eye test required when picking up cdl from the dmv?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TowHaul, May 24, 2021.

  1. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    there are NO trolls, here...just tiny, ugly little people that live under the over-passes.
     
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  3. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I have to do one every time I renew here in Arkansas, but I know some other states are different.

    They are in the process of changing to vision waver requirements but it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
     
  4. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    Let us be clear on this subject to separate the vision requirements under part 391.41 (b) (10) from what the states require when getting a driver's license.

    The feds require that the driver satisfy this to get a medical card.

    (10) Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least 70° in the horizontal Meridian in each eye, and the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber;

    As far as the states go I suspect Virginia is close to average with what they require to get a DL/CDL.
    LINK

    Driver's License
    • 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, and
    • 110 degrees, or better, horizontal vision in one or both eyes.

    CDL
    • 20/40 or better vision in each eye
    • 140 degrees, or better, horizontal vision

    The important thing to remember is these "vision" tests are different and happen at different times.
     
  5. FFL Trucker

    FFL Trucker Light Load Member

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    In my experience the mileage and years a person has been driving has very little to do with how likely they're to get into an accident. A Aot of drivers like to play it safe and only drive in perfect conditions and will avoid driving at night, same conditions most driverless trucks are only able to drive in.

    With the eyesight that your friend has I'm sure that your friend can drive during a nice sunny day very well.
     
    Dave_in_AZ Thanks this.
  6. Iampa

    Iampa Light Load Member

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    I had to take the eye test here in Nevada when I passed my permit test. I was turning in my medical and had to do it even though my long form was a passed test
     
  7. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    It used to be in Arizona. When I renewed mine last year, it was not.

    Don't know of that was a virus thing or policy now.
     
  8. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    Of course, you are entitled to your opinion, but I do not agree with you. It's been my experience that what separates a driver that can go a whole career accident-free and some driver that has them a lot is basic wisdom born out of experience. I drove in snow, in fact, I drove in many white-out conditions and did over half of my driving at night. I had no accidents. An accident is the last link in a chain of events. It s that wise driver that knows these chains and will break them.
     
    TowHaul Thanks this.
  9. TowHaul

    TowHaul Medium Load Member

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    actually we drive at night 20% of the time at night, and he drives all winter long throughout all the northern states for the past 7 years in every kind of weather you could imagine. You would prefer a 20/20 sighted Swift driver with 6 months experience? ..... Not the guy I would hire if comparing the two.. Guy just passed CDL driving test with a almost perfect score.. just has one bad eye. In most states that is still legal as long as the other eye is good (which it is), just not on federal. I give him credit, he has to work twice as hard as I do with my two good eyes, and he is still a much better and safer driver than I am. Just feel bad he has to jump through so many hoops with his one lazy eye. He is in his late 30s and it is not correctable at this age.
     
  10. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Medium Load Member

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    I got tested in Texas just for going in and giving them my new medical card.
     
  11. N00bLaLoosh

    N00bLaLoosh Road Train Member

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    I had to take the eye test in Michigan even though I had the DOT card.
     
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