A DOT physical follows strict guidelines mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), ensuring that commercial drivers and other safety-sensitive employees are in good health to work safely.

Commercial drivers need to bring a complete list of their medications, including the dosage regimen, dosages, and their doctors’ names and addresses. To save time, it’s also recommended that drivers fill out the health history questionnaire before coming to the clinic. 

To make sure the exam runs as smoothly as possible, drivers with certain medical issues need to bring the appropriate documents or items. For example:

Drivers with vision or hearing problems must bring their eyeglasses, contacts, or hearing aids

Drivers with diabetes must bring the most recent lab results from their Hemoglobin A1C (HgAIC) and their blood sugar logs

Drivers with heart-related issues must, at minimum, bring a letter from their cardiologist that outlines their medical history and current medications, and indicates that they are safe to work.

Simply put, the purpose of a physical examination is prevention. Whether you have a child in need of a sports physical, or you’re an adult who needs a pre-employment/occupational physical, your exam can be one of the best ways to screen for illnesses or other health concerns. The exam will provide either reassurance that your health is fine, or warn you of an impending health issue while there’s still time to correct it. Whatever the reason for your physical, these exams can be crucial to your overall health and we've got you covered!