What Does a DOT Physical Consist Of?

Our DOT physicals start with a thorough health history review, where we ask about your past and current medical conditions, medications, surgeries, and lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep patterns. This allows us to build a comprehensive picture of your health.

We then conduct a comprehensive physical check-up. This includes assessing vision acuity, color vision, and field of vision to ensure that you can see clearly and safely. We also conduct hearing tests to guarantee that you can hear warning signals and communication from other drivers.

Your blood pressure and pulse rate are checked for indications of hypertension or irregular heartbeats. We also perform auscultation of the heart and assessment of cardiac rhythm to look for any irregularities.

We assess lung function to ensure you can breathe adequately during exertion or in emergencies. Your range of motion, strength, and flexibility are examined to assess your physical capabilities and ability to control the vehicle. A neurological examination is also conducted to test reflexes, balance, coordination, and sensory function.

A urinalysis is another integral part of the DOT. This test primarily screens for conditions like diabetes and urinary tract infections and can also be used for substance abuse screening.

In some cases, we may also conduct additional tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart function or sleep apnea testing based on your medical history or examination findings.

We specialize in carrying out the critical drug test component of the DOT physical. This test, typically conducted via a urine sample, screens for substances that could impair the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely. Common substances we test for include marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP). The results of this drug test can significantly impact the outcome of the DOT physical, and a positive result may deem the individual medically unqualified to operate a commercial vehicle.

Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of not just the driver but everyone else on the road. We help employers mitigate the risk of accidents caused by substance-impaired drivers, as they are legally responsible for the fitness of their drivers. We also ensure that both employers and drivers comply with DOT regulations, as non-compliance can result in fines and penalties.

However, there may be certain exceptions where a DOT physical may not include a drug test. This could be the case if the driver has a valid DOT medical card that is less than two years old and does not indicate any drug violations, or if the driver is returning to the same employer after a leave of absence of less than 90 days and has not engaged in activities that would require a drug test under DOT regulations.

During the DOT physicals at our clinic, we conduct a vision test to ensure that drivers have the required visual acuity to drive safely. This test uses a Snellen chart to evaluate visual acuity, with drivers expected to have at least 20/40 acuity in each eye with or without correction. We also test peripheral vision using specialized equipment, requiring drivers to have a minimum of 70° of peripheral vision in the horizontal meridian in each eye. In addition, we use Ishihara plates to assess color perception and detect any deficiencies in distinguishing between red and green.

Our clinic also administers the hearing test during the DOT physical. This test is conducted to ensure that drivers can perceive sound at various frequencies, which is crucial for their awareness of potential hazards on the road. Usually, a whisper test is conducted, wherein drivers, with or without hearing aids, must be able to detect a forced whisper in their ear at a minimum distance of 5 feet. If a driver fails the whisper test, we can perform a detailed evaluation with an audiometer to determine the presence of any hearing loss.

We advise drivers who wear glasses or hearing aids to bring them for their DOT physical. If they pass the vision and hearing tests using these aids, their medical certificate will indicate that they must always wear them while driving. Meeting the DOT standards for vision and hearing at our clinic is not only essential for driver’s safety but also for public safety. People who don’t meet these requirements cannot be allowed to drive commercial vehicles.

When you choose Clio Urgent Care Clinic for your DOT physical, we take a thorough look at your health history. We examine any past or current medical conditions, surgeries, or treatments to understand your health status and identify any potential risks that might affect your ability to drive safely.

We also perform height and weight measurements to calculate your body mass index (BMI) and assess any weight-related health risks. Our team will check your blood pressure to screen for hypertension, a condition that can increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

Our physical examination is comprehensive, including an assessment of your eyes, ears, mouth, throat, heart, lungs, vascular system, abdomen, and other body systems. Vision tests are also part of the process, ensuring you have adequate visual sharpness and peripheral vision and the capacity to differentiate between warning and traffic signals.

We also conduct hearing tests, including a whispered voice test and an audiometer test, to evaluate your hearing ability. Urinalysis is performed to screen for medical conditions like diabetes, detect signs of kidney disease or infection, and test for the presence of drugs or alcohol.

If necessary, additional tests such as a pulmonary function test, electrocardiogram (ECG), neurological exam, or prostate exam may be included in your DOT physical. We also assess your ability to perform physical tasks such as bending, squatting, balancing, and gripping to ensure you can meet the physical demands of your job.

Choose Clio Urgent Care for your DOT physical and drive with confidence, knowing you’re in good health. If you have any further questions, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 4272 W. Vienna Road Clio, MI 48420. We serve patients from Clio MI, Montrose MI, Birch Run MI, Mount Morris MI, Beecher MI, Genesee County, MI, and surrounding areas.