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5 Questions About Sleep Apnea and Your DOT Medical Card
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that 28% of commercial truck drivers have sleep apnea. As a driver in the trucking industry, you are highly susceptible to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) because of the demands of your job. You are sitting...
11 DOT Medical Exam FAQs
In addition to your commercial driver’s license, the DOT (Department of Transportation) requires a medical examination to certify that you can operate commercial vehicles safely. The process can be overwhelming and confusing, especially with many interchangeable...
When is a commercial driver required to undergo drug testing?
When your job puts the safety of you and others on the line, you might find it has some strict requirements about substances you need to avoid. Such is the case with commercial drivers. When exactly should commercial drivers expect to undergo drug tests? Some of our...
A Guide to DOT Physical Eye Exams
Eye exams are a part of DOT physicals, and a certified medical examiner must perform them. These eye exams measure the driver's visual perception. If you are applying for your commercial driver’s license, you must pass the eye exam before you start your CDL training....
What reasons do commercial drivers fail the DOT physical?
The DOT physical exam ensures drivers won’t endanger themselves or anyone else’s safety while driving a commercial motor vehicle. If you have a medical condition such as epilepsy or significantly impaired vision, the risk may be too significant to be medically cleared...
Are You Allowed To Repeat Your CDL Physical Exam If You Fail?
You have done everything right: found a certified examiner, hydrated, avoided caffeine and tobacco before your appointment, brought your medications, and disclosed your pertinent medical history. You never expected to have a problem. But then, something goes wrong,...
5 Reasons To Do Your DOT Medical Examiner Training Course Online
Healthcare is scientific and evidence-based. Those of us working in the field usually don’t want the most cutting-edge, risky option. We want the tried and true. Face-to-face training typically fits that bill. However, online training isn’t new. We have been utilizing...
How can commercial truck drivers prepare for DOT exams?
As a commercial truck driver, you need to know many guidelines and requirements. You must pass a DOT physical exam every two years if you work in a safety-sensitive position. It can be hard to remember everything to prepare between examinations properly, so review...
Five Steps to DOT Urine Collection Certification
A Department of Transportation (DOT) specimen collector plays a critical role. Your job is to ensure and verify the integrity of the screening process. You are the only person who has direct contact with the employee, and you start the chain of custody for test...
Hypertension and Passing Your DOT Physical Exam
Unfortunately, high blood pressure, referred to as hypertension, is becoming more common and affects nearly 50% of adults. In addition to taking care of your health problems today to prolong your life, you need to have your blood pressure under control to pass the...
Recent Posts
Driver Fatigue: The Signs and Solutions
If you’re a truck driver, you know how many hours of sleep you’re supposed to get. But no one told your two-month-old who was up all night with colic. It isn’t the first sleepless night since you brought the baby home, and you know it won’t be the last, but you still...
How to Get and Stay Ready for a DOT Audit
No one likes audits. The word has such a negative connotation, thanks to the IRS. However, DOT audits aren't about how much money or whether or not you filled out your tax forms correctly. It's about people going home to their families at the end of the day rather...
Why Sharing Medication Is Dangerous For Commercial Drivers
It's difficult for commercial drivers to get to a doctor's office. You may work during the doctor's regular business hours, travel out of the area, or need to fill in for other drivers who are out sick. Collectively, you are responsible for keeping supply lines open...
What Can Long-distance Truck Drivers Do to Maintain Their Physical and Mental Health?
The men and women who make sure your packages, food stuffs, and other essential materials are delivered intact and on time usually face gruelingly long hours on the road, frequent separations from loved ones, and considerable mental and physical stress. We queried...
Which factors lead to a temporarily suspended DOT physical certification and what course of action can lift the suspension?
A suspended DOT physical certification can cause a lot of stress and devastation. However, knowing what leads to a suspension and how to get it lifted can help you stay calm and follow the proper course of action to get your suspension raised. Read on to...