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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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Hi, So me and my family are thinking of moving back to Texas we live in Wyoming right now.. My son is 19 and has a Class B license we know he cant transfer his license from what i understand. He has 20/20 vision in his right eye and 21/50 in his left eye. To get his CDL he had to jump through a few hoops here getting a paper from the optometrist an all that. My question is we are trying to figure out if he will be able to obtain a CDL in Texas with his vision the way it is. After some experience here he can get FMCSA approved from what he was told in trucking school. We are afraid he would lose that if we moved to Texas. Mostly he loves driving we don’t want him to lose being able to do that there. We also know there is a good chance he would have to go to school again we just want to make sure its obtainable for him.
@ Warren
For a class B cdl, he falls under the state, any state, guidelines and regulations, not federal DOT/FMCSA. If he has a cdl now, then there should not be an issue with TX. Class A will require a vision waiver for DOT/FMCSA.
I am a low vision optometrist who has a patient who has 20/20 OD and 20/80 OS corrected. He drives a school bus in rural MS and has been told that he does not pass the 20/40 requirement for his left eye. He does not, but even if I could get him to see 20/40 or even better with a telescope, he could not wear it to drive due to the induced difference in the size of the target as seen with his R eye vs his L eye. Is there a form that would allow a wavier or an exemption for this individual? He has a full field in each eye and reports absolutely no difficulty driving.
@ Rod F
Unless he is a class A cdl holder, he will fall under your states rules and regulations, not federal DOT/FMCSA. Best to confirm with your local drivers license department for guidance. The examiner may be holding him to a class A standard, which he is not. Federal regs are different than state requirements.
I had surgery on my left eye on 2-14-23 had a fifth surgery on 1-2-24 have glasses but tuke the exam today and left didn’t do so well need to have my glasses renewed how long do I have before I have to give up my CDL
@ johnny a
This will be best answered by your local DLD.
What is all this about monovision and contact lenses? Is this because you might have a bad day and put the wrong lens on the wrong eye? What if you have monovision and use glasses only?
@ Scott
DOT/FMCSA for class A cdl holder. Driver must have 20/40 vision in each eye individually. That is without or with corrective lenses, which include glasses or contact lenses. It’s actually pretty simple, but some folks make a big ta’ do about it.
Can you have cataracts and DOT
@ Jack
Depends on the severity of the cataracts and how much they effect your visual field/perception.
How do I get a vision waiver, I pass the physical exam, expect for my vision,in which I need a prescription now but small, from my Left eye,
It that the prescription takes weeks,n my medical card will expire in 2 days
@ Marie C
You do not need a vision waiver, just have the corrective lenses prescription filled and take it back to the examiner so he can complete your medical card.
so all i need is a perscription for for this?
@ Mike
Most likely, but the CME will make the final decision.
I’m a 55 years commercial truck driver and recent renew my DOT medical card and it was certified, so safety from the company that I drive won’t let me drive until I get a letter from the eye doctor that is fine I can can drive even at night, why is safety stop me from driving ?
@ John
We have no idea, try asking your company for an explanation.
I renewed my medical card for one year do to diabetes but dmv didn’t give me a reciept can i still drive a commercial vehicle if.
DMV sent Driver Medical Evaluation form to Driver Safety DS 326 to Sacramento to see if i’m safe to drive.
@ Carlos s
If you have a valid medical card right now, you should be fine to drive. Do follow-up with your DMV form with driver safety.
Can a company require a driver to provide a script from their doctor stating what their vision is?
@ CM
If the company feels that they have a safety issue, it would stand to reason for the request. Not sure about requiring a script.
I have my cdl since 2018 been driving since than, I currently got hit head on by a careless driver i was not at fault, I got bodily injuries one of them was I lost my vision on my right eye, my question is if I am going to loose my cdl, or can I apply for vision waiver exemption?
@ Efrain
Best to apply for the vision waiver. It’s a bit of a process, but very do-able. Good Luck