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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 have been a driver for about 12 years never had a problem till last week. The nurse who did my exam failed me over a color test even though I told her the lighting in there was part of my problem. Yes I have a small color problem but I can tell red green and yellow on the traffic lights and road signs without a problem. Am I allowed under current regs to get a second physical, my safety guy says I am not
@ Greg
Yes, you have the right to a second opinion. You need to correctly identify traffic signal colors, nothing else.
I have Macular Degeneration causing double vision. I am currently off on short term disability. Will this revoke my CDL ? I don’t feel safe driving truck many hours of the day trying to focus down the road.
@ John
Most states want a valid medical card to maintain a CDL. You need to check with your local drivers license department to determine what actions they will take on your CDL until you are cleared to return to driving.
So, I went to get my DOT Physical done at the place my company sends us. It’s one of those urgent-care facilities. Anyway, they have this requirement that if you’re diabetic, even just borderline, then you have to get an eye exam done saying you don’t have diabetic retinopathy. I passed the vision part of the test with flying colors. Has anyone heard of this?
@Allen
This would be a recommendation and a request by the CME. It would be a good idea if it has been a long time since your last eye examination. (Not a vision test, but an eyeball examination. Diaabetese can have such a subtle effect on you that you may not even notice it. Also the CME is held by the FMCSA to look at any potential safety issues that could arise.
IS being color blind a disqualifier for a DOT License in Va.
@ Danny S
Visual testing is for visual acuity and the ability to correctly identify red, green and yellow.
I have tunnel vision in my right eye. It’s been that way since childhood. I can see fine out of the center, but have no peripheral in that eye.It has never hindered me in driving. What would I need in order to pursue a CDL license? Will this be an issue?
@ Mike
To pursue a class A CDL and drive long haul, over the road, will require a federal vision waiver from FMCSA. If you are going to pursue a CDL and travel intra-state only, then you need to check with your local drivers license department for your states guidelines.
is an independent complete eye exam accepted
@ Robert
Yes, just make sure that a copy of the entire examination is available at the time of the DOT examination.
I have to renew my cdl license and have an eye exam because at my physical they said left eye is blurry.
If i need glasses after my eye exam and let the doctor that did physical have a copy that i got my eye exam done, will they renew my license if i have to wait a week or 2 for glasses to come in? My license expires on the 28th and i know my glasses wont arrive before then.
Hi
If someone has an glass eye or prosthetic eye are they able to get an F endorsement
Hi there I had a eye exam back in June of this year my class b license expires in December I have haz mat and I drive across state lines my eye doctor says I should have no problem passing the eye test but if I were to fail what would happen thanks for any input
my peripheral vision in my left eye is not right due to a ocular stroke i have done all kinds of cat scans MRI’s eeg test and all. i drive in texas dues this disqualify me to drive? i can see other than that.
1. I am having cataract surgery soon. I know what my family doctor’s requirements are as far as returning to work. Is there a standard amount of time off DOT says a Trucker has to take off before driving semi again, or is it totally up to DOT physician?
2. I have macular degeneration. Will I be able to continue driving semi (per DOT guidelines) as long as I pass the vision tests?
I have been a commercial driver since 1970! I was granfarthered
into a cdl.my question; I have monocular vision. i’am I granfartherd
out of a vision waiver, since I started driving before all these regulations?
I have the same condition, I would like an answer to this also
I have a class f endorsement , to drive a van under 26000 lbs, I’m blind in my right eye and have been since the age of 8 . i’m now 60 but the insurance is requiring a dot physical , is it possible to get a waver
I am 20/40 in my left eye and 20/200 in my right eye would I qualify to drive a truck or not
I have had three retinal tears resulting in loss of vision currently I’m starting to experience the same symptoms that I had before the previous retinal tears. My question is should I stop driving until these symptoms go away?
@Melvin
If the symptoms alter your visual acuity – yes!
What is the acceptable distance from the chart?
@Tim
20 feet!
Can I obtain a Haz Mat endorsement with a USDOT vision waiver?
@Bill
This is a drivers license question for BMV.
-can my optometrist send a letter with me to the DOT examiner indicating my vision corrected and uncorrected so that I don’t have to repeat the eye exam. Thanks
@John
Yes.
My husband has a vision waiver for the state of Minnesota. We are considering moving to Wisconsin. Is it likely he will be able to get a vision waiver there too? Or is that questionable?
@Diana
You’ll need to check with Wisconsin drivers license department.
I recently failed the depth perception portion of my eye exam. I’m applying for a cmv driving job. Can I get a vision waiver for depth perception?
Do you think I will hired for the job after feeling the depth perception test? I live in Boston Massachusetts.
@Yvonne
Check with your local drivers license department on this one.