Monday, July 10, 2017

What Applicants Should Know About DOT Physicals Omaha

By Roger Watson


Getting a commercial driver's license is necessary if you want to drive commercial vehicles in the United States. However, there are requirements that applicants must meet before being issued with a CDL. The Department of Transportation requires that all drivers undergo a medical test to ensure that they are physically fit to handle heavy vehicles. If you want to drive such vehicles, below are some issues about DOT Physicals Omaha people need to understand.

The aim of this test is to ensure that road safety is maintained by licensing only physically fit drivers. Thus, the test check for mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Any individual who does not meet the minimum requirements is thus not eligible for a CDL. However, the examiners ensure that no individuals are inappropriately disqualified.

However, if you have certain conditions, you should not be worried because some cases exempted from the requirements. Individuals who fail to meet requirements for Vision, Physical Impairment parts, Diabetes, or Hearing may be placed under the Driver Exemption Program. However, this decision is made upon being reviewed by a certified doctor to ascertain that the driver can operate exceptionally well with the condition.

Applicant must undergo a blood pressure test. The work of a commercial vehicle driver is rigorous and can be strenuous at times. For people with conditions such as hypertension, this may expose them to risk of cardiac arrest. In case that happens when they are driving, they could impact on the safety of other road users as well. Hence, applicants should have a regular heart rate.

A urinalysis is also mandatory. This is to determine if the applicant has any protein, blood, and sugar that may indicate a hidden health problem. There could be conditions such as diabetes and Kidney disease that have not yet manifested. Drivers are also tested for alcohol and common drugs. This is to ensure that drivers of commercial vehicles are never under the influence when operating these machines.

Applicant must also undergo a hearing test. Their hearing ability is tested on various distances using different frequencies. This is to ascertain that they are hearing is good enough for road safety. However, individuals with hearing aids can be certified but they must come with their hearing aids for the test.

The sight of the driver is also tested. The doctors use the Snellen eye chart to ensure that drivers can see the road with satisfactory clarity. This helps improve road safety because they can see obstacles from a distance and brake in time. Most heavy vehicles do not brake easily and may fail to hold emergency breaks. Hence, good vision is necessary.

Applicants who use Schedule one drugs cannot pass the eligibility test. These drugs can affect one's functionality and ability to handle machines. These drugs include narcotics and amphetamines as well as a variety of other habit-forming drugs. Alcohol and illicit drugs are also tested.

The applicant's medical history is also reviewed. This is to check if the individual has a medical history that could affect their driving ability. The doctor will check for a history of functional, organic, mental, or nervous diseases as well as psychiatric disorders.

The test is very straight forward. Just ensure that you are well prepared. In case of a problem, you can always seek clarification.




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