How to Prepare for a DOT Exam

Key Takeaways

• A DOT Exam is a required physical exam for obtaining your commercial driver’s license (CDL), ensuring that you are physically fit to drive a commercial vehicle.
• This exam assesses general health with a focus on multiple health indicators, including vision, hearing, blood pressure. 
• To prepare for the exam, you should gather necessary medical documentation, understand the components of the exam, and practice healthy habits leading up to your appointment.
• Always visit a trustworthy certified medical professional for your physical exam to ensure that it covers all the necessary requirements for the DOT. 

Preparing for a DOT Exam

A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam is a crucial step for renewing your commercial driver’s license (CDL). The exam exists to ensure that individuals are in healthy physical condition to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Because operating a commercial vehicle is no small feat, an exam is valuable for assessing several areas of your health and wellness to ensure that you can do so safely and responsibly. 

It’s crucial to understand the requirements of a DOT exam, commonly called a truck driver physical or CDL medical exam, so that you can arrive prepared and fully aware of what will be expected of you. Preparing for the exam ranges from ensuring you have the necessary documents to taking care of your own health by maintaining healthy habits in advance. 

Understanding the DOT Exam: What It Is and Why It Matters

What is a DOT Exam?

A DOT exam is a physical examination necessary to assess the general health and well-being of an individual and ensure that they are fit to safely operate a commercial vehicle. This exam involves a general wellness assessment that reviews your overall health with a focus on a few key areas. The exam includes tests for vision, hearing, blood pressure, and urinalysis, as well as a general review of your medical history. 

Who Needs a DOT Exam?

Anyone who is seeking to obtain or renew a CDL must undergo a DOT exam. This includes drivers who operate large vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Combination Weight Rating over 10,000 pounds, transport hazardous materials that require a federal placard, are paid to transport more than 8 passengers, or transport more than 15 passengers, even if you are not paid.

A certificate from a passing exam is usually valid for two years, so anyone looking to renew their license must take a CDL medical exam every two years. In select cases, an individual may need to undergo a DOT exam sooner if required by a previous examiner. 

The Importance of DOT Physicals for Road Safety

DOT physicals are a crucial practice for ensuring road safety. Ensuring a person is fit to drive with a periodic wellness checkup helps minimize dangerous road incidents resulting from factors like a medical event or poor eyesight.

A DOT physical that demonstrates you are in good health provides additional confidence and security in your ability to handle some of the following scenarios:

• Having a fluctuating sleep schedule
• Needing to make decisions with a short reaction time
• Lifting heavy materials 
• Maneuvering your vehicle through tight areas 
• Navigating through demanding situations with heavy traffic

Commercial driving and the associated requirements can vary widely depending on the role. A passed physical demonstrates that you are fit to navigate many various requirements and contingencies that may arise from being on the road.

Key Government Regulations (FMCSA, National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners)

Government regulations regarding Department of Transportation exams are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Important requirements for these exams set by the FMCSA include:

• Exams must be conducted by a Certified Medical Examiner listed in the FMCSA National Registry
• Exams are generally required every two years, excluding medical conditions that require more frequent testing

These regulations are designed to verify that your exam follows necessary procedures to verify that you are medically qualified to operate a vehicle safely.

Before Your Appointment: Laying the Groundwork for Success

Several preparation steps can promote smooth sailing before you even walk in the door for your appointment. Taking the precautions below will put you in a positive position for success 

Choosing a Certified Medical Examiner

It’s necessary to choose a certified medical examiner who understands the full content of the exam and can ensure that you meet all the requirements necessary. These examiners have special training in reviewing an individual’s fitness to drive a CMV. 

You may look for an experienced examiner through the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. However, it can be difficult to find a nearby exam provider with availability that fits your schedule. Arrowhead Health Centers offers same-day and next-day appointments from skilled and certified providers to make scheduling an exam as fast and stress-free as possible.

Gathering Essential Documentation

Arriving at your appointment with key documentation can help expedite the process and ensure you can provide your examiner with valuable information about your current health.

Consider bringing the following documentation:

• Medical Records: Rather than having to recall your medical history from memory and answer a long list of questions, providing your past medical records can make it easier.
• Medication Lists: Bring a list of all current medications you are taking; this includes not only prescription medications but also any over-the-counter medications you are taking.
• Previous Medical Examiner’s Reports and Medical Certificates: Providing your past medical exam reports can provide helpful context to your examiner for your current exam.
• Insurance and Identification: Bring an up-to-date insurance card and driver’s license or other form of identification. 

It’s a good idea to visit your primary care provider ahead of time so that they can provide you with a copy of your medical history and other documentation that may be beneficial to share with your certified medical examiner.

