If you drive trucks or other commercial vehicles, the DOT physical is a requirement you can't skip: no valid medical certificate, no CDL. Here's what it evaluates, what to bring and how to leave the same day with your certificate.
What is the DOT exam?
The DOT physical (Department of Transportation) verifies you're healthy enough to drive commercial vehicles safely — for you and everyone on the road. It's required to get or renew your CDL and must be performed by a certified medical examiner.
What exactly do they check?
- Vision: you must meet the required acuity, with glasses if you wear them
- Hearing: ability to hear at the distance the standard requires, with a hearing aid if you need one
- Blood pressure and pulse: very high pressure can shorten your certificate's validity or require control first
- Urine test: looks for sugar or protein (signs of diabetes or kidney problems) — it is not a drug test
- General physical exam: heart, lungs, abdomen, spine, extremities and neurological status
- Medical history and medications: conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea or heart problems get a closer look
What should I bring?
- Photo ID
- Glasses or hearing aids, if you use them
- A list of medications you take, with doses
- If you have diabetes: recent glucose logs or your latest lab work
- If you have high blood pressure: your medication name and recent readings
- If you use a CPAP for sleep apnea: the device usage report, if you can get it
Arriving with this information avoids the most frustrating DOT outcome: being left "pending" over a piece of paper sitting at home.
How long does the certificate last?
The DOT medical certificate lasts up to 24 months. If you have a condition that needs follow-up — controlled high blood pressure, for example — the examiner can issue it for a shorter period (a year or less) to recheck you sooner.
Tips to pass without setbacks
- Sleep well the night before and go easy on coffee right beforehand: it helps keep your blood pressure stable.
- Take your medications as usual. The exam isn't out to "catch you" — it confirms your condition is controlled.
- Don't arrive with an empty bladder: you'll need to give a urine sample.
- If you know your pressure runs high, get it under control first. We can help with blood pressure and hypertension management so you arrive ready.
Your DOT exam in Houston, in Spanish
At Clínica Hispana Nueva Salud Hammerly we perform your DOT physical in Spanish, no appointment needed, with an on-site lab. In most cases you leave the same day with your certificate ready to process or renew your CDL. We also do drug and alcohol testing if your company requires it separately.
Visit us every day from 9 AM to 9 PM at 8538 Hammerly Blvd Suite B, Houston, TX 77055 (Spring Branch) — minutes from I-10 — or call (832) 280-9555.
Frequently asked questions
Does the DOT exam include a drug test? No. The DOT urine test looks for health indicators (sugar, protein), not substances. If your employer requires a drug test, that's a separate exam we also perform at the clinic.
Can I pass with diabetes or high blood pressure? Yes, as long as they're controlled. Bring your records and medications; in some cases the certificate is issued for a shorter period for follow-up.
What if I don't pass? Depending on the case, the examiner may leave it pending while you get something specific under control (like blood pressure) rather than denying it. The key is to address it quickly so you're not off the road.
Do I need an appointment? No — we see drivers first-come, first-served every day. If you're renewing, don't wait until the last day of validity.
