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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)
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I recently had acl surgery on my left knee. My hope is to get my cdl in 6 months. Will the knee surgery disqualify me from getting my class- a?
@ Todd
If you have good recovery and no limit ions, then you will be fine.
I have a CDL class A. I had a handicap placard and ID card issued to me a while back as a result from ACL knee reconstruction. I’ve since had to surrender my handicap placard and ID because I hold a CDL. I am in no way hindered by this when it comes to driving, double clutching, getting in or out of truck. I just can’t walk long distances outside the truck. Why can’t I have a CDL and a handicap ID at the same time? It has no affect on my driving ability whatsoever. Would I seriously be disqualified from the Mvc medical unit over this?
@ Dennis
FMCSA set the guidelines for a class A driver as medically fit for duty to perform the duties within the basic job description. You could back back and ask the FMCSA this question. As in all things, there are shades of gray within the black and white of each guideline, so ask away.
I have a unique situation I have not run into before with one of my drivers and I’m looking to find out how to help him. My driver in question has been out on workman’s comp for a sever injury he sustained on the job and has been out of work for almost 2 years now and may still be out for another year or more. Without getting into a bunch of detail he was hit by a set of dual wheels that came off another truck while he was on the side of the road and is just getting back to walking with crutches and cannot drive Inter or intrastate because he cannot pass a DOT physical to get a medical card to self certify. He has gotten the “We are going to put you down to a Class D license letter”. So my question is in the state of Massachusetts is there a waiver he can get or something so he doesn’t have to go through the tests all over again to have his CDL reinstated?
@Doug
You’ll need to check with your local MA drivers license department for questions about maintaining a CDL.
(Our focus is on passing the DOT physical certification.)
See MA CDL and DOT Medical Card Requirements for contact info and website info.
I have osteoarthritis in knees. I walk very well with a cane. will I be disqualified?
@James
Only if you are unable to perform the duties of a CMV operator. CME’s are looking for medical fitness for duty and they have a basic job description for what a drivers job entails. As long as you can perform those duties, then you are good to go.
I have a brace on my left wrist I’m wondering if I’m still allowed to drive in the state of Pennsylvania. It is not broken just sprained. The doctor put no commercial driving on my note.
@Jim
It will depend on what you are driving and what your drivers classification is.
If you are intra-state only and you can perform the duties in your job description then you should be OK.
53 foot tractor trailer thru 4 States base is PA. ClassA
@Jim
Can you still perform the duties of a class A driver and a CMV operator?
If so, then you should be OK. But if you have difficulty doing your job, then you may need to let the wrist fully recover before trying to driver full time.
Thanks I will do that
I have above the knee amputation on my left leg I can walk with a walker pretty good but I can’t walk with a cane can I still get a b cdl
@ Dwight
A class B cdl requirements will fall under the states guidelines and regulations, not DOT/FMCSA. Best to check with your local drivers license department for your best answer.
My son is a right below knee amputee due to birth defect. He learned to drive with his left leg because the Drs said that is what they recommend to their patients. There are no regulations in California about driving with left leg. My son is no 20 and an EMT and he was refused an ambulance drivers license. It was very hard trying to find out why but one clerk said it was probably because he drives with his left leg. He is extremely fit and has been a Firefighter Explorer. He had a hearing and the hearing officer talked to a FMCSA representative and they agreed my son should be certified but when the case went back to The Ambulance review board they again rejected him He has waited a year to reapply and now drives with his right leg and he has a much more advanced prosthesis so he is about to reapply he only would drive in California and we have been told that on the new DL-51 forms there is a box the Medical Examiner can check for a waiver for in state drivers with missing limbs. Is this true? He has been to a couple of different examiners and they were clueless about this whole situation and we don’t want to make a mistake and he get rejected and have to wait a whole year again.
@Tina
Have the examination completed by the California examiner and he will mark that your son does “not qualify”. Then take that examination form to the state drivers license department and they will be the issuers of the needed waiver/exemption for him to “qualify” to drive in the state.
Does an anourysm in the aorta disqualify you on a DOT physical?
@Steve
It will depend on the location and the size of the anomaly. There are sizes and location that would be questioned in greater extent.
You will want to get a medical release note from your physician to help the dot physical medical examiner make an informed decision.
After having a Partal Knee Replacement Do you need to take a DOT performance physcial if you completed one last year, How many days of WORK LOSS are you allowed before this physcial is required,
@Karen
Any condition or illness that takes a driver from behind the wheel needs a new medical examination to determine fit for duty status. Not numbers of days, but ‘unable to drive’ for any reason.
They want to put a nerve stimulator in my back does that disqualify me from having my CDL
@Darrell
If you will be able to perform the duties of a CMV operator and pass as medically fit for duty, then the only other thing you will want to do is bring a medical release form from your doctor stating that you are fully released and a brief explanation regarding your situation. That release form gives the CME the type of information that he will need to base his final decision on.
