A medical examiner is someone who is licensed, certified, and registered, in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations, to perform physical examinations in cases of emergency or standard healthcare protocol. In order to become a medical examiner, you must pass a DOT exam so that you can become licensed under specific state law appointed registries.

What Is A DOT Exam?

This Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination must be conducted by a licensed medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. A DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months and assesses your general health, as well as your mental health and emotional fitness for the demands of professional driving.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets specific regulations for the safe operation of commercial vehicles in the United States, which each state also has specific regulations.

During your appointment for a DOT physical exam, the examiner will assess your physical and mental health as to ensure that there are no pre-existing medical conditions that will interfere with your ability to drive and operate a vehicle safely. The doctor will perform a series of tests to check your blood pressure, vision, hearing, digestive, and mental health. This will ensure that you are in safe physical condition to operate a vehicle safely and that you’re not at risk of hurting yourself or anyone else as a result of a health-related vehicular accident.

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To qualify for the exams the driver must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid US driver’s license, and have never had any convictions of a DUI (drug or alcohol-related) in the past 5 years.

The DOT physical blood pressure requirements suggest that if the commercial drive has an average blood pressure score of under 140/90, they may be medically-certified for 2 years. If the commercial driver has a top number of 140-159 and a bottom number of 90-99, then they may be DOT medically-certified for 1 year.   

Do You Need A DOT Exam?

Those operating or want to operate vehicles in interstate commerce that have a gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more MUST have a DOT medical exam conducted. If you want to become a medical examiner and are in need of having a DOT exam conducted so that you can move forward in your licensing process, then give The Medical Centre of Lehigh Acres a call today! Schedule an appointment and we can help you get on the road as quickly as possible!  

Here are some tips to help increase the chances that you’ll pass your DOT exam with flying colors!

• Avoid coffee and energy drinks 24 hours before your DOT exam
• Cut back on salt the week before your DOT physical
• Be prepared when coming to the exam
• Avoid big meals and overeating
• Don’t get “White Coat Syndrome”