Why Do You Need a Special Physical Examination?
Anyone who wants to have a commercial driver’s license will also need to have a special physical exam to drive a public vehicle such as a bus or a large piece of equipment such as a semi-truck. This Department of Transportation physical examination is required to protect passengers along with other drivers on the roads across the United States. This federal requirement will ensure that a driver is mentally, emotionally, and physically fit to operate certain types of vehicles.
What Does the Physician Check during the Physical?
A DOT physical is similar to other types of physical examinations with a physician checking all of your body systems, including:
- Hearing acuity
- Blood pressure
- Vision acuity
- Seizure disorders
- Insulin levels
- Breathing disorders
- Psychiatric disorders
- Digestive abnormalities
- Muscle disorders
- Kidney infections
- Hernias
DOT exams can include a urinalysis or blood test to check for substance abuse and other health problems that can make it dangerous for you to drive a vehicle. Avoid taking any medications that could give a negative result on your urine or blood tests. Don’t consume large quantities of sugar, sodium, or caffeine. If you need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, then bring the items along for your vision screening.
Bring Along Your Childhood Immunization Record
Bring along a record of your childhood immunizations so that we can complete the physical examination forms faster. You are required to have certain vaccinations that include:
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Diphtheria
- Polio
There are also vaccinations that are provided to adults, including Hepatitis A and B along with shingles or pneumonia inoculations.
Preparing for the Examination at Our Urgent Care Center
During the physical, you may need to disrobe for some of the aspects of the examination. You may need to sit or stand during some of the tests or while a phlebotomist collects blood samples from your arm or fingers. Make sure to drink enough water so that you can provide a urine sample for the urinalysis.
An urgent care center’s employees understand how to complete your visit in less than one hour. To maintain the requirements for your CDL, you must have a new DOT physical examination at our clinic every 24 months. If a physician notices that you have a health concern, then you should seek the proper medical care to control the condition to avoid losing your license.
Come into WellCare
If you are in need of DOT physical exams for your job then come into WellCare Urgent Care center to get this completed today! We offer same-day appointments at our Cascade and Leonard locations or you can schedule online.