DOT Physicals in Kearney

EliteDOT Physicals

A Department of Transportation (DOT) physical is a physical exam that is required for persons who drive commercial vehicles. A DOT physical ensures people who are driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as large trucks and buses, are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit.

You will need a DOT physical if you:

  • Drive a vehicle designed to carry more than 15 people.
  • Are paid to drive a vehicle designed to carry more than eight people.
  • Carry hazardous material in your vehicle that requires your vehicle to have a placard.
  • Drive a vehicle on the interstate with a gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight of 10,000 pounds (5 tons) or more.

How to Get a DOT Medical Card

After you pass your DOT physical, you’ll receive a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC), also known as your DOT medical card. This certification, along with your commercial driver’s license (CDL), allows you to drive a commercial vehicle for 2 years, provided you have no underlying physical or mental condition that requires testing more often.

What Does a DOT Physical Consist of?

The health care provider who performs your DOT physical will ask you detailed questions about your medical history and a hands-on physical that may include:

  • Height & Weight
  • Blood pressure
  • Vision & Hearing
  • Skin
  • Eyes & Ears
  • Mouth and throat
  • Heart, Lungs & Chest
  • Abdomen
  • Back and spine
  • Nervous system
  • Gait, which is how you walk
  • Urinalysis checking for blood, sugar, or protein in the urine*

*This is NOT a drug screen/test