Commercial License - Medical Certification

What is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)?

Effective Jan. 1, 2000, the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 created the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation. The primary mission of FMCSA is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and employs more than 1,000 individuals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. For more information, go to About FMCSA on the FMCSA website.

Why is the DOT physical examination important?

The USDOT physical examination is required to help ensure that a person is medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely. In the interest of public safety, commercial motor vehicle drivers are generally held to higher physical, mental and emotional standards than passenger car drivers.