Dr. Brown’s goal is to help you maintain your CDL Federal Medical card and keep you working. He and his staff will guide you through the process for any medical condition to help you successfully meet the requirements of the DOT physical.
Donald Brown, DC is a board-certified specialist in Occupational Health. He is on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, NRME number 1094790772. He has done thousands of DOT physicals for in New Richmond since 2001. He is a provider for local businessess, CDL training schools, school bus companies for DOT physicals, DOT drug testing and DOT breath alcohol testing. As a member of the national network, TeamCME, Dr. Brown is a preferred provider of the Owner Operator Independent Driver Association for DOT Physical Exams.
He is a past president of the American Chiropractic Association Council on Occupational Health. He is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association.
DOT (Department of Transportation) physicals are required to ensure the public’s safety and your safety, this check-up verifies employees are in the best of health to work safely. Here’s everything you need to know about the DOT physical.
Who Needs a DOT Physical?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates a DOT physical for everyone applying for a commercial vehicle driver’s license. This includes people who operate:
- Vehicles that carry more than 15 people or more than eight people if the driver is paid
- Vehicles that transport hazardous material and have a placard
- Vehicles that have a gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more
What Does a DOT Physical Consist Of?
All DOT physicals must be completed by a medical examiner licensed by the FMCSA. In the first part of the physical, you will need to fill out a medical examination form with your detailed medical history. This form can also be filled before the appointment to save time.
For the medical checkup, your doctor will test:
- Hearing
- Vision
- Blood pressure
- Urinalysis (drug testing)
- External and internal health including, but not limited to: motor skills, lungs, neurological reflexes, heart conditions, sleep apnea, and limb impairments.
What to Bring to a DOT Physical
Before you come to your physical, bring a complete list of all medications with dosage amounts and the prescribing doctors’ names and addresses. If you’re a driver with medical issues, you’ll have to bring documentation from your physician. Below are a few examples:
Drivers With Vision or Hearing Problems:
- Bring contact lenses, glasses, or any device you normally use to see
- Hearing aids
Drivers With Heart Issues, Brain Tumors, or Previous History of Strokes:
- A detailed history of your health and a letter that designates you as safe to work from your cardiologist or neurologist.
- For heart issues, results from a recent stress test or cardiogram test
Drivers With Permanent Limb Loss:
- A Skilled Performance Examination (SPE)
- An overview from your doctor about any work restrictions of the injury
Drivers With Monocular Vision:
- The Vision Evaluation Report, form MCSA-5871, must be filled out by an eye doctor within 45 days before your DOT physical.
Drivers On Insulin for Diabetes:
- The Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment, form MCSA-5870, must be filled out by your doctor within 45 days before your DOT physical.