CDL DOT Physical

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CDL / DOT PHYSICAL EXAM

DO I NEED A DOT PHYSICAL?

You are required to complete and pass a DOT physical if you:

• Operate a motor vehicle for interstate commerce with a gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight of over 10,000 pounds
• Operate a motor vehicle designed to carry more than 15 people
• Are paid to operate a motor vehicle designed to carry more than eight people
• Transport hazardous materials that required your vehicle to be placarded

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  WHAT IS A DOT PHYSICAL?

  A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical 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 CMV.

  If you are a commercial driver, you are a “safety-sensitive” employee. And for your safety and the public’s safety, FMCSA requires you to complete and pass a DOT physical to maintain a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL).

  The CME will issue you a medical examiner’s certificate (MEC) – also called a DOT medical card – when you meet the DOT physical requirements. Without a valid DOT medical card, you can lose your CDL.

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  WHAT HAPPENS DURING A DOT PHYSICAL

  During a DOT physical, a certified medical examiner (CME) will check your vital signs, review your medical history, and perform a required hands-on physical examination that includes (but is not limited to):

  • General appearance
  • Ears
  • Heart
  • Nervous system
  • Back and spine
  • Eyes
  • Mouth and throat
  • Extremities
  • Hernias
  • Lungs and chest

  The DOT examination will include a health history review, a thorough physical exam captured in an online version of the Medical Examination Report, and a urine test for Commercial Driver Fitness Determination.

AFTER YOUR DOT PHYSICAL

Florida’s CDL Self-Certification System allows Commercial Driver License holders to meet the new federal requirements for self-certification without needing to go to a driver license office.

Online: Go to FLORIDA Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Website. You may use the online process only if you have a valid Florida Commercial Driver License.

In Person: At any Florida Driver License Issuance Office.

Driver License Check: Go to FLORIDA Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Website. To see the status of your Florida Driver License.