What Are Dot Disqualifying Medical Conditions?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The FMCSA has identified certain conditions that disqualify drivers from operating CMVs. These include

hypertension, respiratory dysfunction, diabetes, vision impairment, epilepsy and mental disorders

.

What are the DOT medical requirements?

The DOT physical requires drivers to have

20/40 vision with or without the use of corrective lenses

. This means you must be able to see at least 20/40 with both eyes, or at least 20/40 with either the right eye or left eye. Those with monovision may be disqualified from getting a DOT medical card.

What will make you fail a DOT physical?

  • Cardiovascular or respiratory disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Epilepsy.
  • Diabetes.
  • A nervous or psychiatric disease.
  • Poor eyesight that isn’t improved with corrective lenses.
  • Loss of a foot, hand, leg or arm.
  • Alcoholism.

What is a DOT medical evaluation?

A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical is a health examination mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. A DOT physical

helps determine if a driver is physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to operate a CMV.

What blood pressure is too high for DOT physical?

Your blood pressure must be controlled and be

below 140 / 90

at the time of your DOT examination.

What is Dot blood pressure requirements?

on the interstate, drivers must pass a DOT physical with blood pressure at

or below 140/90

. While medication is an acceptable method of keeping blood pressure under control, if your DOT physical is coming up soon and you’re in a pinch, there are steps you can take to lower your blood pressure now.

What is the urine test for in a DOT physical?

The DOT urine specimen test involves

urine testing for sugar, protein, blood, and other issues

. Drug and alcohol testing is typically not required. The only time we do a DOT drug testing is when the employer requires one. If that is the case, we will get consent for the urine drug screen and then collect the sample.

How do you cheat a DOT physical?

The DOT physical is one exam you just can’t cheat.

There is virtually no way to cheat the DOT physical

.

Do bananas lower blood pressure?

But you might not know that a banana a day keeps high blood pressure at bay. This fruit is packed full of potassium — an

important blood pressure-lowering mineral

. Potassium helps balance sodium in the body. The more potassium you eat, the more sodium your body gets rid of.

How can I bring my blood pressure down immediately?

  1. Exercise most days of the week. Exercise is the most effective way to lower your blood pressure. …
  2. Consume a low-sodium diet. Too much sodium (or salt) causes blood pressure to rise. …
  3. Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day. …
  4. Make stress reduction a priority.

Does aspirin lower blood pressure before physical?


An aspirin taken every morning didn’t lower the blood pressure of prehypertensive people

, but the evening regimen did, Dr. Ramon C. Hermida reported Wednesday at the American Society of Hypertension annual meeting, in New Orleans.

Does aspirin lower blood pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a risk factor for heart disease—and for years,

a low dose of daily aspirin has been considered a safe and healthy way to prevent

heart disease. It’s reasonable, therefore, to associate aspirin with lowering blood pressure, as a key way of preventing heart attacks and strokes.

Can you fail a DOT physical for being overweight?


Being overweight is not a restriction to passing the DOT physical exam

. It is the medical conditions that being overweight eventually leads to, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease, that may affect your ability to safely drive a commercial vehicle.

Can you cheat blood pressure test?

Driving with high blood pressure is a risk for you, your passengers, as well as other drivers on the road. You run the risk of having heart complications while in the middle of your shift. For your overall well being and the well being of others,

never try to “cheat the system”

when it comes to your DOT physical.

How far back does a DOT drug test go?

The amount of follow-up testing you receive is determined by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and may continue

for up to 5 years

. This means the SAP will determine how many times you will be tested (at least 6 times in the first year), for how long, and for what substance (i.e. drugs, alcohol, or both).

Does DOT exam include drug test?

The DOT physical

exam requirements do not include a drug test

, but you will be required to submit a urine sample. This is used to screen your kidneys for potential medical conditions. However, companies require a pre-employment drug test.

Is the DOT exam hard?

Passing the exam was not easy for me, but apparently it was

doable

. There are 120 questions, and 2 hours is allotted for answering everything, although only 100 are scored. I consider myself a relatively fair to fast test-taker, but during this exam, I was taking longer to answer each question.

Which fruit is good for high blood pressure?