Hi all, not sure whether this is the correct place to get an answer to my question, but it is a starting point. My Dr thinks I have a torn rotator cuff (I saw your answer on passing a DOT for that, I’ve been working for 6 weeks after the injury, so it’s not a problem passing with this injury). My Dr has taken me off work for 2 weeks so we can get an MRI done and see what needs to be done. Our Safety director has stated that I will have to have another certification after my dr releases me to work again. Do you know whether this is a DOT regulation? My husband has been off for other reasons, and never had to re-cert afterwards.
Thanks in advance
Wendy
@Wendy
FMCSA states that any injury or illness that takes a driver from behind the wheel has to have a new medical examination to determine fit for duty before returning to driving. It’s a FMCSA thing. In the past most of the examiners did not know that this was the law.
I’ve been out on workers compensation for over 6 months and medical card is due in a month. Drs do have me on full disability so obviously I can’t get qualified.will all drs on dot registry know that I’m on workers compensation.
@David
They don’t need to know, because you won’t be classed as fit for duty anyway.
I have a driver who is having a partial toe amputated. He will come back once he has been released by his doctor. Does he need to have a new medical exam/certificate issued before we put him back on shift? Or is the doctor release sufficient?
@Brooke
New medical cards are required of a driver returning from any situation that took him/her from behind the wheel. Medical fitness for duty must be determined before returning to driving.
I have an injured worker advising CDL regulations state he can not drive if he is required to wear a splint for a sprained wrist per his doctor. Is this true? Can he not drive with a splint on his wrist?.
@Bobbi
Is he medically fit to perform the duties of a CMV operator? If not medically fit for those duties, then he is not legal to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
I have a fractured arm and I needed to renew my medical card in a month if I got a cast can I still renew it? Please I need help with this
@Victoria
With the broken arm, you can’t qualify as a fit for duty driver. So check with your local drivers license department and see what options they have to offer. In most cases they can extend a helping hand with situations like your. Also be able to answer questions like when will the cast come off and how long before you will be released to return to work once the cast is off and the arm is back to near normal.
I WAS REAR ENDED 12/13/13 I INJURED MY BACK AND MY SHOULDER THE WORKMAN’S COMP DR RELEASED ME ON THE BACK, I HAD SURGERY 09/14/2015 ON MY SHOULDER I WILL GET A RELEASE ON IT 1/16/2016. 6 YEARS AGO ANOTHER DR SAID I HAD A HERNIA, IT HAS NOT BOTHERED ME SINCE, I’M A LITTLE HARD OF HEARING I’M GOING TO TAKE A SHOT AT PASSING A DOT IT’S ONLY $100.00 IF I PASS I QUALIFY FOR A GRANT TO GO TO A CDL SCHOOL IF ALL GOES WELL
I hurt myself lifting on the job. I live in NY. And I hold cdl class a with a hazmat endorsement. I delivered compressed gases. I have had 3 L5 surgeries the last being a fusion on June of 2015. My question is Am I going to be able to keep my cdl?
@bill
As long as you can perform the duties of a CDL operator, then you should do OK. Just make sure you have medical release form from your surgeon and you are sure you can pass the FMCSA physical examination.
Hi I was injured at work to by lower back dr release me to work full dutys, now I’m transferring to a deferent department and dignity health requires another physical can the dr where they send me to get a physical not clear me due to that if I’m already cleared by the company doctor
@Irma
A new DOT physical must be performed to determine your medical fitness for duty, so you need a new physical from a Medical examiner that is on the NRCME.
Fell on right shoulder. Doctor want to do surgury first of year but med card runs out jan 10 befor surgury can i still try and get med card
@Rich
You would invalidate your medical card the moment you went in for surgery.
Try checking with your local drivers license department and explain your situation. They should have a policy that will allow your CDL to stay while your are recovering from the surgery.
I broke my radius and ulna bones. I will be in a cast for several weeks. Will I be able to be cleared to operate a commercial truck?
@Kevin
Once you’re released by your doctor and you get a new medical card demonstrating medically fit for duty, you’ll be able to start driving again.
I no DOT as regulations as to when you can return to work after surgery. I need to know what the time frame would be for a stomach hernia
@Robert
As soon as you are released from your surgeon and you can perform the duties of a commercial driver. So you will need to pass a new medical certification examination. Also bring a medical release form from your surgeon, that will help the CME in his decision making process.
I currently have a cel, I have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my lower back, L4/L5 & L5/S1, the disc are ruptured and pressing on nerves that send extreme pain and numbness through my left leg. I am taking Oxycodine to control the pain to a point where I can function. My left foot feels as though it is a sleep all the time, my company says I have to come to work am I eligible to drive at this time? I don’t think so but I need to know so I can direct them to the proper requirement documentation.
Thank you.
@Kevin
You would not pass the DOT examination and would be disqualified as a driver. You would not qualify as medically fit for duty. Check the FMCSA website for drivers job description, you don’t qualify.