Department of Transportation Testing

The role of drug testing in DOT

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The Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates drug and alcohol testing for employees who are defined to be in safety-sensitive transportation positions. This includes those on the roads, tracks, in the air or at sea.

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The United States Congress passed Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act in 1991 to ensure the public and employees are kept safe in transit. Its procedures for conducting federal drug and alcohol testing are described in 49 CFR part 40 of the Federal Regulations.

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Why Tomo is the right choice for DOT testing

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Tomo provides a wealth of expertise and knowledge around federal drug and alcohol testing regulations. Our testing programs are accurate, reliable, and confidential and designed according to organizational needs.

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When we work with you, we provide certified collectors at each step of the process. Strict quality guidelines are implemented every step of the way, and Tomo handles all management  of random scheduling process to ensure a frictionless testing program.

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DOT Physicals

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A DOT physical follows strict guidelines mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This ensures that drivers, commercial drivers, and other safety-sensitive employees are in good health and physically capable of performing their job duties.

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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).”

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Tomo Drug Testing provides convenient and accurate DOT physical exams.

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We currently offer DOT physicals at our Tulsa, Oklahoma location. Contact us for a free needs analysis and our extensive experience with DOT physical exams. Tomo is connected with a network of clinics and providers that can also help meet this need anywhere in the United States.

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What do I need for my DOT physical?

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• A list of all medications, including dosage information and prescribing doctor name and address
• 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

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You can find a more comprehensive list here.

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What happens during my DOT physical?

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• Vision check: 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.
• Hearing check:  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.
• Blood pressure/pulse rate: Blood pressure and pulse will be taken to identify signs of high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.
• Urinalysis: This test is required by DOT and looks for underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.
• Physical Examination: The physical exam will cover eyes, ears, mouth and throat, heart and vascular, lungs and chest, abdomen, extremities, spine and musculoskeletal, and neurological health.

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After the DOT exam, you will receive a DOT physical form. The Medical Examination Report (MER) Form, MCSA-5875, can be found here. The MER contains the driver’s information, health history, and findings from the doctor during the DOT exam.