3 month dot card...

Without experience - that is the way I understand it to work.

 

those are questions you should have asked the doctor.

that would be my understanding also. now sure what would happen if it DON'T come down. whether you can keep getting 90 days or if it's a one time only shot.

if your a smoker. i get mine done first thing in the morning before lighting up that first one. OR, i have to quit by noon and check in right before closing for exam. otherwise, i'm screwed also.

 

The most you can get for a recertification when the 3 month card expires is a 1 year card, provided your BP is below 140/90. Look on the copy of your long form physical and you will see guidance doctors must follow for certification/recertification of drivers with a clinical diagnosis of high BP or a BP reading above 140/90 at the time the physical exam was done. Did the doctor check your BP more than once after a period of rest between readings to confirm your BP was above 140/90?

If in fact you do have a clinical diagnosis of high BP, then medication and/or a change of lifestyle, diet, exercise, not smoking will be what helps keep it below 140/90 without use of medication. Should you need to stay on BP medication long term, a 1 year certification is all you can be issued in the future until the BP is longer needing to be controlled with medication.

 

Just curious... why not simply go to a different doctor for the next DOT physical?

 

You get a 1 year card ... i have been doing it for years... the card is your least important problem. Get your blood pressure under control and you will feel much better.

as for doctor shopping.. they are now required to report all dot physicals to your state.. pass or fail

 

If you are not on meds, your first one will probably be 1 year. At the next renewal, if you are still not on meds and everything is fine, the doctor can give you a 2 year card. Or, you may get another 1 year card. It's at the doctor's discretion.

Don't worry about BP meds. Take them if your MD wants you to, and get that 1 year card. Then, over the next year, work on your weight/stress/smoking/spouse/whatever is increasing your BP, and see if you can be off the meds for your next physical.

 

I went thru this too a few years back. When they DO certify you for a year check the expiration date on card. Chances are it will be from the date of when the 3 month was issued and not from when the 1 year card is issued. I drove 3 days on an expired card because I didn't check it.

 

You still have to disclose your condition and treatment. Otherwise it's a falsified document. Doctor B will come up with the same decision as doctor A, so doctor hopping won't make a difference. Besides you have all that self certifying going on with your state which eventually the doctor will be doing on the computer.

May 21, 2014 the National Registry was up and running. The doctor has to report to the FMCSA the results of the examination on form MCSA-5850.

It's on page 43-44 on this pdf. https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot...._Guide_to_ME_Certification_revised_032513.pdf

No more sneaky sneaky!