Things To Prepare For Your Appointment
- Make sure to continue taking your prescribed medications as usual.
- Wear loose clothing for the physical exam.
- Don’t use the restroom just before your appointment. You will need to give a small urine sample for a kidney screen. This is not for a drug test.
Things You Must Bring To Your Appointment
- Your valid driver’s license and /or other photo ID.
- Eye glasses or contact lenses, if applicable. If you recently had an eye exam it would be helpful, but not necessary, to bring that exam report with you.
- A working hearing aid, if applicable.
- List of medications, and the name and contact information of the prescribing doctor.
- Medical release opinion letter (get template) from your primary doctor or specialist for any medical conditions being treated, or recent illness, injury, or surgery.
- Current FMCSA Waiver or Exemption Certificate or Skills Performance Evaluation if applicable.
What To Expect During The Examination
The doctor will review your health history with you.
Conduct a thorough physical examination.
Run a urine screen (dip-stick test) for urine specific gravity, urine protein, urine blood, and urine sugar, to check for the onset of possible disqualifying medical conditions.
How Long Is A DOT Medical Card Good For?
- 2 years – If you meet all the FMCSA DOT Regulations for Commercial Driver Fitness.
- A limited time, usually 1 year or 6 months, if periodic monitoring is required for certain medical conditions.
- A limited time, usually a 1 to 3 month window, if you have a recently diagnosed condition that you are working with your primary care doctor to get under control.
- Disqualified. A medical condition or medication may cause your medical card to be disqualified until the disqualifying conditions are rectified.
Put In A Nutshell
Help the DOT doctor help you. Come prepared to your DOT Physical exam appointment. Bring everything you need.
Then it’ll just be a matter of checking through each item on the Medical Examination Report and you should be done and set with your new DOT Medical Card in about 30 to 45 minutes.
Thanks to Trucker Docs expert panel doctor, Dr. Kenn Seals, for contributing to this article. You can find Dr. Seals at Chiro Stop in Salt Lake City, UT.Other Questions About the DOT Physical
Do I need to bring the DOT Physical form with me?
No. The DOT doctor will have the forms that are needed.
• The Medical Examination Report MCSA-5875 (Long Form).
• The Medical Examiner’s Certificate MCSA-5876 (DOT Card)
To save time, some DOT physical offices will make the Driver Information and Health History section of the Medical Examination Report available before your appointment, so you can complete it before the exam.
Do I have to get naked for a DOT physical?
No, you do not have to get naked. You may need to loosen or remove your shirt so the examiner can listen to heart sounds and do an abdominal check.
Does a DOT physical include a drug test?
No, drug testing is not part of a DOT physical exam.
Be aware that if you have been sent by your company for a DOT physical, they may request – in addition – that a drug screen is done. The drug test is an additional cost.
What is the DOT physical urine test used for?
The urine test is just a kidney screen to test for sugar and protein. It’s done to determine that there is no early onset of conditions like high blood pressure breaking down the kidneys, or early signs of diabetes, or kidney infection.
What if I conceal a conditional or disqualifying medical condition?
On the first page of the Medical Examination Report you must certify that your responses are complete and true. Making a false statement for concealing a medical condition may invalidate the examination and the Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
I usually get high BP only when this DOT physical is due!! What can I do? “
Here are some tips to manage your blood pressure and have it measure as low as possible during the exam.
For any other questions go to our forum for Frequently Asked Questions.
I have a son that is getting a job and is 17 years old. Is he able to get a health card so he can pull trailers? Or is there a minimum age. He will not have a CDL and will not leave the state. I live in Minnesota
@ Lucas
Because you will not have a cdl, you will be under your states guidelines and regulations, not federal DOT/FMCSA. Check with your local drivers license department (DLD) for the best answer.
Is there a “grace period” if a DOT physical is past due in North Fakota?
@ John
Not that we are aware of, but check with your local DLD for confirmation.
Do dot doctors ask for your medical history or have access to it
@ Matt
They ask, the intake form ask, and he has access to a data base.
Do they make u pee twice? Drug screen , then physical urine test. Or I can just pee once and they will use the pee for both tests or does it depend on the policies and practices of the organization conducting the exam.
@ Justin
Drug screening is not a part of the DOT/FMCSA physical examination process. Since drug screening is usually done separately, it will be what the policy and practices of the organization are.
So I took my DOT physical exam and I gave the urine sample for you know the protein and high blood pressure and all that bullshit so then after my physical they wanted me to take a the drug test so I couldn’t P so they marked it down as a fuck in positive because I couldn’t because I just Peed to get the sample for my proteins you know it’s it’s freaking bullshit you know the people down there basically cost me a job because they couldn’t take my urine and use it twice and it has a person supposed to P in a 20 minute window and then pee again
@ Mike P
You have the right to wait up to 4 hours before being denied as a fail to perform/refusal. A 20 minute window is not enough time to acquire additional urine for a drug screen. Go complain.
