What to Expect:

WHAT IS A DOT PHYSICAL?

A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical is a health examination mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. A DOT physical helps determine if a driver is physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to operate a commercial vehicle.

Commercial drivers are safety-sensitive employees; they perform a job that can impact their own safety and the public’s safety. Employers of commercial drivers must comply with federal regulations for DOT physicals.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A DOT PHYSICAL?

The DOT physical will include a health history review of the driver by a certified medical examiner (CME). The CME will also check the driver’s vital signs and perform a thorough examination, evaluating a number of health-related categories, such as:

• - General appearance

• - Extremities

• - Lungs and chest

• - Heart

• - Eyes and ears

• - Mouth and throat

• - Nervous System

• - Back and Spine