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

Just as the CDLIS won't allow a person to have more than one CDL, the FMCSA medical examiner's database only allows for one physical. If you have a valid physical and see another medical examiner once that examiner's report hits the FMCSA and then finally the CDLIS that first physical is voided out. This normally happens by the close of the next business day. I am going to give the legal answer to this information question. This examiner does not give a rats patoot if you have ED. They also don't care if you have ever had Measles etc. What they do care about are the answers to those questions on the form. So my opinion is if it's not asked for on that form it is NOT the examiner's business and I doubt they really care. They want to get finished with you and on to their next victim. Understand, when you see your family doctor this doctor needs a full medical history so they can treat you. A FMCSA medical examiner IS NOT treating you. They are assessing the information you provide them along with an exam to determine your fitness to drive. There is a major difference here and folks would do well to remember it.

 

Don’t volunteer unnecessary information. Answer the questions they ask, if you fill out a questionnaire about sleep apnea do not admit to snoring excessively. Once you get into that sleep apnea racket your screwed.

 

The only automatic disqualifiers are seizures/loss of consciousness and deafness. Anything else? Let them try and find it. Don’t offer it.

 

I would never expect HR to ever be helpful. It's not their habit. HR protects the company from employee misbehavior, as a rule.

 

How much info does the company retain from prior physicals? Mine wants the long form in addition to the certificate. Does the gov compare what you disclosed on old one to the new one? The more you disclose, the more you have to remember to disclose next time?

After my on the job injury (broken bone), my company required me to redo my physical before returning to work… even though I didn’t have surgery, leaving off the injury seemed like a stupid thing to do. I was also required to do another physical when returning from medical leave for surgery, and at least hr was vaguely aware… so not mentioning it felt like a stupid idea again.

 

First paragraph: I’ve had a lot of medical stuff, over the years. There’s no way my long-forms align. I’ve never been questioned from an employer of govt. Truthfully, the govt probably doesn’t care and relying the frontline physicians doing the exams to catch stuff. Then, if you go to the right physician, they don’t really care, either, and you slide on through, without a hitch. Now, if you walk into to the examiners business all gimpy, morbidly obese, or have any other obvious red flags, they’re probably going to have a closer look. And, every company I’ve worked for has wanted a copy of my long-form to put in my employee file. It might be a DOT/FMCSA requirement. Not sure.

Second paragraph: Obviously, you had an injury that prompted you getting a return-to-work physical, for your current employer, so listing the injury is the right thing to do.

 

I get mine done at the clinic at CVS pharmacy .

when your on their website makinging an appt , the drip down menu asks the nature of your visit and DOT physical is on there.

As mentioned , the Physician assistant or nurse practitioner (it’s never actual MD) doing the exam is NOT your normal family doctor and do not treat it like a normal doc visit.

the person doing the exam is looking for reasons to NOT give you a two year card .

when they ask about your health , your answer is “fine “

when they ask about snoring or sleep apnea or sleeping issues , your answer is “ I sleep fine and feel rested when I wake up”



it’s like being questions by the cops .
Answer the questions with as few words as possible and don’t volunteer any info .

 

None.... I don't tell those people anything..

"I feel great no issues "

 

Here are my feelings with regard to physicals. If you can't answer all those questions honestly your health is a ticking timebomb. Since the first of the year, I know of 2 people I know that have passed away from heart-related issues. The two largest problems are heart-related issues and diabetes as a direct result of what they eat and the general lack of exercise. This past summer I had a guy ask me if I knew of any fast ways to get blood pressure down. I said no because I refuse to kill a person. Oh, what about my job and my CDL? I said what about your (redacted) life? If you have OSA go on ahead and see a sleep specialist and get the sleep study done and get on the CPAP. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure go see your doctor get on some meds and follow their recommendations when it comes to diet and exercise. I'm coming from being a man in his 60s that is watching people I have known since the 60s and 70s dropping all over the place. Not long ago a good friend died on the Cardiac Cath Lab table while the Cardiologist was attempting to clear out his left circumflex coronary artery and insert a stent. For some of you that may be laughing at me and calling me a fool etc, in another 20+ years you may be wishing you had listened to that old fool. If you can't honestly answer those questions you need to get under a doctor's care, start eating right, lose some weight and start getting some exercise. Making round trips to the buffet doesn't count as exercise.