If you are a professional truck or bus driver, and your employer needs you to have a Department of Transportation physical, you may be wondering what that is. A DOT physical is a test that checks to see if you are healthy enough to drive a truck or bus.
The DOT physical exam is a necessary test for anyone who wants to drive a commercial motor vehicle. This test makes sure that all commercial drivers are healthy and can handle the long hours and stress of driving a CMV. It is important to make sure you are physically able to drive a CMV so you can keep other people safe on the road.
Keep reading our guide to DOT Physicals so you can understand if you need one and what happens during the exam.
Components of DOT Physical
A DOT Physical Exam is used to check a driver’s vision, blood pressure, and medical history. This can help make sure that the driver does not have any health conditions that would stop them from safely driving a commercial vehicle. The different parts of a DOT Physical Exam are:
- Vision test
- Hearing Test
- Urinalysis Test
- Blood pressure check
- Medical history review
Vision Test
At your DOT Physical In MA, you will need to have 20/40 vision in both eyes. If you wear prescription glasses, be sure to bring them with you to the appointment. You will also be tested to see how well you can distinguish different colors with and without your prescribed lenses.
Hearing Test
Another part of the test is a hearing test. Drivers must be able to hear someone whisper from less than five feet away, with or without hearing aids.
Urinalysis Test
You will be asked to take a urine test. This test will help determine if you have a medical condition that needs attention.
Blood Pressure Check
You will have a blood pressure and pulse test. This will help make sure that you are healthy enough to sit for long periods of time.
Medical History Review
There will also be a physical exam as part of your DOT Exam. You will be tested for:
General appearance (weight, tremors, drug/alcohol problems)
Mouth & Throat (breathing and swallowing)
Lungs & Chest (breathing)
Abdomen & Organs (unusual masses, hernias, weakness)
Vascular System (weak pulse, blood flow, varicose veins)
Limbs (Loss or damage, weakness)
Skeletal (limitation, tenderness)
Neurological (balance, reflexes, speech). You may also need some vaccinations. These can include:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B (Hep B)
Polio/ Tetanus/ Typhoid
Influenza
You need to pass a DOT physical to be able to drive a commercial vehicle. The physical lasts for 3 months to 2 years, depending on your health and how well you do on the physical. If you don’t pass the physical, it’s because of your health conditions and they might stop you from being able to drive a commercial vehicle.
DOT Physical Requirements
When you go for your DOT physical in MA, you will need to bring any documents listing medications that you have taken in the past month. If you have a medical disability, please bring a medical release form from your doctor to show that they approve of you working with this condition.
Where Can I Receive A DOT Physical Exam?
At New England DOT Physicals, we offer DOT Physicals for only $89. To set up an appointment, please call us at 781-944-5400. We also accept walk-ins.
Don’t let this small check up hold you back! We also offer DOT card in MA here to make sure you are on the road performing at peak performance.
