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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all commercial vehicle drivers to get and maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and all drivers must have a Department of Transportation (DOT) approved physical examination by a Certified Medical Examiner. If you are applying for your CDL or need your DOT physical exam renewed, come see us at Southside Chiropractic & Car Accident Injury Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida where our Certified Medical Examiner can complete this process and get you on the road.
Before issuing a CDL, the Department of Transportation wants to know that drivers are capable of performing the duties required to control a semi-truck sometimes hauling as much as 80,000 pounds. To properly control a vehicle of that weight requires,
A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Essentially, it is a physical examination that all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers must take. If you want to be a CMV driver or maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you need to have a DOT physical.
At the end of your physical, if you pass, you will receive a medical DOT card. This is documentation stating that you have been thoroughly examined and passed by a qualified medical examiner. DOT medical cards are also called Medical Examiner’s Certificates. If you’re interested in learning more about Southside Chiropractic & Car Injury Clinic’s DOT Physical Exams, see our answers to these commonly asked questions.
State requirements for DOT medical cards vary. In Florida, all drivers applying for a CDL must have a DOT medical card for non-excepted interstate and non-excepted intrastate travel.
If you do interstate driving, you will need to check the DOT requirements of all the states you will be traveling through. As a base, interstate drivers need a DOT medical card if
Yes!
A medical examiner does not just mean a medical doctor. The term has been expanded to include Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Doctors of Osteopathy (DO), Physician Assistants (PA), and Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). To be a qualified medical examiner to administer DOT physical examinations, the practitioner must be listed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration National Registry. They must also be familiar with the qualifications of the DOT physical exam.
At Southside Chiropractic & Car Injury Clinic, we are certified to provide DOT physical examinations.
A DOT physical covers many things. The medical examiner will discuss your medical history, take your vital signs, and do a physical examination. The physical is designed to ensure that you can safely operate your vehicle.
The physical examination will likely include
DOT physicals are required before you receive your CDL license. They must be filed as part of your CDL application. Additionally, you will need to receive a DOT physical biennially (every two years) for as long as you hold the license.
If you have more questions about what is included in a DOT physical or how to prepare, contact Southside Chiropractic & Car Injury Clinic. We are happy to help you pass this important hurdle on the way to your commercial driver’s license.
During your visit, we will perform a complete evaluation of your current physical condition. During the DOT physical exam, your examiner will ask many questions that may require further information and documentation. To speed up the process, we ask that you bring the following if they apply:
Upon completion of a passing exam, you will receive a medical certification good for two years. A copy of the medical certification will also be electronically transmitted to the Department of Transportation. If you need a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner to get or maintain your CDL, come to Southside Chiropractic & Car Accident Injury Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Our staff is waiting to get you certified.
Whether you’ve recently been injured in a car accident, on the job, or in any other way, we can help! Just fill out the form below to request an appointment at an office near you. Also, Southside Chiropractic & Car Injury Clinic offers DOT Certified Medical Examinations and Physical Examinations for school too!