America’s trucking industry is responding to a shortage of qualified truck drivers in part by putting retired truckers back behind the wheel. This raises concerns about truck drivers’ health and whether drivers are being vetted physically as they should be.
In a recent After the Crash podcast, attorney David Craig, managing partner and a founder of the law firm Craig, Kelley & Faultless, discusses the Commercial Vehicle Medical Examination – or “DOT Physical” – required of truck drivers with Dr. David Fletcher, who practices occupational medicine. Dr. Fletcher is the medical director and CEO of SafeWorks, Illinois, a certified medical review officer, and a certified substance abuse professional.
What Is a DOT Physical?
Interstate commercial truck drivers, bus drivers, placarded hazardous materials haulers, and drivers paid to drive vehicles designed to carry more than 8 people are required to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination. A licensed medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Association’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) must conduct the exam. Drivers can search the registry to find registered physicians.
If the driver passes the exam and is deemed healthy enough to drive safely, the doctor will complete and issue a Medical Examiner’s Certificate, often referred to as a DOT Medical Card.
Requirements of the exam include the following:
- Vision exam. Truck drivers must have at least 20/40 vision in each eye.
- Blood pressure test. Blood pressure must be at or below 140/90 with or without medication.
- Urine test. Urine testing may identify kidney disease or diabetes.
- Hearing test. Drivers must be able to hear a forced whisper from five feet away.
- Lung function assessment.
- A neurological exam to test reflexes and coordination. Epilepsy or another seizure disorder disqualifies a driver.
The physician will ask about medical history, such as prior surgeries, ongoing health problems or current symptoms, medications, and the trucker’s lifestyle, including the use of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal substances.
A DOT medical card is valid for two years for most drivers. Drivers diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease may require an annual DOT physical.
What Happens If I Fail the DOT Physical?
Failing the DOT Physical does not necessarily mean that a driver will lose their Commercial Driver’s License. If the trucker’s condition is treatable and improves, they may take the exam again.
The following conditions will lead to failing the exam:
- Cardiovascular/respiratory disease
- High blood pressure
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Nervous/psychiatric disorder
- Poor eyesight (without corrective lenses)
- Loss of one or more limbs
Are There Exemptions to DOT Medical Card Requirements?
Interstate drivers who fail the seizure or hearing standard may be eligible for an exemption from the DOT Medical Card requirements for hearing and lack of a seizure disorder. As part of their applications for hearing and seizure exemptions, drivers must submit various information to the FMCSA for review. This may include:
- Physical qualification exam information
- Medical records
- Employment history
- Driving experience
- Motor vehicle records.
The FMCSA is in the process of updating vision and diabetes standards and potential requirements for exemptions to those standards.
Call Our Truck Accident Attorneys If You Need Help with a Case
Please listen to our podcast or read the transcript to understand why DOT Medical Card requirements and other safety regulations, including DOT truck inspection requirements, don’t make our roads safe from negligent truck drivers and trucking companies. If you’ve been injured in a commercial truck accident in Indiana, contact the semi-truck accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless for a free review of your accident and a discussion of your legal options. Phone (800) 746-0226 or reach out online.
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