Understanding Specific Forms

It’s helpful to know what forms exist and what forms you should expect to have to complete for your exam. You will have to fill however, depending on whether you experience any specific medical conditions, you may be required to complete additional forms.

FMCSA forms include: 

• Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form (MCSA-5870) – This form is necessary if you have insulin-treated diabetes to attest that you have a stable insulin regimen and controlled diabetes.
• Non-Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form (MCSA-5872) – This form provides additional information about the diagnosis and stability of diabetes not managed by insulin, but may not be required by all medical examiners. 
• Vision Evaluation Report, (Form MCSA-5871) – This form must be completed and signed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within 45 days of your exam, and be provided to your medical examiner before your DOT exam.
• Medical Examination Report Form (MCSA-5875) – This form is the general form that encompasses the results and information from your exam. 
• Medical Examiner’s Certificate Form (MCSA-5876) – You will receive this form if your examiner determines that you are physically qualified to drive a CMV in accordance with the physical qualification standards. 
• 391.41 CMV Driver Medication Form (MCSA-5895) – This form requests additional information regarding medications prescribed by your primary care physician, and is optional unless you are taking any medications.

Communicating with Your Employer

Of course, your employer has an important stake in ensuring that you can pass your exam and are free of health conditions that would affect your ability to safely operate your vehicle. Inform your supervisor that you’ve scheduled your exam as soon as you have made your appointment.

Once you pass the exam, be prepared to provide your employer with your medical examiner certificate. Be sure to keep a copy of the certificate for your own records. If your examiner provides you with a short-term certificate because of a medical concern, communicate this with your employer. If you do not pass your initial exam, you should discuss your options with your workplace as soon as possible.

Your employer may also have specific requirements in addition to simply passing the exam. The DOT physical exam is considered the federal minimum for safety standards. In some cases, employers may impose standards that are more stringent than the exam, such as requiring you to take the physical more frequently or request additional testing. However, your employer will not be allowed to access your full medical evaluation form unless you provide a signature to release it. 

Key Health Areas and How to Prepare

The health areas below are those that most often affect your ability to receive a passing score.

Vision Requirements (Standard and Corrected Vision, Color Vision)

As of 2025, the requirement to pass the DOT physical exam is to have at least 20/40 vision in each eye, either with or without corrective lenses, and a field of vision of at least 70 degrees in each eye. The test uses the standard Snellen eye chart to assess vision. 

If you need glasses or contacts to see at a sufficient passing level, then this will be noted on your certificate, and you will be required to wear these corrective lenses at all times while operating a vehicle.

Hearing Requirements (Whisper Test, Audiometric Testing)

To pass the DOT hearing test, you must be able to hear a harsh whisper in your best ear from no less than 5 feet away, with or without a hearing aid. If you fail the whisper test, you may be referred to conduct an audiometry test. 

Typically, if you fail, you will be allowed to obtain a hearing aid and then retake the test. However, if you are totally deaf and cannot pass either test, even with hearing aids, you likely will not be passed. In some select circumstances, drivers may be permitted to receive an exemption. 

Understanding Blood Pressure Standards (Hypertension)

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers—systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. To pass, the DOT physical exam requires that you have a blood pressure of 140 systolic and 90 diastolic or below. However, if you do have high blood pressure, you may not be automatically disqualified as long as you are able to manage the condition with medication. 

In some cases, the medical examiner may pass you with your physical with higher-than-normal blood pressure. In these cases, you will need to consider the following:

• Stage 1 – Blood pressure between 140 and 159 systolic and between 90 and 99 diastolic is considered stage 1, and is likely to pass but with the requirement to take the physical exam yearly.
• Stage 2 – Blood pressure between 160-179 systolic and 100-109 diastolic is considered stage 2 high blood pressure, and may allow you to pass with a three month certificate but with the requirement that you take action to reduce your blood pressure within that time frame. 
• Stage 3 – Blood pressure above 180 systolic and 110 diastolic is considered stage 3 high blood pressure, which is considered high risk and will not allow you to pass the physical. 

Choose Arrowhead Health for Your DOT Exam

A DOT exam is a crucial step for commercial drivers looking to retrieve or renew a CDL, ensuring that you are fit to operate a commercial motor vehicle. It’s crucial that you receive your physical from a skilled and experienced provider so that you ensure your exam meets all necessary requirements.

Arrowhead Health Centers offer convenient and comprehensive DOT physical exams to help drivers get back on the road as soon as possible. Our DOT-accredited providers ensure your exam covers all the bases, so that you can get back to work sooner. We have locations in Glendale, Scottsdale, and Surprise, ready to support you with a quick efficient exam from experienced and friendly providers. Making comprehensive, friendly care easy to find is all part of the Arrowhead Health Centers Difference.  

Schedule a same or next-day appointment at one of our three locations to get you back on the road.