DOT Physical Concerns

I am considering truck driving but have some concerns about passing the required phys. exam. I have had bypass surgery in 2010, since then I have had nothing but clean reports from my cardiologist and have no strength or limitation issues. would this be a automatic no pass on the required phys. or no placement with any of the CDL training school companies.

Jim, Welcome to the forum! Bypass surgery is certainly not an automatic fail. I've got to tell you every company has their own chosen physician doing these physicals and some are more particular than others. There are some basic DOT standards they have to go by, but they are not that restrictive. Just go to any truck stop and hang around for lunch for about an hour and a half and you'll see some really out of shape folks coming in there for some grub. Well, you guessed it, they've all passed their companies physical.

Part of the long form that each company has to keep on file for it's employees has a place for you to answer questions about your past health issues. You'll tell them about your bypass surgery on there and the physician will ask you some questions about it I'm sure. Most company physicians will probably then have you do a few squats or jumping jacks or something like that and then want to check your heart rate after a little exertion. This is what I've seen done, for the most part, with someone who has had some heart issues in the past. There are laws requiring a new physical each time you change employers, so if you have a physical at a driving school you will have another physical when you start a job.

I don't know what kind of driving job you're considering, but just so you'll know, the dry van or refrigerated companies are going to be a little less severe on their physical requirements than the flat-bed companies.

I wish you the best, and want you to know that we'll be glad to help you with anything we can.

A lot of companies are starting to do stress test now that is pretty simple. Stair step up and down a one step piece of wood for three minutes then check your BP and then wait 5 minutes and check it again to make sure your heart rate is returning to normal within a set amount of time. There are a few more things included in this type of test but that is pretty much it as far as a stress test goes. Believe me that three minutes of stair step is tougher than it sounds cause you have to stay in sync with a sound which amounts to one step every second for three minutes non stop. With my company you also have to lift different size weights to waist level...chest level and head level ranging from 5 lbs to 35 lbs just to make sure you could handle loading or unloading a truck. Believe me...35 lbs at head level is about the same as 50 lbs at waist level.

Then there are companies that don't even do that much.