DOT Physical
Topic 964 | Page 1
I think it depends on the company. Prime for example has their own doc and even if you went to an outside doc I'm pretty sure they still make you see theirs. Smaller companies may not have a doc of their own. I think with company sponsored programs it may depend on if you need your full permit before starting. At prime you just take the permit tests and then do the physical there and finish the permit process.
By law before getting hired at a company they require you to have a DOT physical and drug test done before they hire you so it does not matter what company you go to work for or how many physicals you have had in the past month...you will be taking another one before starting at a new company.
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.
I was under the impression that you can get one ahead of time, but that it has a 'window of usage' if you will. meaning it has to be current, within the last 30 days.
Did I just read that about one of the companies I was researching, is that common? or am I just way off base?
I'm a newbie too, but I did find out that any doctor can give this test, so my plan was to go see my GP about something, and just ask them to 'test' me anyway, to make sure I can pass. Otherwise, it's like $40 at the health clinic.
Ok, the right answer is pretty much a combination of everything said above 
By law you will need a physical anytime you change jobs as Guyjax mentioned. There are some companies that will have you take a physical, given by one of their approved doctors, somewhere near your home before you come to their company. That will indeed count as the pre-hire physical. Most companies will not do this however. They will give you a physical once you arrive. Any company you're interested in will tell you their procedures ahead of time.
Now if you're not sure whether or not you can pass the physical there is nothing wrong with getting one yourself. They're cheap as P.R. mentioned and they only take like 10-15 minutes. In and out. But you will have to take one again once you arrive at the company.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Now if you're not sure whether or not you can pass the physical there is nothing wrong with getting one yourself. They're cheap as P.R. mentioned and they only take like 10-15 minutes. In and out. But you will have to take one again once you arrive at the company.
Where can you get a cheap DOT physical? I've been looking into that for trucking school and the average cost for one in Oklahoma is around $130!
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.
Michael asks:
Where can you get a cheap DOT physical? I've been looking into that for trucking school and the average cost for one in Oklahoma is around $130!
They're out there. A local clinic (Memphis) does one for $60. Some supermarket clinics like The Little Clinic in Kroger may do one.
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.
Or you can check the FMCSA National Registry of Medical Examiners - https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/home.seam
and call around to check prices.
Around here - chiropractors do it for around $40 - clinics and regular docs, $ 90 and up.
Rick
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.
Fm:
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.
Or you can check the FMCSA National Registry of Medical Examiners - https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/home.seam
Rick
I'm glad Rick brought this up. "PR aka Road Hog" mentioned above that "any doctor can give this test..." but that is incorrect. Only doctors on the FMCSA national registry of medical examiner's can give the DOT physical. You can always check to see if your regular family doctor can give the physical but you'll probably have to go somewhere else for one like I did.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.
Fm:
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.
Or you can check the FMCSA National Registry of Medical Examiners - https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/home.seam
Rick
I'm glad Rick brought this up. "PR aka Road Hog" mentioned above that "any doctor can give this test..." but that is incorrect. Only doctors on the FMCSA national registry of medical examiner's can give the DOT physical. You can always check to see if your regular family doctor can give the physical but you'll probably have to go somewhere else for one like I did.
This is an old thread. When it was posted, it was correct. FMCSA changed the requirements in May of 2014.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
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.
Fm:
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.New Reply:
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If I were to get a DOT Physical on my own, would I still be required to get one at a company sponsored school?
In other words, my understanding is that when you go to a Co. Spons. School, they automatically give DOT Physicals there and some people don't pass and are sent home. If I were to get the physical out of the way before I got to the Training, would I still have to have the DOT physical?
Thanks
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.