It is mandated by federal guidelines that all commercial drivers pass the Department of Transportation physical exam. The goal of this exam is to determine whether an applicant is fit enough to drive safely now and in the foreseeable future.

Successfully passing the exam means you have 24 months before you need to do it again. In some instances, this period might be shortened in case that serious health issues might arise in the future.

Health Requirements

Below are the basic requirements for passing the DOT physical exam.

• With or without vision corrections, each eye, as well as both eyes combined, need to have 20/40 vision.
• Must be able to distinguish colors found on traffic signals.
• Needs to be able to perceive a forced whisper at a distance of at least 5 feet.
• Maximum allowable blood pressure is 160/100. Use of prescription medication to achieve this threshold is allowed.
• Cannot have diabetes that requires insulin injections; diabetes controlled through a diet or oral medication is permitted.
• Blood sugar may not be higher than 200.
• Use of schedule 1 drugs is strictly forbidden.
• If you are currently diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease such as collapse, congestive cardiac failure or cardiac insufficiency, then you will be required to provide the Medical Examiner with a stress test along with a note from your physician stating that you are capable of driving a commercial motor vehicle without restrictions.

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