1. Citrus fruits. Citrus fruits, including

grapefruit, oranges, and lemons

, may have powerful blood-pressure-lowering effects. They’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that may help keep your heart healthy by reducing heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure ( 4 ).

What drink is best for high blood pressure?

  1. Tomato juice. Growing evidence suggests that drinking one glass of tomato juice per day may promote heart health. …
  2. Beet juice. …
  3. Prune juice. …
  4. Pomegranate juice. …
  5. Berry juice. …
  6. Skim milk. …
  7. Tea.

What breakfast is good for high blood pressure?

  • Oatmeal. Oatmeal is high in fiber and low in sodium. …
  • Eggs. …
  • Yogurt and Berries. …
  • Whole Grain Bread, Bagels and English Muffins. …
  • Unsalted Nuts. …
  • Dark Chocolate. …
  • Fruits and Vegetables. …
  • Fruit Smoothies.

Can drinking lots of water lower blood pressure?

Keeping well hydrated by drinking

six to eight glasses of water daily

(even more if working in hot and humid conditions) is beneficial for the blood pressure. Keeping well hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water daily (even more if working in hot and humid conditions) is beneficial for the blood pressure.

Does walking lower blood pressure immediately?

Ten minutes of brisk or moderate walking three times a day

Exercise lowers blood pressure by reducing blood vessel stiffness so blood can flow more easily. The effects of exercise are

most noticeable during and immediately after a workout

. Lowered blood pressure can be most significant right after you work out.

Which food is bad for high blood pressure?

  • Salt or sodium. Salt, or specifically the sodium in salt, is a major contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. …
  • Deli meat. Processed deli and lunch meats are often packed with sodium. …
  • Frozen pizza. …
  • Pickles. …
  • Canned soups. …
  • Canned tomato products. …
  • Sugar. …
  • Processed foods with trans or saturated fat.

How big can your neck be for dot?

For the DOT, if you do have a neck circumference above

17 inches for a male or 16 inches for a female

, you must be tested for sleep apnea by a medical examiner–an overnight visit. And for everyone else, you should speak to your health professionals about a similar sleep study.

Does Medicare cover DOT physical?

Guest. I could be totally off base here but DOT physicals are not “medically necessary” and, since Medicare only considers reimbursement for services that ARE medically necessary, it stands to reason that

Medicare would NEVER cover a DOT physical

.

Does coffee raise blood pressure?

Caffeine may cause a short, but

dramatic increase in your blood pressure

, even if you don’t have high blood pressure. It’s unclear what causes this spike in blood pressure. The blood pressure response to caffeine differs from person to person.

What is the difference between aspirin 81 mg and 325 mg?


Aspirin low-dose

is a reduced dosage version of regular strength aspirin. Regular strength aspirin is 325 mg. Aspirin low-dose is below 100 mg., typically 81 mg. If you need aspirin for pain relief or treating a fever, you should take the regular strength, unless recommended otherwise by your doctor.

Does Tylenol lower blood pressure?

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and other drugs, has been shown in

some studies to cause a mild increase in blood pressure

, but it hasn’t been associated with stroke or heart attack.

Can I drink beet juice while taking blood pressure medication?

If it is under good control with the medications you are taking,

your doctor may advise you to avoid beet juice

.

Why is aspirin no longer recommended?

Aspirin is best known as a

pain reliever

but is also a blood thinner that can reduce the chance of blood clots. It also has risks, even at low doses – mainly bleeding in the digestive tract or ulcers, both of which can be life-threatening. Contributing: Associated Press.

Is baby aspirin the same as 81 mg aspirin?


A single pill of baby aspirin contains 81 milligrams of aspirin

. That’s about a quarter of the 325-milligram dose in an adult aspirin pill. The new research review states that in the U.S., the most commonly prescribed aspirin dose for heart health is 81 milligrams per day.

Does beet juice lower blood pressure?

In a lengthy biological process, nitrates from dietary sources like beets and leafy green vegetables are converted to nitric oxide within the body. The nitric oxide then relaxes blood vessels and dilates them, which helps the blood flow more easily and

lowers blood pressure

.

Can nose breathing lower blood pressure?

In particular,

breathing through the nose lowers blood pressure

because you’re taking in more oxygen that way, supporting smooth blood flow and calming your nervous system.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.