Your First DOT Medical Exam: What You Should Know

When you decide to pursue a career as a commercial truck driver, one of the requirements that the government has for you to be able to do so is to go through an annual Department of Transportation (DOT) medical exam. While this may seem like an unnecessary hoop to jump through, these medical exams are designed to protect your health as well as the safety of yourself and other people on the road with you. Before you panic wondering about what the DOT medical exam entails, get to know more about your first DOT medical exam and what it entails. Then, you can be prepared for your physical and can get out on the road and making money as soon as possible.

You Need To Be Sure You Are Seeing A Certified DOT Medical Examiner

It is important that you go about the DOT medical exam properly and follow all of the rules that the federal government has laid out for you. As such, the first thing you need to keep in mind is that you schedule your appointment with a certified DOT medical examiner.

If you are already hired by a commercial trucking company, they will likely have a clinic that they prefer to work with and you can simply make your appointment at that clinic. However, if you are an independent contractor or have not yet been hired by a company but want to get your medical exam completed, you will need to ask the doctor if they have an up-to-date DOT medical examiner certification to be able to legally perform the required exam and fill out the paperwork.

You Will Be Asked To Give An Honest Medical History

Because the DOT medical exam is designed with your safety and health in mind, it is important that you are honest on the portion of the exam that involves your medical history. Just because you have a medical condition does not mean that you will be excluded from being able to continue to pursue your career.

For example, if you have had an injury to your legs or spine in the past that required surgery, you should list this in your medical history. The examining doctor will not automatically determine that you are not fit to drive a commercial vehicle because of this issue. The same goes for high blood pressure, hearing loss, or even diabetes that is managed through medication and diet.

Be honest in your medical history. This allows the doctor examining you to make the best determination possible for you and your health.

Be Prepared For A Series Of Tests

You will get a full workup at your DOT medical exam to account for your overall health and fitness to drive a commercial vehicle. This includes a vision and hearing test, as well as your blood pressure, height, and weight. You will also need to have labs run to check for drugs in your system as well as for proteins, blood, or sugars that could indicate an undisclosed health issue.

The doctor will also evaluate your skills and will ask you to perform tasks that may seem silly to you including arm movements to test reflexes, range of motion, and hand-eye coordination. They will also generally assess your appearance and check your throat, ears, nasal cavities and glands for any signs of trouble.

If the doctor finds no medical issues that would prevent you, by law, from being able to drive a commercial vehicle, then they will fill out the necessary forms and certify to the government that you are fit to be a commercial driver. However, if you have a medical issue such as high blood pressure or a cardiac health problem, you may need to go through additional steps to get certified. This can include taking prescription blood pressure medication or getting certification from your cardiologist that your condition does not make it unsafe for you to drive.

Now that you know more about your first DOT medical exam, you can schedule your appointment and rest easier knowing what you can expect from the process.