When attending a DOT physical exam, a commercial driver will need to bring a completed list of medications, including the dosage and their doctors’ names and addresses. In an effort to save time, we also recommend that drivers fill out a health history questionnaire before coming to the clinic. To ensure that the exam runs smoothly, drivers with medical issues need to bring the appropriate documents or items associated with those illnesses. For example: • Drivers afflicted with vision or hearing problems should bring their eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aids, or any other enhancement item. • Drivers that are afflicted with diabetes must bring the most recent lab results. This lab report must include their hemoglobin and their blood sugar logs. • Drivers with heart-related issues/diseases must, at the very least, bring a letter from their current cardiologist. This letter must outline their medical history and current medications. The letter must also clearly state that it is safe for them to work. At a DOT physical, doctors will often check the following: • Vision • Hearing • Blood pressure/pulse rate • Urinalysis • Physical Examination A lot is covered in the DOT physical exam and of course, not everyone can pass on their first try. There are many reasons a driver may fail the DOT exam. Some of these things are within your control and others are not. There are a few reasons you could be considered unqualified to drive including: • High blood pressure • Epilepsy • Alcoholism or drug use • Missing extremities • Cardiovascular or respiratory disease • Diabetes • Poor eyesight or hearing • A nervous or psychiatric disease