What To Expect When Have A DOT Physical

By Lawanda Burch


Keeping the roads safe to travel normally falls on the Department of Transportation. There is a division within the agency that tries to ensure that the people who are operating the big trucks that move supplies across the country and within cities are healthy enough to perform the job without unnecessary complications. One of the practices they employ is by having drivers of the vehicles pass a DOT physical before they are giving a new certificate to keep on operating the big trucks. There are several health issues that the agency tends to be more concerned about than others and failure to pass some parts of the test can result in the driver becoming decertified to operate large vehicles.

Having good eyesight is important when one is driving down the highway. People who cannot see well might not notice a problem up ahead and end up causing a collision. Bad eyesight will not stop anyone from getting a license provided they take corrective action like having laser surgery done or getting a pair of glasses.

One of the first things that will be checked on a driver is their blood pressure. High blood pressure can create problems for a driver. They could end up losing their license or be denied to get a license.

What will happen to a driver with high blood pressure depends on high the pressure reading is. Those who are slightly higher can get a conditional license that can last anywhere from three months to a year. Those with very high levels might have to stay off the road until they get their pressure back under control.

A person should expect to have their sugar levels checked. This is done to determine is one has developed a case of diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes has been known to cause people to become unconscious without much warning. People suffering from a bout of high sugar levels have also been known to become disoriented and not know what is happening around them. Both conditions can be hazardous when driving a vehicle.

Operators who have diabetes and are controlling it through prescriptions a medical doctor prescribes. The truck operator must be taking the prescriptions as prescribed can achieve their certification provided they are taking pills or oral medications. Those who are insulin dependent usually are disqualified from getting a certificate.

The status of the cardiovascular system of a person is also of prime concern for transportation agencies. Someone who is suffering from congestive heart failure is not the best candidate to be licensed to operate heavy vehicles. Stress tests can help determine the state of any cardiovascular diseases to alert an agency to any potential problems.

The health of a driver is of great concern for agencies acting as caretakers for the highways. They will make an operator go through a DOT physical to check for certain conditions that could negatively affect a drivers ability to handle a tractor trailer. Failing the tests does not always mean that a driver cannot operate a vehicle anymore, but they will probably have to seek medical attention to correct any health concerns that are noticed during the examination.




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