Mankato DOT Physicals

A DOT physical is a thorough medical exam that evaluates many aspects of your health. Your medical examiner will explain each step of the process. They’ll begin by discussing your health history. This is the information you provide on the first two pages of your medical examination report form. Your examiner may ask you about some of your responses to get further information.

Then, your examiner will:

• Check your pulse rate.
• Take your blood pressure.
• Measure your height and weight.
• Ask you to pee into a cup for a urinalysis.
• Check your eyes and vision.
• Check your ears and hearing.
• Use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of your heart, lungs, arteries and belly.
• Observe your gait, or your pattern of walking.
• Check your reflexes.

All these steps allow your examiner to get a sense of your overall health. They’ll look for any signs of a health condition that may affect your ability to drive a CMV. Try to relax during this process. You might feel worried or anxious about the outcome. But keep in mind that the purpose of this exam is to keep you and others safe.

Paperwork for the DOT Physical can be a pain, but we utilize an online system to help streamline the process. Once you schedule your DOT Physical appointment, you will be sent a link to access your paperwork online. As you fill this paperwork out, any flags for medical clearances  possibly needed will pop up. Your information is securely stored, and makes follow up recertification paperwork a breeze. 

Medical clearance from your treating provider may be required for numerous medical conditions such as, but not limited to:

• The treatment of depression, PTSD, Anxiety, Bi-polar disorder, Anger management and other mental disorders.
• All heart related conditions, such as having a heart attack, having heart surgeries or a stent, an irregular heart rate, a valve problem in your heart, having a blood clot.
• Many lung and breathing problems such as COPD, or emphysema, tuberculosis, collapsed lung, sleep apnea.
• For current treatment of medical conditions that may have limitations such as back injuries, following surgery for things like removing a gallbladder, or appendix and other problems.
• For the use of all narcotic medications such as hydrocodone, tramadol etc.
• For any other medical condition or its treatment that the medical examiner is concerned about driver or public safety.
• For many neurologic conditions such as a single episode of seizure from a known cause (such as a high temperature), after head injuries, with brain infections or brain surgeries.
• If you have a positive drug or alcohol test, or if in your examination you are determined to, or admit to drug or alcohol abuse, you must see a DOT approved Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).

• You will need your Drivers License as proof of identity
• Have a complete list of all current medications
• Do not drink energy drinks or caffeine prior to your appointment as this will raise your blood pressure!
• There is a Urine test, so make sure you are hydrated and ready to give a sample. This is not a drug test. If a drug test is needed, that would be seperate from the DOT Health Physical. 
• If you have a CPAP, you need to provide a compliance report of the past 3 months. Often you have an app you can download that from, but if not you will need this from your treating physician.
• If you have Type 1 Diabetes (use insulin) you need to have your treating physician fill out the ITDM form prior to your appointment. Type 2, you will need the Diabetes clearance form.