Who Needs a DOT Physical?
You are required to have a DOT certification with you whenever you drive if any of the following apply to you:
• You are commercially driving a vehicle that can hold 15 passengers or more and are driving for more than 75 miles from the place where you work
• You are carrying some kind of hazardous substances in your vehicle
• You are operating a vehicle that has a weight or a weight rating of more than 10,001 pounds and this vehicle is used for interstate purposes
Restrictions by DOT
The Department of Transportation has laid down certain restrictions for drivers of commercial vehicles. If you fall under any of these categories, you will not be allowed to have a commercial license. For example, you must have at least 20/40 vision (you are allowed to wear glasses or contact lenses in order to improve your eyesight). If you have diabetes and need injectable insulin, it falls under one of the restrictions specified by the DOT. Those who are found to use any narcotics or drugs that are habit-forming may also not be allowed to renew their licenses.
Exam Procedure
The first thing you need to do is fill out the top section of the DOT physical form. This section will ask you for a lot of personal details which should be filled in correctly. Once you complete this, you can move on to the next section which is about your medical history. Here, you should specify if you have suffered or are suffering from any problem like loss of hearing, bad eyesight, a heart attack, dizziness, strokes, missing limbs, kidney disease, chronic pain, etc. Remember that every question must be answered truthfully because if you lie on your form and you are caught later, you can face a lot of legal problems.
Once you finish filling in your form, the last part will need to be completed by a medical examiner. In order to do this, the examiner will conduct a regular physical exam which will include a visual test, checking of your blood pressure and pulse, a neurological examination, examination of your throat, ears, mouth and any other test that they may feel necessary. If you pass this examination and you have no major physical problem, you will obtain the necessary medical certificate.
DOT Physicals can now be done in comfortable settings and at your convenience. Visit a certified physician in order to get your examination completed so that you can drive your commercial vehicle without any problem.
