Are you interested in getting your DOT physical exam to get back on the road? Do you need to receive a DOT exam but unsure of where to get it? If so, then you’re most likely wondering, “where can I get a DOT physical near me?”
Knowing where to get the DOT physical is vastly important. It can help you receive one more quickly, as well as ensure the test is 100-percent accurate. Remember, the exam was meant to protect you, not inconvenience you.
See below for an in-depth guide on receiving a DOT physical exam to educate yourself further.
What Is a DOT Physical Exam?
Have you been told that you need to receive a DOT physical before you can drive on the road again? Perhaps a loved one has been told they’re required to get one, and you don’t know the extent of what a DOT physical is.
Essentially, a DOT physical is an exam that every state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) requires of their commercial motor vehicle drivers before they get behind the wheel. To enhance the safety on state roads, they want to make sure everyone who’s moving heavy commercial motor vehicles is of sound mind, physically capable, and of the right emotional temperament to do the job well.
No one is an exception. The Department of Transportation requires that everyone interested in operating a commercial motor vehicle take the exam. This way, it offers an unbiased protocol to protect fellow drivers, the company, the driver, the materials, and so on.
What Does a DOT Exam Entail?
Perhaps this will be your first time receiving a DOT physical. Maybe you want to educate yourself to know what to expect when your loved one goes through it.
Essentially, the exam focuses on a few key parts to ensure that—if the driver passes the exam— they are in good physical, emotional, and mental condition. These are the first few general tests they’ll perform:
Urinalysis – A urinalysis is a mandatory part of the DOT exam. Contrary to popular belief, it’s more used to identify critical health conditions than a drug test. However, if your employer has a rule against drug usage, they’ll have access to that information from the urinalysis test as well.
Vision – If you’re going to be operating large commercial motor vehicles on the road, the department of transportation wants to make sure you can see clearly enough. They’ll test both your visual acuity and peripheral accuracy, two things that are vitally important to response time on the road.
Hearing – Having a hearing aid doesn’t have a negative effect on this part of the exam. As long as you can hear a whisper from 5 feet away, you’ll pass.
Blood Pressure – This portion of the test is merely looking for any pre-existing heart conditions, high blood pressure, or unhealthy heartbeats. Having those can make you risk when operating commercial motor vehicles. This part of the test ensures that operating a CMV wouldn’t be putting physical stress on you.
What Does the Physical Include?
Once those parts of the exam are over, the DOT physical itself is a bit more extensive. They essentially want to make sure that your body is a well-oiled machine, capable of handling the high stress that can come from driving and operating CMVs.
This includes testing for the eyes, mouth, lungs, throat, ears, limbs, abdomen, spine, and brain. Some are general exams, while others may or may not be performed based on your medical history. For example, if you’ve had a critical surgery or replacement in your past, the priority will be to make sure that it doesn’t inhibit you from driving. Even the slightest limited movement can be a detriment to your driving ability.
Remember, the point of the test isn’t just to test your current health. In fact, the DOT exam is more interested in whether your health is in slow or fast regression. For example, you might have 20/40 vision today (which is passable), but it will worsen quickly if you have macular degeneration.
What Should I Bring for the DOT Physical Exam?
Again, not being in peak physical condition won’t cause you to fail the exam immediately. Think of it more like a solution-based exam. If there is a sign of regression or degeneration, they want to make sure you have solutions for it. For example, if you have hearing problems, then you need to bring a hearing aid to show them.
See below for a list of things you’ll want to bring with you to the exam. This will help it go as smoothly as possible and get you out of there quicker:
Documentation– If you have a specific health condition that may interfere with your driving ability, you need to bring documentation from your specialist saying you’re safe to operate the vehicle.
Assistance Objects– For those of you that have vision or hearing problems, make sure to bring all the equipment that you use to help you on the road, like prescription sunglasses, hearing aids, and so on.
DOT Physical Exam Near Me: Find a Trusted Examiner Today
Now that you’ve received some answers to your question, “where can I find a DOT physical exam near me?” and know what to expect, it’s time to schedule one for yourself.
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