DOT Physical Exam - CDL License

If you drive a semi, dump truck, tanker or any commercial vehicle, you need a current DOT medical certificate to keep your CDL. At Clínica Hispana Nueva Salud La Porte we do the DOT physical exam with no appointment, in Spanish or English, and if you meet the requirements you leave with your certificate the same day, 7 days a week.

What the DOT exam checks

The exam follows the official FMCSA form and evaluates whether you can drive safely:

• Vision: at least 20/40 in each eye with or without glasses, 70-degree field of vision and the ability to tell traffic-light colors apart
• Hearing: hearing a forced whisper at 5 feet with or without a hearing aid
• Blood pressure and pulse: blood pressure determines how long the certificate is issued for
• Urinalysis: glucose, protein and blood; it is not a drug test, although many companies require one separately
• Physical exam: heart, lungs, abdomen, spine, extremities, hernias and nervous system
• Medical history: illnesses, surgeries, medications and habits, which you declare on the form

Certificate length depending on your health

• No conditions: 2 years
• Blood pressure 140/90 to 159/99: 1 year
• Blood pressure 160/100 to 179/109: a 3-month certificate so you can get it under control and come back
• Blood pressure 180/110 or higher: cannot be certified until controlled
• Insulin-treated diabetes: requires form MCSA-5870 from your treating physician and a certificate of up to 1 year
• Sleep apnea on CPAP: bring your device's usage report

If your blood pressure is high on exam day, you do not leave empty-handed: we can start treatment that same day so you can come back to recertify soon.

What to bring

A valid driver's license, glasses or hearing aids if you use them, your medication list with doses and, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, heart problems or a recent surgery, your latest results or a note from your doctor. If you have a pacemaker, had a heart attack or a seizure, bring your specialist's evaluation. Without those papers the exam may remain pending until you provide them.

How to prepare

Sleep well the night before and avoid coffee, energy drinks and cigarettes for two hours beforehand, because they raise blood pressure. Do not come fasting: eat normally. Take your medications as usual. Arrive with a moderately full bladder for the urine sample.

When you are done

We give you the medical certificate (MCSA-5876) and the physician records the result in the FMCSA National Registry, which is what Texas DPS checks. Give a copy to your employer and keep another in the cab. If your company also requires drug and alcohol testing or a general physical, we do them during the same visit.

DOT exam in La Porte, no appointment and flat price

We look forward to seeing you at our medical center, at 9606 Spencer Hwy Ste D, La Porte, TX 77571, on Spencer Hwy, minutes from the port, Highway 225 and Highway 146, open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM. You can come between loads or after your route. No insurance needed; the DOT exam has a flat price we confirm by phone. We serve drivers from La Porte, Deer Park, Pasadena, Baytown, Channelview and the greater Houston area.