How much personal info do you share during a DoT physical?

I'm starting a new driving job next week and they are requesting a new DoT physical. I have an existing 2 year med card I got in October 2021 before I started CDL school. Before this coming job I accepted a job with a flatbed company and did a second DoT physical with the company's preferred clinic. I was upfront and honest about my medical history and the nurse practitioner scared the #### out of me by talking about giving me a med card with exceptions and exemptions.

I had an old injury from 2008 that left me with comparatively diminished grip strength in my left hand and a weak triceps muscle in my left arm. It doesn't affect my day to day life or ability to drive safely. I took and passed the CDL driving exam on a manual transmission easily.

After talking it over with another doctor she issued a clean 2 year med card and on the long form she mentioned the diminished grip strength in the "history box". The flatbed company ended up declining to hire me for this reason, which I'm OK with. After the orientation it was pretty clear flatbed and tarping isn't for me.

From what I can tell this second med card wasn't sent in to the DoT because I wasn't hired by the company leaving my original October 2021 med card active. I guess my question is do I tell the examiner about the injury and about the grip strength or don't say ####?

 

You fill out forms prior to the visit stating medical history. Do I just put the date and type of the injury and leave it at that or don't put anything at all?

 

You fill out forms prior to the visit stating medical history. Do I just put the date and type of the injury and leave it at that or don't put anything at all?

 

I'm not sure what you mean by self certify. Do you mean certify the two year med card from the exam for the flatbed company? I don't think it was sent in to the DoT.