If you are applying for a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you are required to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam. You’ll also need to have regular physicals to maintain your CDL. The team at High Rock Internal Medicine are nationally registered medical examiners of DOT physical exams. To schedule a CDL physical, call the office in Lexington, North Carolina, or make an appointment online.
The purpose of a commercial driver’s license exam is to determine whether you are currently, and for the foreseeable future, physically and mentally capable of safely driving a commercial motor vehicle.
Your High Rock Internal Medicine provider reviews your medical history and performs a complete physical examination, including vision and hearing tests. You’ll also be asked to provide a urine sample and have blood drawn for lab work.
Your provider will also ask you some questions to make sure you can fulfill the job requirements of a commercial driver, such as your ability to sit comfortably for long periods, your sleep quality, and some questions concerning your mental health.
It is important to note that this service is NOT the same as getting your annual physical. You should still present to your primary care provider each year so you can discuss with them your long term health goals and preventative health screenings and services.
An existing health condition won’t stop you from qualifying for a CDL unless the condition could interfere with your ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle. If you are color blind or you have diabetes that must be controlled with insulin injections, you aren’t eligible for a CDL.
The primary requirements to pass a DOT CDL exam include:
If you have a cardiovascular condition, you must pass a stress test, and you’ll need a note from your personal physician stating that you can safely drive a commercial motor vehicle.
Once you’ve passed your CDL physical, it is valid for 12-24 months, depending on your chronic health issues. If your provider determines you have a medical condition that could worsen before your next exam, you will be required to have your next examination at an earlier date to maintain your commercial driver’s license.
If you need a DOT physical to apply for or maintain a CDL, call High Rock Internal Medicine today, or book an appointment online.