Being a commercial driver is a rewarding career path especially for getting out from behind a desk and onto the open road. And if recent headlines are any indication, there is a demand for drivers of commercial motor vehicles so the timing is great too. But there are certain requirements and one of the most important is getting a Department of Transportation (aka DOT) medical card.
Getting a DOT medical card is as easy as finding an authorized medical professional, making an appointment, and getting examined. There are certain medical conditions that may require further attention but assuming everything tests out okay, a DOT medical card can be issued at the end of the visit.
While having to go in for a mandatory medical exam in order to maintain a commercial driver’s license may be cause for some concern (after all, our ability to keep driving depends on passing it), we have found that getting a DOT medical card is a straightforward, worry-free process. And if it keeps us safe as well as others that we share the roads with, then it is all worth the while. Here’s where to get one.
Where to Get a DOT Medical Card?
It is important to remember that the purpose of a DOT medical card is to protect everyone on the roads, not just other drivers, but also those of us who drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for a living. It is also required under federal law and records are maintained by the state that issued the commercial driver’s license (CDL).
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency that is in charge of regulating commercial vehicle drivers and it mandates that we are medically qualified to operate a CMV. As a result, higher physical, mental, and emotional standards must be met than if we were just driving a passenger car.
It should be noted that these standards are the same no matter which state we get our medical examination in because it is very common for commercial vehicle drivers to cross state lines in the course of performing our jobs.
What are Certified Medical Examiners?
Because a DOT medical card signifies that we are safe to get behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle and operate it on public streets and highways, it can only be issued by medical professionals known as certified medical examiners (CMEs).
The most common examples of CMEs include:
- Medical doctors
- Doctors of Osteopathy
- Physicians’ assistants
- Advanced practice nurses (nurse practitioners)
- Doctors of Chiropractic
Finding a nearby CME is a straightforward process as there are thousands of authorized providers across the country. But it is important to remember they must be certified by the FMCSA, and registered with the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners
With these requirements in mind, the reality is that getting a DOT medical card is not a difficult process. In fact, should everything go smoothly during the exam, chances are good that the DOT medical card will be issued by the CME at the conclusion of the visit.
What’s more, many primary care physicians are certified by the FMCSA to perform DOT medical exams so this is something worth asking about to save time.
Finding the Nearest Certified Medical Examiner
Given the fact that only FMCSA-registered CMEs can perform exams and issue DOT medical cards, the best resource for finding an authorized medical provider is the FMCSA’s website.
But most importantly, as far as DOT medical cards are concerned, there is a searchable database of CMEs that makes the task of finding a medical professional as easy as typing in a few search parameters.
There are multiple ways to find a local CME using this database, such as:
- By provider name (i.e., typing in the name of a known doctor, nurse practitioner, or other medical professionals)
- By business name (i.e., the name of a known medical group or medical practice)
- By national registry number (if known)
- By city, state, or zip code, with the ability to refine search results to the desired range (the search default is a radius of 25 miles)
With an extensive database of providers from coast to coast and effective tools for narrowing down the search considerably, the FMCSA registry is a great asset for finding the nearest CME to issue a DOT medical card.
Conclusion
When we choose to embark on a career path that involves driving commercial motor vehicles of a certain class or type, we are agreeing to abide by all rules and regulations relating to this activity. One of these requirements is getting a DOT medical card, but the process of finding a CME, getting examined, and receiving the certification, is not as complicated or stressful as it would seem.