I just wonder what to expect at my next physical. Thanks in advance.
@Justin
Until you are completely healed and ready to go back to work, you are disqualified. Any illness or injury that takes you from behind the wheel requires a new DOT medical examination. So get healed and then see where you are. Your state DLD may want a note, if your driver’s license is up for renewal.
I have disk dieses and arthritis am checking into a pain pump to be implanted doctor says he feels I will be able to return to driving if I have the implant will I be disqualified from holding a CDL ?Would like to know before I follow thru and have this done!thanks
@Bart
You will probably be limited to intra-state only with a pain pump. But that is not a positive. If you have the pump installed and have worked with it for a while, then you will know what the effects are and your doctor will be monitoring you the whole time. If, after he gets and understands the job requirements of a CDL holder, he feels that you can return to OTR, then get his medical release form completed. Take that with you when you go for your DOT examination and go from there.
On long term disability for siatica can I pass dot physical.
@Frank
Are you medically fit – physically, mentally and emotionally – to perform the duties of a commercial motor vehicle operator?
You might want to consider a lower class driver’s license that would allow you to drive, but not have to go through the rigors of a class A medical examination and federal rules.
Question what to do
went to ca dmv to renew cdl im on disability right now for back injuries so i cant pass dot physical. Was told cant renew liscence without medical on file so will have to drop cdl and get class c.so if im better in 6 mos or anytime have to start over with cdl tests even though i had cdl for over 10 years and all they wanted was hazmat test…john
@John
California should have some policy in place that allows you to suspend your CDL portion of your license until you are healed. It may require you to re-instate your cdl portion once you have passed the DOT physical examination.
Example: In Utah you can surrender your class A and there is a small fee to re-instate your class A, once you can pass the physical.
So check to see if this is the case in your state.
If my DOT physical was flagged and not flunked am I still able to drive under my old. Card which was not expire until October 4th I was required to get two letters from a doctor which I did and now I have a new card but I’m wondering if my old card was still good as long as I was just flagged and not flunked
@ Brad K
It’s no longer an issue. The new medical card has been input to the FMCSA data base, so you’re fine.
I have kidney disease and cant produce enough urine for a specimen on a drug test. Ive been turned down for a job for this although I don’t use drugs. What do I need to do to cleared medically to drive. I got a letter written from my doctor and tried to use that but that did not work. Is it possible to get some type of waiver or a way to take an alternative drug test like saliva,blood or hair?
@Tyler
The medical release form completed by your primary doctor should have been enough. But given your circumstances, you will do better with any other testing procedure. Be aware these test are more expensive and most companies are not willing to spend the money.
This is kind of similar to another question, but a little different. I am going to have surgery on my back one month before my DOT physical needs to be renewed. Is there an extension on the renewal process or will it lapse?
@Greg
If you let your state DMV know what your circumstances are, there may be a way to grant a little grace period.
Also, even if you went and did the DOT card now, you would have to have a new examination done after healing from the back surgery. Good Luck.
I have scoliosis and been told that I can not get med card..I am only driving intrastate. I have been a co driver and I can and have lifted up 100 lbs..I load trucks at my job now..The doctor said my curve on back was concerning. Any advice? Thank You
@Kathryn
Go to another DOT examiner.
Before you go, get a medical release form completed by your primary doctor, stating that he feels that you are capable of doing the job and you are only driving intra-state. The examiner needs to know this too, so have the medical release in hand when you go for your physical.
I am recovering from rotator cuff arthroscopic surgery and its time for my DOT med. card exam. Will this disqualify me?
@ Joe
I would get a note from your doctor explaining the situation. I don’t believe you will have any major problems. But you will be asked to get a new medical card once you are released to return to work.
i have had multiple back surgeries, i was told by my doctor that having back or neck surgeries would throw up a red flag and i would not be able to pass the dot physical
@Jim
It isn’t the surgeries that are the main question. It’s what are the limitations and restrictions brought about by the spinal surgeries.
Make sure you bring a note from your doctor stating what your limitations are. The doctor should understand what the job requirements are for a driver. So make sure you find a copy of the job description for the type of work you will be doing. Then let the physician determine what can be done.
What tests or deminations are used to disqualify a DOT driver for limb impariment? Specifically, driver can not lift over 10 pounds.