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.
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.