CDL DOT Physical Exam

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A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical is a physical exam that is required of people who drive commercial vehicles. The point of a DOT physical is to make sure that people who are driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as large trucks and buses, are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires this testing for the safety of the public.

You will need a DOT physical if you:

• Drive a vehicle designed to carry more than 15 people.
• Are paid to drive a vehicle designed to carry more than eight people.
• Carry hazardous material in your vehicle that requires your vehicle to have a placard.
• Drive a vehicle on the interstate with a gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight of 10,000 pounds (5 tons) or more.

If you pass your DOT physical, you’ll receive a Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC), also known as your DOT medical card. This certification, along with your commercial driver’s license (CDL), allows you to drive a commercial vehicle for 2 years, provided you have no underlying physical or mental condition that requires testing more often.

Medical conditions that require you to have an annual DOT physical include:

• Diabetes 
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart disease

If you have a medical condition such as very high blood pressure, you may be required to have physicals every 3 months while you undergo medical treatment to correct or manage the issue.