CDL physical

I would say the hardest part is the BLood pressure check and also some trucking companies are now going to an Agility test.

 

My BP has always been border line. Do they automatically fail you if your BP is elevated?

 

They DO check blood sugar and blood pressure

 

If your BP is regulated (to normal) by medications/diet you can get a waiver

 

I took my DOT physical today and passed! My BP as excepted was a little elevated. The doctor prescribed BP medication (he is also a doctor in our health plan so I figured might as well become a patient of his.) and I have to see him again when I graduate school. He signed my card and told me it's good for a year.

 

The cards are good for 2 years. Your BP is why it is only good for a year.

 

Different doctors do the DOT physicals in different ways. Since I just went back on the road, I recently had to have one via a local clinic that the companies runs everyone through for pre-employment junk. This is what they checked

• Blood pressure and any hear irregularities
• flexibility - squat (bend at the knees to the floor and stand back up), then touch my toes
• reflexes - knees and elbows
• hernia
• eyesight
• hearing

That was pretty much it. Now, when I have to re certify in a year (due to high blood pressure), I will do so via my family doctor where he will check my blood pressure, ask how things are going, then send me on my way with a new card. He probably doesn't do this for everyone, but I do regular physicals every couple years already so he knows how everything else is already.

 

I figured the reason for a one year card was for the BP which is fine because was afraid I wouldn't get it at all. The doctor prescribed something for my BP and since I made him my primary I'll keep regular check ups. By the way my exam included:
reading a eye chart
looking in my ears
BP and pulse
listen to my lungs and heart
check my stomach
knee reflexes
keep my feet together put my arms straight out in front of me close my eyes and tilt my head back
that's it