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5 Things You Didn’t Know About DOT Physicals

5 Things You Didn’t Know About DOT Physicals

The DOT physicals are special physical/medical exams required by the Department of Transportation. The exams are a must for those wishing to obtain or maintain a commercial driving license (this includes truck and bus drivers).

Even if you’ve already been advised to take one, you might not know exactly what to expect. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the DOT exam and how they affect you.

Tip #1: A drug test is NOT part of the DOT Physical unless ordered by the employer or required due to past failed drug tests.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/does-dot-physical-include-drug-test-dr-michael-tigges/

Tip #2: The urine test for your DOT Physical is not for Drugs

The urine test performed during a DOT physical test checks for the presence of protein or sugar in your urine. These are important because they could indicate elevated glucose, an early sign of diabetes. They can also show whether you’re having other underlying medical issues, such as kidney problems.

Tip #3: The typical DOT card is valid for two years

However, this only applies if you clear the test properly and you have no medical conditions that could impact your driving performance. For example, being on prescription medications for high-blood pressure or diabetes triggers a restriction on your DOT card. As a result, you might be given a one-year card only and will have to come back after that to repeat the test.

There are also 3-month DOT cards available. These are considered temporary cards and are given to allow you time to get a specific condition under control. For example, if your blood sugar is too high, you might be given a 3-month card so you can see your provider and figure out what medications you need to take to control your blood sugar.

Tip #4: There are specific guidelines regarding blood pressure measurements

You won’t be disqualified from getting your DOT card if you have high blood pressure, but you will be required to keep it under control with medical treatment.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) state that:

Drivers with less than 140 systolic and 90 diastolic can receive a two-year card
Drivers with a systolic measurement of up to 159 or a diastolic measurement of up to 99 can receive a one-year card
Measurements over 160/100 will receive a three-month card so you can go back to your provider for antihypertensive drug therapy. After the three months, if the blood pressure readings have gone down, you can receive a one-year card and will be reassessed annually after that.

Tip #5: Some conditions might disqualify you from passing the DOT exam

Aside from uncontrolled diabetes and blood pressure, you might be disqualified from getting a DOT card if you suffer from poor visual acuity, certain mental disorders, epilepsy and advanced heart disease.

Call ahead , ask questions and be prepared.

By: Dr. Michael Tigges

Call 615-452-1575

OCCUPATIONAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB

Occupational Health Resources on the Web

For Occupational Health information, including state and federal regulations, take a look at some of the sites listed here:

1. Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA): www.osha.gov

2. Department of Transportation (DOT): www.dot.gov

3. National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME): https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/Drivers.seam

4. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

5. FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing information: http://www.dot.gov/odapc/part40

6. Center for Disease Control (CDC): www.cdc.gov

7. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): www.cdc.gov/niosh

8. Department of Public Health (DPH): www.state.ma.us/dph

By Dr. Michael Tigges

Crane operators can use a DOT physical certification to prove they are fit to work.

http://www.nccco.org/nccco/news-center/archived-press-releases/news/2016/09/28/nccco-clarifies-physical-requirements

Even though the NCCCO certification medical form was not mandatory by any federal and state organizations. It was adopted as the standard for certification for crane operators.

It now refers to the ASME B30 medical standard or defers to the DOT medical Certification

ASME B30.5-3.1.2 (a) in order to be certified by CIC.

1. Vision of at least 20/30 Snellen in one eye and 20/50 in the other, with or without corrective lenses.

2. Ability to distinguish colors, regardless of position, if color differentiation is required.

3. Adequate hearing to meet operational demands, with or without a hearing aid.

4. Sufficient strength, endurance, agility, coordination, and speed of reaction to meet crane operation demands.

5. Normal depth perception, field of vision, reaction time, manual dexterity, coordination, and no tendencies to dizziness or similar undesirable characteristics.

6. Negative results for a substance abuse test. (The level of testing determined by the standard practice for the industry where the crane is employed and confirmed by a recognized laboratory service.)

7. No physical defects or emotional instability that could render a hazard to myself or others, or which, in the opinion of the examiner, could interfere with my performance operating the crane. If evidence of this nature is found, it may be sufficient cause for disqualification.

8. Not subject to seizures or loss of physical control; such evidence shall be sufficient reason for disqualification. (Specialized medical tests may be required to determine these conditions.)

By Dr. Michael Tigges

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/crane-operators-can-use-dot-physical-certification-prove-tigges/?trackingId=qzTE0uEWtpa3%2B9IoC1KylA%3D%3D

