Driver’s Physical Exam—What, When, Where?

It’s been over a century since the first cars hit the streets across the Europe and the United States, and technology has undeniably come a long way from those first automobiles.  Now cars, trucks and buses are an integral part of our transportation system and economy, delivering people and goods across continents with greater comfort and speed than ever before. Still, with such great volume comes danger; in 2010, 32,885 people died in traffic crashes in the United States. It is obvious then, that the Department of Transportation would want to prevent as many accidents as possible, and one of the best ways to do it is to make sure that drivers, particularly of large vehicles, are in tip-top shape before hitting the road.  Enter the DOT physical exam, a prerequisite for certification of commercial drivers. Here’s what’s required:

A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination is required to obtain certain types of commercial driver’s licenses.  People who operate a commercial vehicle with a combination weight rating over 10,000 pounds, drivers operating a vehicle transporting sixteen or more passengers, and drivers operating vehicles for the transportation of hazardous materials all need to have a physical as a component of their DOT certification.

The Department of Transportation uses standardized forms to be filled out by a physician as proof of a physical exam, so it’s important that you print out the paperwork and bring it with you to your exam appointment. Additionally, the DOT form has a medical history section to be filled out by the patient prior to examination.  The medical history questionnaire addresses health issues like past injuries and diseases, psychological disorders, hearing or vision problems, and other undiagnosed symptoms like dizziness or lower back pain, that could affect your ability to operate a vehicle safely. Be prepared to discuss the information with your walk in clinic doctor NYC during the exam.

After you discuss your medical history with the doctor, he or she will perform vision and hearing tests. If you wear glasses or hearing aids you should use them during the tests. You must still be able to fulfill the requirements of the examination with your aids, though, so don’t forget to bring your glasses to your appointment! For the vision exam, a driver must have vision in both eyes, must be able to read traffic signs, and must not be colorblind.  For the hearing test, a driver must be able to hear a forced whisper at a distance of five feet or greater. If you pass the vision and hearing tests, the doctor will continue the examination with a routine physical, listening to the heart and lungs, and checking your blood pressure.  The results of your blood pressure test can directly affect the length of your certification, as blood pressure is an important indicator of heart and vascular health.  Patients with a blood pressure level over 140 mmHg can only be certified for one year; those with a pressure level greater than 160 can only be issued a three or six-month certification.  A urine test to check for illicit substances and kidney health is also a routine part of the DOT physical examination.

Assuming everything goes well, a DOT physical examination certification lasts for two years before it must be renewed. But the doctor can also issue a shorter certification with reservations.  The doctor can determine how long the certification is good for (usually three months, six months, or a year) before the driver must return to be evaluated due to a medical condition that must be monitored; the doctor must specify the specific condition on the certification form.

If you’re in New York City and need to DOT physical exam NYC, you can get same-day certification at the Physical Exam Center of New York.  At Physical Exam Center NYC, you can get your driver’s physical exam at an appointment time convenient for you, right in midtown Manhattan, with affordable rates, even if you don’t have insurance. Get cleared for safety, log onto Urgent Care NYC and get in the driver’s seat by calling (212) 686-5900 today! 

Making our roads safer with mandatory CDL Physical Exams for drivers

This past March when a World Wide Tours bus crashed into a metal sign pole, ripping through the bus and killing 15 of its passengers, New York City commuters felt wary for a time about getting into commercial vehicles.  Any false sense of security felt when boarding a bus or taxi was shattered as we were hit with the reality that just because a driver is a professional does not make him or her any less susceptible to human error.The final verdict on the sobriety and health of the tour bus driver at the time of the accident has yet to be concluded, but one thing is certain: with nearly 40,000 people dying every year in this country from car collisions the pressures on commercial drivers to work safely and responsibly is intense. Even when the cargo isn’t human, a mishap for a 16-wheeler carrying a couple tons of lumber on a highway or freeway endangers everything and everyone around it.For these reasons most states require that each driver undergoes a thorough Physical Examination at least every two years to ensure they are healthy and able enough to control a moving vehicle.
Although it’s highly recommended that all drivers should undergo this physical not everyone is required to get a driver’s physical before getting behind the wheel. A mandatory exam is dependent on the type of vehicle being driven, which includes but not limited to:
 a.       Commercial vehicles that transfer goods exceeding 10,000 pounds, including vehicle weight,
b.       Vehicles that transfer hazardous substances and materials.
c.       Vehicles that carry 16 or more passengers.
IF your vehicle meets any of the above criteria then physicals are required from drivers who carry these heavy burdens. In a lot of ways large trucks and buses are like tanks, so it is in the best interest of not only other drivers on the road but the drivers themselves to be 100 percent capable of controlling them.CDL exams looks over the driver’s personal and family health history to check for any possible health complications. 
The physical standardly gives the patient a drug test, vision test and hearing test to confirm the driver will be able to hear and see warning signs well while on the road or if these senses have deteriorated since the last exam. It also typically checks for diabetes and gives an ECG heart test for people who have a history of heart problems. Drug tests are not always mandatory, but definitely not uncommon.Doctor’s must fill out and sign a form for driver’s to return to their employer for clearance. Some companies may provide if you need a CDL Physical Exam NYC and are looking for an affordable doctor, go to this Physical Exam Center located in Midtown Manhattan. They take most insurance providers, and offer a reasonable flat $150 fee to those without health insurance. 
It is also incredibly easy to get to, with its office just blocks away from the Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal subway stations. You can get there quickly from almost anywhere in the city.You can make your appointment online by visiting their website at Urgent care NYC  by calling their office at 212.696.5900. Come in today and hit the road tomorrow.