Physical and background

Why don't you just go to your own doctor? If you have a problem he can take care of it before you get to orientation.

 

Because some doctors are like politicians, lawyers and hookers; wave a $100 bill and they will say anything. Companies like using their own doctors because it's easier to verify the credentialing and state licensure of one or two doctors versus every doctor that signs a medical card. It all come down to lessening the liability for the trucking company.

 

If your BP is high first time out, they will have you take some deep breaths, and calm you down. Anything you can do to calm yourself down will help. By anything, I mean meditation, deep breathing and the like. Don't do anything dumb. Don't drink coffee that morning, it should help with not getting hopped up on stress. Unless, like me, nothing happens before coffee. Nothing.

 

If you don't have a hernia, your blood pressure is normal and not high or borderline, are not a risk for sleep apnea, and don't have high blood sugar you will most likely be fine. If in doubt, go see your own doctor like was suggested. The DOT physical is generally speaking the easiest one you'll ever get.

Occasionally there are companies that will use a family of clinics (when I was with Swift they sent me to a Concentra prior to orientation for my DOT physical), but generally speaking you will use a doctor who contracts with the company itself - either at the clinic site or at the trucking company's office. You will never get a drug screen before orientation from a major carrier. That will happen the first day of orientation.

Like Dragon said, don't drink coffee, don't smoke, and don't get yourself all crazy nervous the day of the physical. Try to get as much sleep as you can the night before along with a healthy meal. If blood sugar is an issue for you, stay away from sugar and carbs for the entire day before the physical....and that means stuff like bread and pasta.

 

Might check with your DR. about the diabetes. You aren't allowed to have class A if you are diabetic.

 

You need to worry about things beyond the physical . Some carriers have you carry and lift different weights of boxes and God knows what else . You'd better keep asking

 

If your type 2 diabetic you can't be insulin dependent, it must be pill and diet controlled, I should know I'm tp 2 non insulin dependent.