DOT PHYSICAL SAME DAY

BREATHING & COPD & SLEEP APNEA

Breathing

Q&A
Can a driver with lung disease get a DOT medical card?
The medical examiner will evaluate your condition to determine how the lung disease may affect your ability to safely drive and perform other duties of a commercial driver. If you don’t have a medical opinion letter from a treating physician, you may need to go for a chest x-ray or pulmonary function tests before the medical examiner can consider certification or we may have to request further medical clearance from your treating doctor.
Is the use of oxygen therapy a disqualifier?
Most likely, yes, oxygen therapy while driving is a disqualifier. The reasons are twofold: 1. Malfunction of the oxygen equipment. 2. Progression of the disease may be debilitating. You may be considered if you can pass a pulmonary function test.
I was recently diagnosed with COPD. Can I lose my CDL because of this diagnosis?
The diagnosis of COPD is not, by itself a disqualifier for your cdl. It will/may have an effect while doing your medical examination and certification. Your best bet is to take any all notes from your primary lung doctor with you when you re-do your medical exam and certificate. The examiner just needs to make sure you are fit to return to work without being a risk to yourself or the public at large.
Can I still drive if I have a blood clot in the lung?
With the blood clot in the lung, you want to make sure you bring a note from you pulmonary specialist stating you are good to go. The medical examiner will need a copy for your file when he does the exam.
I had lung surgery and a lobectomy a few years ago. Will this fail me on a DOT physical?
In and of itself, the lobectomy should not be an issue. But what was the reasoning behind the surgery? Your examiner will have other questions regarding the surgery and what its long term effects are, as well as, how it affects your ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

What does neck size, weight, and BMI have to do with the DOT physical exam?
Neck size, weight, and BMI are all just indicators that the medical examiner looks at to determine if you may have a condition that would impact your ability to safely drive a commercial vehicle now or for the period for which the medical card may be issued. There are currently no set specifics on these measurements in the DOT regulations, however companies may set their own policies and have their own standards for these indicators, which may disqualify you to drive for that particular company.

What does snoring have to do with the DOT physical exam?
Snoring, in combination with obesity, can be highly predictive of obstructive sleep apnea risk. That said, even the loudest of snorers may not have a breathing obstruction. The sign that is most suggestive of sleep apnea occurs when snoring stops. If both snoring and breathing stop while the person’s chest and body try to breathe, that is literally a description of an event called an ‘apnea’. When breathing starts again, there is typically a deep gasp and then the resumption of snoring.
For the DOT physical exam the medical examiner evaluates your overall physical condition and health history to determine if there are signs of a medical condition that may affect your ability to safely drive a CMV. If the medical examiner has reasonable suspicion that you have sleep apnea you may have to go for an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram before you can be further considered for certification.
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DOT PHYSICALS SAME DAY WALK IN’S WELCOME

DOT Medical Exam and Commercial Motor Vehicle Certification

About the Exam

A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination is conducted by a licensed “medical examiner.” The term includes, but is not limited to, doctors of medicine (MD), doctors of osteopathy (DO), physician assistants (PA), advanced practice nurses (APN), and doctors of chiropractic (DC).

To find a medical examiner to conduct the DOT physical exam you may contact your primary care provider to inquire if they will conduct a “DOT physical exam.” You may also find a medical examiner in the yellow pages of your telephone book, or on the Internet by using an Internet directory or search engine. Look under “Occupational Health.” If your medical examiner does not have a Medical Examination Report, one may be downloaded.

A DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months. The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner’s certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure.

Recordkeeping

If the medical examiner finds that the person he/she examined is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), the medical examiner will furnish one copy of the results to the person who was examined and complete a Medical Examiner’s Certificate.

DOT Physical Exams

The Department of Transportation requires all Commercial Drivers License (CDL) holders to receive periodic physical examinations, officially called a “Department of Transportation Medical Examination,” to ensure the ability of the driver to safely operate a commercial vehicle.
Who Needs a DOT Physical?
You are required to have a physical exam and carry a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) medical certificate if:
• You operate a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) or gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross combination weight (GCW) of 4,536 kilograms (10,001 pounds) or more in interstate commerce.
• You operate a motor vehicle designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, in interstate commerce.
• You operate a motor vehicle designed or used to transport between nine and 15 passengers, for direct compensation, beyond 75 air miles from your regular work-reporting location, in interstate commerce.
• You transport hazardous materials in quantities requiring placards, in interstate commerce.
The US Department of Transportation sets the following guidelines:
• CDL holders (Drivers) must have 20/40 correctable vision in each eye. Glasses or contact lenses are permitted.
• Drivers cannot be a diabetic on needle-injected insulin; diabetes controlled through a diet or oral medication is permitted.
• A driver’s blood pressure must be under 140/90. Prescription medication to control blood pressure is permitted.
• Use of a Schedule 1 drug, amphetamine, narcotic or any other habit forming drug is not permitted.
If a driver has a current diagnosis of cardiac insufficiency, collapse, congestive cardiac failure or any other cardiovascular disease, he/she will be required to provide the Medical Examiner with a stress test (performed within the last 12 months) along with a release from the driver’s physician stating that he/she can drive a commercial motor vehicle without restrictions.
The Department of Transportation also requires clearance for drivers that have been diagnosed with the following conditions: sleep apnea, recent back injury, recent major surgery, a current hernia, or have had recent workers’ compensation claims.
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DOT Drug Screening
CDL Drivers are also required to take random drug screens to maintain their license. Learn more about https://samedaydot.com/tennessee-dot-drug-testing/
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How Long is Exam Valid?
A DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months. The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner’s certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a medical condition.
If the medical examiner finds that the person he/she examined is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), the medical examiner will furnish one copy of the results to the person who was examined and complete a Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
You must carry a current copy of your medical examination certificate with you when you drive

DOT Medical Exam

DOT Medical Exam and Commercial Motor Vehicle

DOT PHYSICAL SAME DAY AT TIGGES CHIROPRACTIC

CertificationAbout the Exam