Can We Go to Urgent Care for DOT Physicals?

A DOT physical exam is performed to ensure that employees who are responsible for operating commercial motor vehicles are in good enough physical health to safely continue their work. They include various examinations and tests to evaluate the physical, mental, and emotional health of the patient. Depending on the specific test or requirements provided by the employer, some of the required tests may vary a bit but will more often than not include the following:

• Vision and hearing tests
• Blood pressure and pulse rate tests
• Urinalysis (to check for proteins, sugar levels, and presence of blood)
• A physical examination that assesses the overall health of the heart, lungs, mouth and throat, abdomen, and spine as well as checks for hernias or impairments in the limbs that may limit mobility or range of motion
• Neurological tests to assess the balance, speech patterns, and coordination of the patient

The health care provider that is performing the DOT physical examination will also want the medical history of the patient to be aware of any past surgical procedures, injuries, or illnesses that may impede their ability to work, current medications that they are taking, any symptoms they are currently experiencing, if they consume tobacco products, and if they have ever failed a drug test, as well as their family medical history to be aware of any potential conditions for which the patient may be at an increased risk. Some patients may also be required to provide a sleep apnea test if they have symptoms that are indicative of sleep apnea. It is up to the healthcare provider who is performing the DOT physical examination to determine if other tests should be included for a proper evaluation.

DOT physical examinations are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for those who drive commercial motor vehicles. This includes anyone who:

• Drives a motor vehicle that carries more than 15 passengers;
• Transport hazardous materials of specific quantities in the motor vehicle that require a placard;
• Drive a commercial vehicle with a gross combination weight of more than 10,000 pounds
• Are paid to drive a vehicle that carries more than 8 passengers.

Not every commercial vehicle operator will require a DOT, but your employer will let you know if it is required for the job, as well as if any other types of physical examinations or certifications are required to ensure that you can perform your job safely while minimizing accidents as much as possible to keep you and others out of harm.

Many workplaces will have strict deadlines for having a DOT physical completed, often making it difficult for employees to schedule an appointment with their primary care physician without having to take any time off from their workday to do so. Urgent care clinics are the best place to go to receive timely and convenient DOT physical examinations, as most will be able to provide all of the tests required to complete the physical properly and will most likely not require an appointment. At PACS Urgent Care, we provide DOT physical examinations on a walk-in basis, which means that patients can come in whenever it is most convenient for them within our extended open hours, allowing them to not have to miss a day of work to have the examination completed. We ensure that DOT physical examinations are accessible and convenient for all patients whenever they need to have them completed for their work.

PACS Urgent Care provides Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals. Walk-ins are accepted. For more information, contact us or book an appointment. We have convenient locations to serve you in Alexandria VA, and Ruther Glen VA. We are open 7 days a week and we accept walk-ins. We serve patients from Alexandria VA, Huntington VA, Arlington VA, Ruther Glen VA, Bagdad VA, Athens VA, Doswell VA, and surrounding areas.