DOT PHYSICALS
WHAT IS A DOT PHYSICAL?
Are you a commercial driver? If yes, you would understand how rigorous the demands of your job can be! You’ll require a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical that is a health examination mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. A DOT physical helps determine if a driver is physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to operate a commercial vehicle.
Commercial drivers are safety-sensitive employees; they perform a job that can impact their own safety and the public’s safety. Employers of commercial drivers must comply with federal regulations for DOT physicals.
DOT physicals are essential for drivers who:
- Transport hazardous materials that require the vehicles to display a hazmat placard.
- You are a pain to operate motor vehicles that carry more than eight people.
- You operate motor vehicles that carry more than 15 people.
- You operate motor vehicles that have a gross combination weight rating of over 10,000 pounds.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A DOT PHYSICAL
The DOT physical will include a health history review of the driver by a certified medical examiner (CME). The CME will also check the driver’s vital signs and perform a thorough examination, evaluating a number of health-related categories, such as:
- General appearance
- Extremities
- Lungs and chest
- Heart
- Gait or poor posture
- Eyes and ears
- Mouth and throat
- Nervous System
- Back and Spine
- Circulatory system
Upon exam completion, the CME will report the results to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). Certified drivers will receive a copy of the medical examiner’s certificate (MEC), or DOT medical card.
SLEEP APNEA TESTING
The Department of Transportation does not require sleep apnea testing as part of the DOT physical; however, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does grant certified medical examiners the discretion to recommend testing and treatment for a condition such as sleep apnea if the examiner believes the condition can interfere with the driver’s ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle.
WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD KNOW
- Only a CME can administer a DOT physical.
- A DOT physical is required when a driver operates a CMV across state lines (i.e., interstate driving).
- Employers of intrastate drivers (i.e., drivers who stay within one state) are subject to the physical qualification regulations of that specific state.
- The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) has a current list of CMEs.
On passing the DOT physical you get the certification to be behind the wheel of the commercial vehicle. This certification lasts between 3 months to 2 years depending upon the health of the driver. This will also certify the possibility of not passing DOT Physical due to the health conditions holding back the drivers from being at peak performance.
SCHEDULE A DOT PHYSICAL FOR YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
At ZENITH®, our clinicians conduct DOT physicals following evidence-based guidance that helps to keep our roads safe and your drivers healthy. Plus, your company will be compliant with state and federal regulations. And with at least one FMCSA-certified medical provider in more than 520 ZENITH medical centers nationwide, we make the process convenient, quick, and easy.
New Business Customers: Complete the form, and a ZENITH occupational health expert will contact you.
Existing Business Customers: Contact your local ZENITH medical center to schedule a DOT physical for your commercial drivers.
Commercial Drivers: Learn more about taking a DOT physical.
HOW ZENITH MAINTAINS DOT COMPLIANCE
As the leading medical provider within the DOT industry, ZENITH maintains a current, comprehensive knowledge of DOT rules and regulations. We require all our physicians to be FMCSA National Registry certified so our centers will always have someone to complete DOT exams.
ZENITH is compliant with current regulations and uses the following appropriate forms:
- Revised Medical Examination Report (MER) form MCSA-5875.
- Revised Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) form MCSA-5876.
- Revised Medical Examination Results form MCSA-5850
ADDITIONAL DOT SERVICES
As experts in DOT, ZENITH also provides a number of DOT-related services to keep employers and their drivers safe and compliant. This includes:
- DOT Drug Testing: DOT drug screenings test for the presence of illegal drugs, alcohol, and other substances, helping to create a safer work environment.
- DOT Policy Development: ZENITH helps employers develop written drug and alcohol policies in accordance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
- ZENITH’s Sleep Evaluation Program: CoSEP objectively and consistently evaluates drivers who are at a risk of a collision due to excessive sleepiness.
ZENITH PROVIDES DRUG CONSORTIUM SERVICES, TOO
Anyone designated in DOT regulations as a “safety-sensitive” employee is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. A safety-sensitive employee is someone who holds a job that can impact both their own safety and the safety of the public, including employees in the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Railroad Administration.