DOT physicals

DOT physicals pretty much goes as follows. You will be called by a nurse who will weigh you and check your vision. Then you will go into an exam room and have your blood pressure and pulse checked. Either before this or after it you will be directed to a restroom to give a urine sample. They will dip a test strip into this urine to see if you show evidence of having diabetes and some clinics still do a Chain Of Custody form and send the urine sample to be tested. Then after all of this you will wait till the examiner comes to do the actual exam. The examiner will whisper to make sure you can hear and will make sure you can see the 3 colors, some do this be showing you the numbers in the colored circles. The examiner will then have you touch your toes to check for mobility and will go over your answers to the health history. Some carriers also add the physical dexterity test to all of this. If you have no issues the examiner will give you a 2 year physical and send you on your way. Of Course different clinics do these things in various orders but the basics are still as I wrote.

 

You probably already know this but it has to be an FMCSA approved doctor. Here’s a link just in case https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/Drivers.seam

I just had mine done in PA for $66 (Conemaugh Health System Corporate Care). The test is based on this standard form; https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmc...Commercial_Driver_Fitness_Determination_0.pdf

The doctor checked me for everything on that form. I also had to fill out another form for the ‘Sleep Apnea’ BS but I checked everything ‘No’ and the doctor never asked anything.

 

It is confusing, especially to people like me that are just starting down this road. I called PA DMV and specifically asked them "do I need a DOT physical to get the CDL permit?" and was told no. I was in the DMV for another purpose a week later and asked them "do I need a DOT physical to get the CDL permit?" and was told no. I told her the website says you need it, and she told me that is not true, it's optional. I went in a week later (without getting the DOT physical) to get my permit and by chance got the same lady that told me before that it was not required. I asked her again and she again said it was not necessary. So as she is telling me how to fill out the Self-Certification form she says I have to 'check' either. EI or EA on this form http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BDL/BDL Form/DL-11CD.pdf
I stopped and told her I intended to drive out of state and would in fact be training out of state and she told me "well then you need to take the DOT physical". #### good thing they weren't checking my blood pressure at that moment.

There are scenarios in PA where you might not have to have the DOT physical in order to get a CDL permit, but I'd guess 99.9999% of the people reading this forum will need one.

 

Does touching your toes count if you bend your knees?
I've never been able to touch my toes, end up about 3 inches short due to a back injury in childhood, although it never bothers me, just keeps me from touching my toes....

 

My copay was $12. I already had health insurance though. I had it checked I started driving.

 

Agreed

 

It doesn't because certifying and passing the roadtest are separate things. Works the same everywhere. Some schools force it but your state itself won't. Just don't pass and pay for your license without having everything in order and your certification for interstate or you'll have a restriction.

 

In PA, you must self-certify in order to get a CDL permit. If you select NI or NA on that form, you cannot take the knowledge test or drive (even for training) until you present a valid DOT medical card.

If you look at the types of vehicles or job descriptions that are listed under EI or EA, they would only apply to a very small percentage of drivers. The lady at the DMV told me if I self-certify as EI or EA that I could take the knowledge test, then change my designation to NI or NA when i was ready to drive (even to train), but I didn't see any point in doing that.