If I have been diagnosed with copd/asthma and have it well controlled with the medication I have been described with can I still getting a passing dot physical exam?
@ David N
The CME will have questions and will, most likely, be looking for supporting medical documentation. If everything check out and the rest of the examination is within normal limits, you have a good chance of passing.
I take no medication and I haven’t seen a doctor in many years other than to get a physical in 2020 will this be an issue. Thank you in advance
@ Delvi
Should not be an issue at all.
My has has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Will he fail a DOT medical examine for this?
@ Lori
For a class A driver. He will need to be on a cpap for at lease 30 days with a report/readout demonstrating a 70% compliance, before he will pass a DOT/FMCSA medical certification examination.
I having trouble with getting a dot certificate,I explained to the doctor that I no longer drive an 18 wheeler, I’ll be driving my van and when my cdl’s expire in December, I will only need a class C license to work for this company, but this is the only time I need the certificate, he won’t give it to me unless I have a stress test. I will no run any numbers on my 3/4 ton van will be hauling under 10,000 lbs. What can I do to get certified?
@ Tom K Tx,
Best to down grade now. If you still hold a class A license, then the CME must maintain his obligations as a certified examiner.
Im about to go for my dot physical and I am worried that I will be denied due to having THC on my system. Will I be denied for that reason?
@ Nate
You are going to be ask in the patient intake form about use of illegal drugs. That question needs to be answered correctly and may deny you the DOT/FMCSA examination. Also, you will not pass the employers drug screen testing.
Question..so do they make u pee twice ..? For urine? Drug screen , then physical urine test..or all just in 1 cup 1 time
@ Mikey
DOT/FMCSA only want a urine sample to determine blood, protein, and sugar. One cup, one pee. Drug screening, requested by the company, is a separate issue all together. one cup, one pee.
I just applied for my very first CDL medical certification and was denied because my personal physician reported that I have neuropathy which I have never heard of. I looked it up and have never reported the symptoms to my doctor. Is neuropathy that is a firm disqualification?
@ Andy S
You just need a note from your PCP that you do not suffer from any neuropathy. Then redo the DOT/FMCSA medical certification examination.
Hi I pass all on my examination then the Dr. says to me my neck is 17 in and she thinks I need to have a sleep test this is crazy. So she would not sign card. This test is to much money I have never had a sleep problem what is this about a neck size in Md
@ Linda L
Go get a second opinion. Some facilities and CME’s have a vested interest with sleep study groups. Or they over-read the DOT/FMCSA guidelines and make their decisions based on their interpretation. There is NO guideline/regulation requirements for sleep studies based solely on neck size or BMI.
Allow insulin for diabetic for truck driver? Can get wavier form for insulin so can going trick driver? I been trucker since 10 years. I can’t live without trucking life.. thank you god bless you
What is the highest your a1c can be for type 2 diabetes to get a card
@ Kurt
A1c should be in the 5.7 to 6.0 levels. Above 6.0 you start spilling sugar into the urine and will be denied until you bring it under control.
Are you able to use the VA for a physical? Is it acceptable?
@ Paul M
If the VA has a federally certified DOT medical examiner, then use the VA. For a class A cdl, it must be done by a registered CME.
Where do I turn in the paperwork after the physical?
@ Wayne F
Your federal paper work was turned in by the examiner. You will need to get a copy to your states drivers license department.
I take Seroquel and Xanax for depression and panic attacks will this disqualify me from getting my medical card
@ Lgj
You will need medical documentation for the condition, as well as, a medical release from your prescribing physicians.
if you were elliptic 20 years ago and haven’t taken medication in 20 yrs, not been seen by a doctor for them will you still need to be release by a neurologist?
@ Bf w
Most likely. The FMCSA guidelines are fairly strict on this issue. A release form from a neurologist would be a big help in the CME’s decision making process.
I had to do a dot physical for a non cdl driving position, but because I had a perscription for oxy but do not take it they refuse to pass me on my physical. Even though I passed my drug test. What do I need to do to get Dot approved ?
@ T Lee
You will have to find a CME who understands the differences between Federal FMCSA Dot physicals and your states variances.
Currently I am looking to go to school for class A cdl long haul. Been diagnosed with PTSD from a past turmoil but been diagnosed with bipolar disorder that is being controlled by medication. Have my doctor statement about this situation, but still afraid that I won’t get my medical card. What do I need to do
@ Alondra
Your medications are going to raise questions and will require supporting medical documentation and a sign medical release form from your prescribing physician.
Can I complete the medical and physical at the same approved doctors office?
@ James
For FMCSA they are one and the same.
@ Personal Struggle
Get an appointment, bring a smiling face, a way to pay, a need to pee, and picture ID.