DOT Physicals and Why They’re Important

 


The Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination is a requirement that helps ensure a person is medically qualified to capably and safely operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). To help protect the safety of the public, CMV drivers are held to a much higher physical, mental, and emotional standard than passenger car drivers.

The DOT ensures the protection of citizens by making sure that their physical is thorough and accurate. This makes the DOT physical an important appointment for CMV drivers. Here’s what you should know about DOT physicals and why they’re important.

What Is A DOT Physical?

Since the DOT physical exam determines the eligibility of a commercial driver to perform their job, it must be accurate and thorough. This means that there are several different aspects of the physical that must be done during the examination. Here are the common ones.

Vision Test

All CMV drivers must take a vision test for their DOT physical examination. According to the CDL regulations, CMV drivers must have “at least 70” peripheral vision and 20/40 acuity in each eye to ensure safety on the road while driving.” However corrective lenses can be worn if required to help vision reach the necessary acuity.

Hearing Test

Aside from vision, the DOT physical examination evaluates the hearing of drivers. Hearing what’s happening around them is a crucial aspect of road safety for drivers. This is measured through different tones. To pass this part of the physical, a driver must be able to hear a “forced whisper” from a distance of no less than 5 ft.

Blood Pressure And Heart Rate

During a DOT physical exam, the physician will carefully monitor the blood pressure and heart rate of their patients. This catches any irregularities in their health that could potentially spell disaster on the road.

Urinalysis

While most people associate urinalysis with drug screening, that isn’t always the case with DOT physicals. Urine can hold a lot of information about what’s going on inside someone’s body. Physicians use urinalysis to read someone’s sugar and proteins to help determine if someone is diabetic, pre-diabetic, or experiencing any issues with their kidneys.

Physical Exam

During the physical part of the exam, your doctor will typically cover some basic categories such as:

  • Ears
  • Eyes
  • Mouth
  • Heart
  • Lungs
  • Chest
  • Spine
  • Neurological Abilities
  • Etc

It’s worth noting that regardless of where you get your DOT physical, the requirements are the same. This is due to the nature of CMV jobs. Since drivers will constantly be driving over state lines, their health must be consistent with requirements from all over.

Location: New York, NY, USA

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