Tips for managing blood pressure
Anticipation of a physical can be anxiety-provoking and we understand how important it is to pass your DOT exam. To help prepare yourself for the appointment, here are things you can do in the days and weeks leading up to your exam:

• Take your medication as prescribed and on schedule every day
• If you forget a dose, take it as soon as possible (if applicable) and let us know if you’ve recently missed a dose
• Reduce your salt, caffeine, nicotine, and sugar intake

Urinalysis
Right before your exam: Make sure you drink a glass of water and come in with a full bladder, as you will have to provide a urine sample.

1. Photo identification and medical records
2. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids if you use them
3. A list of your current medications, including strength and dosages, as well as the name and contact number of the doctor who prescribed them.
4. Complete Driver Information and Health History sections of the Medical Examination Report Form. If you are unable to print the form, you can email it to us for printing and sign in-office during your visit.
5. If you take medications for such things as pain, psychiatric conditions, attention deficit disorder, or smoking cessation, bring a letter from your treating doctor indicating the medication and condition being treated and affirmation that it will not interfere with the operation of a commercial motor vehicle.
6. Medical records for conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, sleep disorders, neurological conditions, etc. this means a copy of your most recent stress test (for heart conditions) and a copy of your latest sleep test result (for sleep apnea).

CDL drivers must take the DOT physical every two years. Should you have a condition that needs closer monitoring, such as high blood pressure, you may be required to get a physical more often.

Click here to visit the official Mass.gov website regarding CDL medical standards.

A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person does not have any of the following conditions which may interfere with the ability to control, operate, and drive a commercial motor vehicle safely:

• No loss of foot, leg, hand, or arm.
• No impairment of hand or finger which interferes with power grasping, or no impairment of arm, foot, leg which interferes with ability.
• No history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes that currently requires insulin for control.
• No current diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or other cardiovascular disease known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure.
• No history or clinical diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with ability.
• No current diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with ability.
• No history or clinical diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular, or vascular disease which interferes with ability.
• No history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability.
• No mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with ability.
• Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye, or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 or better, field of vision of at least 70 degrees horizontally, and the ability to perceive red, green, and amber.
• Ability to perceive a forced whisper in the better ear at no less than five feet, with or without the use of a hearing aid.
• Does not use a Schedule I drug, amphetamine, narcotic, or any other habit-forming drug.
• Has no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism.