Tips On How To Prepare For A POSITIVE DOT PHYSICAL Experience:
Topic 7982 | Page 1
Bump to make sure everyone reads this. Great information!
Thank you Dr. T!
Good advice but maybe a little overly focused on treating the staff well? Were these tips really designed to help the driver or maybe to get better treatment for his staff?
- watch what you eat
- be nice to us
- get plenty of sleep
- have a great attitude towards us
- treat us well
- smile a lot to our staff
- bring our nurses flowers
- take our doctors out to lunch
- buy our receptionist an Amazon gift card
Geez ... 
The part about not drinking coffee and avoiding caffeine was helpful. LOL 
I think that was very well written. Ive noticed drivers are always getting grumpy because of the long wait times at the office, so in turn they become hostile to the staff and the doctor. Not the way to do it. While eating/drinking right is important, so is showing respect, being calm, patient, and polite. Thanks for the information and reminder sir!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
This part is odd:
Once you are at the clinic – IMPORTANT – treat the staff with courtesy. If you treat the assistant or nurse badly, the doctor will know and you will not be given the benefit of the doubt. Treat others as you would want to be treated.
This seems to say that doctors don't really do their jobs well, and if you aren't nice enough for them they will "throw the book" at you and if you're nice they might just overlook that BMI?
Agree there are a couple good tips but this sounds more like someone had a bad experience with a DoT physical patient. Its all good advice, do unto others.
Phil
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Actually-it's an ad for his Clinic that performs Physicals...
This part is odd:
This seems to say that doctors don't really do their jobs well, and if you aren't nice enough for them they will "throw the book" at you and if you're nice they might just overlook that BMI?
Phil
If you saw/heard someone being snotty to your brother, how would you feel about them? How would you treat them if you needed to talk to them?
The Dr office staff often works as a family. Just make nice with everybody and you'll get good treatment yourself.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
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SameDayDOT Tips FAQAre you worried and stressed that you have some issues that could put your DOT Physical in Jeopardy? Here are some important tips and items to prepare for your DOT Exam. Being prepared and having the right attitude will help you and the examining doctor.
There are some do’s and don’ts that you need to put in your action plan. This is especially important when seeing a doctor whom you don’t know and more importantly who does not know you.
FIRST lay off the coffee and any and all energy drinks or over-the-counter cold medications for 24 hours before the exam. These products can and will raise your blood pressure 10-20 points on each end. For example, a normal blood pressure of 120/80 can become a pressure of 140/100, or a 140/90 will rise to 160/110, which will turn a non-hypertensive driver into a permanently restricted one or, in the worst case scenario, disqualified.
Allow yourself some time, get a good night’s sleep , get up early so you are not rushed.
MEDICATIONS: Take your medicine as soon as you wake up in the morning. Telling your doctor that you forgot to take your medication is not what he wants to hear and is not an excuse for your blood pressure being high or your diabetes not under control Taking your medication as prescribed is especially important if you are on blood pressure medicine or diabetes medication. You should also bring ALL medications in their original bottles to the DOT exam to show to the doctor and to list on your DOT exam form along with a list of your doctors and when last seen.
CLEAN UP: Hygiene is important. If you or your breath smells bad, the doctor will notice. Clean up for the exam.
EATING: Don’t eat a big meal before the physical, especially if you are diabetic. This triggers a spilling of sugar in your urine. That leads to a blood sugar test and possibly getting an A1C test by your family doctor; disqualification pending treatment; or a restricted card.
COMPLIANCE LETTERS: Take any current compliance letters for special illness or medications from your doctor. You should also have copies of your most recent lab tests. Keep a medical log. Impress the doctor and show him you are active in taking care of yourself and your health. It will go a long way!!
Have a CPAP machine? Bring your CPAP compliance report/letter to the exam. Remember CPAP machines are a prescription just the same as a medication. Some doctors can read your CPAP data card, although not many do.
Be sure to arrive at your appointment in plenty of time. You don’t want to be in a big rush or tired when you’re doing vision and hearing tests.
Once you are at the clinic – IMPORTANT – treat the staff with courtesy. If you treat the assistant or nurse badly, the doctor will know and you will not be given the benefit of the doubt. Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Please leave your baby at home with a qualified babysitter, our office cannot perform the DOT Physical with your baby in hand or crying in their baby carrier. It's not fair to the baby, the staff or yourself when getting a DOT Physical.
REMEMBER: most restricted DOT medical disqualifications are the decision of the doctor. This means the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allows the doctor a lot of discretion in determining whether you get a card or not.
So be COURTEOUS, BE KIND AND RESPECTFUL. Again remember disrespecting the staff is the same as disrespecting the doctor.
ATTITUDE & YOUR DOT physical: First: Don’t go into a medical office and expect to be seen right away. A long wait at the doc’s office is common. And if a drug screen is needed, you may be uncomfortable, again remember Courteous and Kind.
Being Calm, Courteous, Patient and Polite will go a long way to ensuring a more pleasant DOT physical experience.
For more in depth preparation see
Preparing for Your DOT Medical Exam
Michael Tigges DC, NRCME
SameDayDOT.com
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.