What Tests are Included in a DOT Physical?

At Medallus Urgent Care, we understand how important it is for commercial drivers to stay compliant with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Our experienced medical professionals provide comprehensive DOT physical exams to help ensure you are physically and mentally fit to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.

What to Expect During Your DOT Physical:

● Medical History Review: Your visit begins with a review of your medical history, including any chronic conditions, medications, surgeries, or previous injuries. Our providers take the time to understand your health background to ensure a thorough evaluation.

● Vital Signs Assessment: We check your blood pressure, pulse, height, and weight to establish baseline health metrics required by DOT standards.

● Vision and Hearing Tests: Clear vision and hearing are essential for safe driving. We conduct a vision test to make sure you meet DOT’s visual acuity standards—with or without corrective lenses. We’ll also check your color vision to ensure you can recognize traffic signals. Our hearing test ensures you can detect a forced whisper from at least five feet, with or without hearing aids.

● Urinalysis: A urinalysis is performed to screen for underlying medical conditions such as diabetes by checking for protein, blood, or sugar in your urine. (Please note: This is not a drug test, but your employer or the DOT may require a separate drug screening.

● Comprehensive Physical Examination: Our providers will examine your heart, lungs, abdomen, neurological function, and musculoskeletal health. We check for signs of hernias, varicose veins, and assess your spine, limbs, and joints for strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

● Mental Health and Substance Screening: We also evaluate your mental alertness and screen for any conditions or substance use that could impact your ability to drive safely.

Once your DOT physical is complete, our medical examiner will determine if you meet DOT medical requirements. If you qualify, we’ll provide you with the necessary DOT medical certificate so you can stay on the road.

DOT (Department of Transportation) physicals include an assessment of your heart health. Our certified medical examiners will review your medical history, inquire about any symptoms of heart disease such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations, and perform a thorough physical examination, including listening to your heart for abnormal rhythms or murmurs. We will also measure your blood pressure and pulse, as these are important indicators of cardiovascular health.

If you have a history of heart conditions—such as prior heart attacks, heart surgery, or if you are currently taking cardiac medications—please bring any relevant documentation from your cardiologist, including recent test results or stress tests. Our goal is to make sure you are safe to operate a commercial vehicle and not at risk for sudden incapacitation due to heart issues.

If our medical examiner has any concerns about your heart health during your DOT physical, we may refer you for further testing or request a clearance letter from your cardiologist before we can certify you for duty. We are committed to helping you meet DOT requirements safely and efficiently.

During your DOT physical, our providers will evaluate your visual acuity. To qualify, you must have at least 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without corrective lenses. We will also check your ability to distinguish the colors of traffic signals—an important safety factor for all commercial drivers. Be sure to bring your glasses or contact lenses to your appointment if you use them.

Your hearing will also be tested as a standard part of your DOT exam at Medallus Urgent Care. You’ll need to demonstrate the ability to hear a forced whisper from at least five feet away, with or without a hearing aid. If needed, we can also perform an audiometric test to confirm your hearing meets DOT standards. These evaluations help us ensure that you can respond to critical sounds on the road, such as horns and emergency sirens.

At Medallus Urgent Care, we understand the importance of safety and compliance for commercial drivers. That’s why our experienced providers, led by Dr. Rachot Vachathrone, offer comprehensive Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals to ensure drivers meet all necessary medical standards.

During your DOT physical at Medallus Urgent Care, Dr. Vachathrone will conduct a thorough evaluation designed to identify any medical conditions that could affect your ability to operate a commercial vehicle safely. The examination includes:

● Vision and Hearing Assessment: We check that your eyesight and hearing meet the DOT’s minimum requirements, ensuring you can see and hear well enough to stay safe on the road.

● Blood Pressure and Pulse Check: Monitoring for high blood pressure or irregular heart rhythms helps us detect any underlying cardiovascular issues.

● Detailed Medical History Review: We take the time to discuss your health history, focusing on conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, neurological conditions (like epilepsy), and psychiatric illnesses.

● Musculoskeletal Evaluation: Dr. Vachathrone assesses your range of motion and physical abilities to ensure you can safely perform all the tasks required of a commercial driver.

● Urinalysis: This screening helps us detect potential concerns such as uncontrolled diabetes or kidney disease.

● Medication and Substance Use Review: We evaluate any current medications or substances that may impact your alertness, judgment, or overall fitness to drive.

At Medallus Urgent Care, our goal is to keep you—and everyone on the road—safe by providing reliable, efficient DOT physicals that meet all federal regulations. For more information, please contact us or see our business hours online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Jamestown ND, Fargo ND, Mandan ND and Bismarck ND. We serve patients from Jamestown ND, Valley City ND, Devils Lake ND, Fargo ND, West Fargo ND, Moorhead MN, Mapleton ND, Horace ND, Mandan ND, Lincoln ND, Youngtown ND, Bismarck ND, Rock Haven ND, Arnold ND and surrounding areas.