physicals

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), there are more than 13.3 million people who work in transportation and transportation-related industries, accounting for roughly 9.1 percent of employees in the United States.

If you want to pursue a career in the transport sector as a driver of a commercial vehicle, your first step is to secure a DOT medical card to be able to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Below, we’ve provided some more information about the importance of a DOT medical card and what the process of getting it involves.

Why a DOT Medical Card Is Necessary

A Department of Transportation (DOT) medical card, which is actually less of a card and more of a document, is what every person desiring to land and maintain safety-sensitive job needs. The DOT defines safety-sensitive jobs as those in which the employee’s performance can impact their own safety and that of the public.

A DOT medical card is essentially proof that you’re in optimal physical condition to operate a commercial motor vehicle, specifically:

• A truck carrying 10,000 pounds or more gross weight
• A truck carrying hazardous materials (hazmat)
• A vehicle carrying 15 or more passengers

What the DOT Exam Involves

To obtain a DOT medical card, you must undergo a physical exam, as mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Once you’re issued a DOT medical card, you need to renew it every two years. Medical examiners are required to keep a copy of the physical examination results for three years, so individuals can get copies of those results as needed.

A DOT exam includes various assessments, such as the following:

• Vision check
• Hearing test
• Skin check
• Blood pressure check
• Physical exam (general appearance, abdomen, musculoskeletal system, lungs, neurological function, etc.)
• Urinalysis

If you fail in any of these evaluations, talk to your medical examiner if there’s anything you can do to correct the problem. If the problem is not something you can fix, ask if you can apply for a waiver or an exemption.

DOT Physical Exam in King, North Carolina

At Cardinal Urgent Care, we desire to be your one-stop destination for your healthcare needs. Our professional team, headed by Dr. Samir Patel, offers an extensive range of ancillary services, including DOT physicals and occupational medicine services, because we believe health care should be convenient, comprehensive, and efficient.

While our patients can walk in anytime during our business hours for most of their needs, we encourage those coming to get a DOT medical card to schedule an appointment ahead of time to ensure streamlined care.

To book an appointment, you may call us at (336) 983-9111 or fill out this form. We look forward to serving you!

A CDL physical exam, more appropriately known as a DOT physical, is part and parcel of seeking and maintaining employment in the transportation industry. It is essentially your ticket to obtaining and keeping a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Here, you’ll learn why drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are required to undergo CDL physicals every two years.

Why Does Someone Need a CDL Physical Examination?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the lead federal government agency assigned to regulate and provide safety oversight of CMVs, mandates that each state administer comprehensive physical examinations to every person applying for or maintaining a CDL.

A potential or current employee’s medical status must be evaluated, certified, and added to the commercial driver’s license system (CDLS). The purpose of this is to ensure they have the overall capacity to safely operate a commercial vehicle and withstand the physical rigors involved in the job.

People who need a CDL license are those who operate the following types of vehicles:

• Single or combination vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds
• Those carrying hazardous waste materials in amounts that require placarding
• Those designed to transport more than 16 people (including the driver)

What the CDL Physical Involves

The following are the things that you should bring or provide during your DOT physical appointment:

• Hearing aid (if applicable)
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses (if applicable)
• A list of your current prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as the name and contact information of your prescribing physician
• Your health insurance information
• A medical opinion release letter from your primary care physician or specialist if you are under treatment for a medical condition, such as sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder, or you’ve recently had an injury or surgical procedure.

The CDL physical exam is much like your routine wellness exam with your primary care physician. Your height, weight, vital signs, BMI, and reflexes will be checked. The doctor will also examine your ears, nose and throat, muscles, joints, and skin. He will listen to your heart and lungs as well. Additionally, the doctor will go over your medical history and medications. He will take a urine sample, order routine blood work, and take an EKG to assess your heart function and rhythm.

If the doctor does discover a problem that may disqualify you from getting a medical certification for the CDL, he will discuss ways to improve your chances of future eligibility or to apply for an exemption for your condition.

CDL Physical in King, NC

If you’re in search of a healthcare facility that offers highly efficient and reliable CDL physicals within the King area in North Carolina, visit us here at Cardinal Urgent Care. Our team – led by Dr. Samir Patel, a board-certified emergency medicine physician – has helped numerous people complete the licensing process and get on the road safely.

Arrange your CDL exam appointment today. Call ahead at (336) 983-9111. We are open seven days a week for your convenience.

A DOT physical, which is a head-to-toe physical assessment mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is essentially your ticket to securing and maintaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). It is geared toward ensuring you have no medical conditions or physical limitations that can interfere with your ability to operate a commercial vehicle safely.

If you’re seeking employment in the transport industry and you’ve been told you need a DOT physical, keep reading to learn more about it, particularly what it involves, what you should bring with you to your appointment, and your safest course of action in the event that you fail it.

What Does the DOT Physical Involve?

A DOT physical can include the following assessment categories:

• Medical history
• Hearing
• Vision
• Vitals signs (heart rate, breathing, respirations)
• Body weight and body mass index (BMI)
• Head to toe exam
• Urinalysis

A DOT physical is similar to an annual physical exam given by primary care physicians but focuses specifically on the ability to safely drive a commercial motor vehicle. More testing may be necessary based on medical history.

What Must I Bring to My DOT Physical?

When preparing for your DOT physical appointment, make sure to include the following in your checklist:

• Any routine medications you take (e.g., prescription, over-the-counter medicines, etc.)
• Corrective lenses (contacts and/or eyeglasses) and hearing aids
• Medical records: those from your primary care physician and any specialty providers, such as orthopedic doctor, cardiologist, etc.
• Doctor’s names and addresses
• Your photo ID
• Most recent lab results (if you have diabetes)
• Urine sample
• A letter from your sleep medicine specialist (if you have sleep apnea)
• Current medical insurance information

What to Do When You Fail Your DOT Physical

If you fail an assessment in your DOT physical, keep in mind that it does not necessarily mean that it is already the end of the line for you—there might just be something off that can still be corrected.

Your best bet is to talk to your examiner to find out why you failed the physical and ask if they have any suggestions as to what particular steps you can take to pass. If the reason for your being deemed ineligible for a CDL is not within your control, find out if you can apply for an exemption.

The FMCSA will review your case by assessing your medical records, employment history, driving experience, and other information you have provided to determine your capacity to safely operate a commercial vehicle. They usually release their decision within 180 days after they receive your application. Keep in mind that exemptions are only granted to interstate drivers: the FMCSA is not authorized to grant intrastate requirement exemptions.

DOT Physicals in King, North Carolina

If you’re looking for a reputable healthcare facility that offers DOT physicals within the King area in North Carolina, visit us here at Cardinal Urgent Care. DOT physicals belong to a vast array of ancillary services that we offer for the people in our community as part of our commitment of providing them with comprehensive healthcare services.

To schedule an appointment for a DOT physical, contact our staff at (336) 985-9111, and we will gladly guide you on how to go about the process. You may also use this form to send an appointment request. We look forward to serving you!