During your appointment for your DOT physical you will be evaluated for your physical health as well as your mental health to ensure there are no medical conditions that could interfere with your safe operation of a vehicle.

A series of tests will be performed, which include checking your blood pressure, hearing, vision, as well as your digestive health. It’s likely you will also be required to submit a urinalysis for both drug testing and diabetes.

Those with existing medical conditions are urged to bring along to your appointment any documents related to those conditions. All commercial drivers are required to disclose to the examining doctor any and all health conditions. In addition to possible fines, the driver may be disqualified from receiving a DOT Medical card for non-disclosure of pre-existing medical conditions. The physical exam for DOT normally takes between 30 minutes and one hour. 

For all DOT drivers the CDL physical exam is a requirement, and most commercial drivers require a DOT physical as well. Drivers who drive big trucks across state lines with cargo, known as interstate, are considered commercial drivers. Those drivers who do not cross state lines are called intrastate drivers, and the DOT and CDL physical exam rules do not apply to them. All commercial drivers, if their vehicle’s gross weight exceeds 1,000 pounds, must get a physical exam to obtain a mandatory Medical Examiner’s Certificate. This includes both intrastate and interstate drivers.

So, the answer is yes: the DOT and CDL physical exams are the same, even though not all drivers that are required to have a DOT physical, and obtain an ME (Medical Examiner’s) Certificate, will be required to have a CDL physical exam.

A company may or may not require their drivers to use their doctors for your DOT physical exam. If the company does not require their doctors be used, a driver may use any FMCSA National Registry certified Medical Examiner. A Medical Examiner and a DOT Doctor are interchangeable terms as there is no qualifying difference between the two. On May 21, 2014 a Federal regulation came into force to allow the use of the terms Medical Examiner, Certified Medical Examiner and CME. This means drivers will not be allowed to use any health care provider for the DOT physical exam but rather only a Certified Medical Examiner on the National FMCSA National Registry.

It is highly recommended you search for and find a Registered CME through your State to avoid any hassles, because each State individually makes the determination as to whether or not an intrastate driver must have a Certified ME, listed on the National Registry, perform the CDL/DOT exam. According to Federal regulations every Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder, as well as any Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) must certify the type of driving they perform, or are expected to perform. In New York State for example, a USDOT (US Department of Transportation) Medical Examiner’s Certificate is required for some driving types and submitted to the NY Department of Motor Vehicles before your current certification expires. Failure to comply will result in your commercial driving privileges being lost, which for most means a loss of income and livelihood. If you need a CDL/DOT physical, or have questions, then reach out to our team at Franklin Primary Care today as we are here to assist you.

To be considered compliant, a driver or carrier must:

1. Live in State that is compliant and the ME’s certificate information is available electronically.
2. A hard copy of the ME’s corticated is provided by the driver or carrier.

You will be comforted to know that our doctors at Franklin Primary Care are New York Certified Medical Examiners on the FMCSA National Registry and are qualified to administer the CDL/DOT physical exam. For more information, please call us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 225 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, New York 11552. We serve patients from West Hempstead NY, Franklin Square NY, Garden City NY, New Hyde Park NY, Uniondale NY, Mineola NY, and North Valley Stream NY.