Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Helpful Information When Preparing For A DOT Physical San Antonio TX

By Gary Patterson


If you work in the transportation sector where you are charged with the task of ferrying people or goods from one place to the other with a motor vehicle, the DOT requires you to undergo some tests to ensure that your driving performance is up to standard. This test is crucial, especially for people who drive trucks and buses. When preparing for a DOT physical San Antonio TX drivers can benefit if they learn what the test involves.

The other names used to refer to the DOT physical include DOT test, DMV physical, DOT exam and drivers physical. Having the test done by a certified, qualified and competent practitioner in the medical field is one of the main requirements. This practitioner can be a nurse, a doctor, or the assistant of a doctor. The test commences with a review of the medical records and some random questioning about the kind of medication the person may be using.

Among the issues tested during the DOT exam include blood pressure, pulse rate, vision and hearing. As a commercial driver, you also need to have good vision with at least 20/40 acuity in either or both eyes regardless of whether you use contact lenses or eye glasses or not. Good hearing is also necessary and the examiner checks whether you can hear a forced whisper about five feet away. The expert will also check for deformities in spine and your mouth as well as throat to establish whether you have problems with swallowing or breathing.

The other essential examinations that the examiner will conduct are neurological tests to confirm that the reflexes and coordination are normal. The examiner will also check for any impairment in the respiratory system by listening to the heart and lungs for murmurs. He or she will press your abdomen to check for abnormalities. Furthermore, the medical examiner will perform a hernia check and urinalysis to establish whether you have any underlying medical conditions.

After undergoing the DOT exam, you may get a certificate depending on the results of the tests. The certificate can be valid for a period of two years maximum before another DOT physical is done. It can also be valid for a period of 3 to 6 months.

A DOT exam is essential for many reasons, including assurance of proper vision under DOT regulations. Excellent vision is a significant requirement when operating a commercial vehicle. Mono-vision leads to denial of a DOT medical card. Drug testing is another essential reason for the exam. Drug tests help ensure that CDL holders do not use hard drugs that may endanger their lives and those of other road users. Hearing testing helps ascertain commercial vehicle drivers have no hearing impairment.

Screening of the brain is done in an effort to discover any injuries to the brain or any other problem that can deem you not fit to work as a commercial vehicle driver. If the tests discover a brain problem, you will be disqualified from getting certified to work as a commercial driver. Another essential test is done on the heart called cardiovascular screening, this is in an effort to bring out any heart issues that you may have that can make you unfit to operate commercial vehicles well..

Generally, the tests are meant to assess the medical conditions of commercial drivers. The process examines the physical, mental and emotional health of individuals. The test poses no risk whatsoever to the individuals being tested and it can take around thirty minutes to one hour to complete.




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