Truck Driver Requirements and Their Importance

Government trucking regulations require truck drivers to demonstrate their physical fitness to perform their duties. Although the law does not require drivers to maintain peak fitness, the regulations ensure that drivers are fit enough to operate their equipment safely. Drivers who lack the necessary fitness or have debilitating medical conditions put themselves and everyone on the road at risk.

Do Semi Drivers Have to Be Physically Fit to Drive?

Federal regulations require semi-truck drivers to have enough physical fitness to qualify to operate their trucks and related equipment safely. To drive a semi in interstate commerce, truck drivers must undergo physical exams to ensure they have the fitness necessary to perform all the duties expected of drivers. Drivers who pass the required exams will receive a medical card certifying they are fit enough to do their job.

 How Often Do Semi Drivers Have to Get Physical Exams?

Federal trucking regulations require commercial drivers to get a DOT physical exam to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Upon passing the exam, a driver will receive a certificate that allows the driver to operate a commercial vehicle for two years. Drivers suffering from various medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, may need to be tested and get recertified at more frequent intervals.

Types of Physical Exams Required for Truck Drivers

As part of a DOT physical, the driver will be required to fill out a medical history listing prescribed medications, prior surgeries, alcohol, and tobacco use, and current medical conditions.

The DOT physical exam will include a hands-on portion that checks a driver’s:

• Vital signs (such as pulse, blood pressure, and respiration)
• Eyes (vision test)
• Ears (hearing test)
• Back and spine
• Reflexes, strength, and range of motion in arms and legs
• Overall well-being

The exam also includes a urinalysis that checks for blood, sugar, and proteins. Trucking companies are required to test newly hired drivers for drugs before allowing the driver to operate a big rig and to do random testing of 10 percent of their drivers each year. 

Medical Conditions That Could Disqualify You

Truck drivers may get medically certified despite suffering from certain medical conditions so long as they can effectively treat the condition to be fit to operate their vehicle and equipment. However, conditions that can disqualify a driver include:

• Untreated diabetes
• Untreated hypertension
• Untreated sleep apnea
• Uncontrolled seizures/epilepsy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Meniere’s disease
• Uncorrected impaired vision
• Uncorrected hearing loss
• Pulmonary conditions that require the use of supplemental oxygen
• Narcolepsy
• Schizophrenia

Drivers who cannot effectively treat a disqualifying condition may apply for an exemption waiver from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the state DMV. Waivers exist for vision or hearing impairments or a history of seizures. Various states also grant intrastate waivers for other conditions such as diabetes or loss of a limb.

Navigating the Gray Areas: Ensuring You Meet the Standards for Your Exam

Physical requirements for truck drivers protect the drivers, trucking companies, and the public who share the road with semi-trucks. However, some trucking companies become so desperate for drivers that they turn to certified examiners who have developed a reputation for looking the other way. These examiners are known for rubber-stamping truck drivers’ medical cards without performing tests or ignoring warning signs revealed in an examination. Unfit truck drivers pose a risk of causing devastating accidents.

Call Us for a Free Consultation Today!

If you have been injured in a truck accident and you believe the driver may have been impaired or unfit to operate the truck, contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You may have a right to hold the negligent truck driver or trucking company accountable. You’ll have the chance to talk to a semi-truck accident lawyer to learn more about why clients choose us for help when they have a legal matter that may impact their future.