What to Expect and How to Prepare for a DOT Exam

Due to the type of duties and the weight of equipment, your employer needs you to undergo a DOT physical examination. This examination is performed to ensure you meet the minimum medical standards as established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Please be aware, these medical standards are different than the standards applied to receive a Class C Driver’s License.

You will be directed to a clinic where your employer’s service agent, HireRight, has set up an account to perform the employer requested services. Your hiring manager/driver manager/recruiter should provide you an authorization form and directions to the designated facility. This is the facility that you must go to. If you do not go to the facility, your on-boarding will be delayed, and your contingent offer of employment may be withdrawn.

When you arrive to the clinic, provide your authorization document to the receptionist. Doing so will ensure that you are not billed for the services requested by your employer. If the examiner needs further medical information above the scope of work on the authorization form, you will be responsible to obtain and pay for that information.

Here is a brief list of the most common medical conditions that may require additional information:

• Obstructive sleep apnea – please bring your C-PAP usage data if you have it available

• Diabetes Mellitus – please bring a copy of your last HGB A1-C result (your primary care provider will know what this test is)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) – make sure that your average blood pressure is under 140/90

• Coronary artery disease – if you never had a myocardial infarction (heart attack), but you have had a stint placed in an artery; make sure you bring the results of your last cardiac stress test. If you have suffered a heart attack, bring a copy of your last cardiac stress test along with a copy of your left ventricular ejection fraction (again, your physician will know what this test is)

Make sure when you go to the clinic that you do the following:

• If you need corrective lenses, bring them

• If you need hearing aids, wear them

• If you use tobacco, do not use it within one hour of your exam (it elevates your blood pressure)

• If you take prescription medications, use them

• Do not drink excessive amounts of caffeine that day

• Do not eat excessive amounts of sugar that day

Please remember the examiner is acting as a service agent of your employer; furthermore, your employer has asked HireRight’s Medical Department to quality assure the exam. That process may entail that you get further information from your physician to support the examiner’s determination.

Finally, this exam does not replace the need of an examination by your primary care provider.