The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires a specialized physical exam at least every other year employees operating a commercial motor vehicle to be considered compliant and able to work. A DOT physical follows strict guidelines mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to ensure that drivers commercial drivers and other safety-sensitive employees, are in good health and physically capable to perform their job duties.
What to bring to a DOT physical?
- A complete list of ALL medications including the doses and doctors’ names and addresses
- Drivers with vision aids need to bring their glasses and or contacts
- Drivers with hearing problems need to bring their hearing aids
- Drivers with diabetes must bring their most recent lab results from their Hemoglobin A1C (HgA1C) and their blood sugar logs
- Drivers with heart-related issues must bring a letter from their cardiologist outlining their medical history, current medications and indication they are safe to work
Find a more extensive list here.
What does a DOT physical cover?
1. Vision
Drivers are required to have at least 20/40 acuity in each eye with or without correction. They are also required to have at least 70” peripheral in the horizontal meridian, measured in each eye.
2. Hearing
Drivers must be able to perceive what is known as a “forced whisper” at a distance of five feet or less, with or without a hearing aid. This standard equates to an average hearing loss in the better ear of less than 40 dB.
3. Blood pressure/pulse rate
The patients’ blood pressure and pulse will be taken to look for signs of high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.
4. Urinalysis
This test is required by DOT and looks for underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.
5. Physical Examination
The physical exam will cover categories including:
- Eyes
- Ears
- Mouth and throat
- Heart and vascular
- Lungs and chest
- Abdomen
- Extremities
- Spine and musculoskeletal
- Neurological
According to the FMCSA, “A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination must be conducted by a licensed ‘medical examiner’ listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. The term includes, but is not limited to, doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), physician assistants (PA), advanced practice nurses (APN), and doctor of chiropractic (DC).”
DOT Physical Form
The Medical Examination Report (MER) Form, MCSA-5875 can be found here.
The MER contains the driver’s information and health history, as well as any findings of the doctor during the DOT exam.
Tomo Drug Testing is your solution for convenient and accurate DOT physical exams.
Contact us for a free needs analysis and to find out how we can make DOT physical exams better for your organization.
We currently offer DOT physicals at our Tulsa, Oklahoma location.
