What to know for your upcoming DOT Exam
In order to best prepare you for your upcoming DOT physical exam, we have put together the following information to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, and that you have all of your questions answered ahead of time.
What to bring
All drivers
*If you do not have any chronic health conditions or take any medications, these items are all you will need.
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- Driver’s License
- Glasses, contacts or hearing aids (if applicable)
- Optional – Completed Health History form – if you would like to fill out the paperwork ahead of time, the forms are attached to this email. You can print and fill them out ahead of time.
Drivers With chronic health conditions, or taking medications
Please read below. You may need to bring paperwork from The provider who is managing those conditions for the DOT medical examiner to review.
Drivers who take medications
Please bring a list of medications you currently take
Drivers who take medications that can cause sedation, drowsiness or stimulants
May need to bring a note (form MCSA-5895 – link here) from their prescribing provider discussing the use of these medications and if the medications will affect driving a commercial vehicle. These include, but are not limited to, medications for anxiety, depression, sleep, pain and ADHD.
Drivers with a history of diabetes
need to bring their most recent (within the last 6 months) hemoglobin A1C result along with at-home records of blood sugar logs (if applicable). If they take insulin, the Form MCSA-5870 needs to be completed by their provider no earlier than 45 days before the DOT physical (link here)
Drivers with a history of heart conditions
Such as stents, valvular conditions, pacemaker, heart attack, bypass, etc.
Need to bring a letter from their cardiologist that discusses these conditions and the driver’s ability to drive a commercial vehicle. Drivers should also bring a stress test or echocardiogram from within the last 1-2 years (timeline depends on the condition)
Drivers with a history of stroke or seizures
- need to review the driver physical requirements (link here). Stroke or seizure history may be disqualifying, so please review the information before the appointment.