DOT Physical

Home Again · Feb 28, 2006

My wife and I used to drive as a team for PantherII. We quit at the end of September of last year so we could be home more. My wife's mom got breast cancer while we were on the road. She wanted to go with her mom to her doctor's appointments and chemotherapy. Her mom is currently on her 3rd round of cancer and chemotherapy. (First breast, then Cervical, now Lung cancer).
My DOT phyical expired in September of last year, but my CDL doesn't expire until July 2009. I was supposed to get a physical yearly. If I decided to drive again can I just go get a DOT physical? They wanted me to get a yearly physical since I am in the early stages of Diabetes.
Thanks for your replies and sory for the long post.

fxd hd8 · Feb 28, 2006

Hey Home, I don't know where you live, but where I'm at I can just go to my local Immediate care facility, they give DOT physicals for about $70.00, Then I just fax it to my states DMV CDL division.You might have to call around to see who gives the physical in your area. Then check out your DMV on the web to get a fax or phone #.

tec1959 · Feb 28, 2006

Home hi,As i understand or at least the way i was told you have to get physical yearly only when your under contract or driving a commerical vehile that meets the req's.If your not or if your driving local and your company does not req a d.o.t. physical then your fine.The statemant that you need a physical yearly is only while your driving a commerical vehicle....

Tennesseahawk · Feb 28, 2006

If you're planning on going back to Panther, you'll have to get your physical there. They won't accept outside physicals.

RichM · Feb 28, 2006

Hawk Does that mean when the time comes to renew your physical you have to drive to Ohio. What if you lived on the WestCoast,couldbe expensive..

Tennesseahawk · Feb 28, 2006

I know, Rich. I can't understand why a company would demand one of their doctors do the exam, unless they actually make a profit off of it. Regardless... they won't take a DOT from anyone other than their own doctors. Now, this isn't saying they don't accept certain doctors outside their complex, but I don't know that they do. You'd have to call them to find out.

whitewolf53 · Feb 28, 2006

That Panther physical is nothing but one big JOKE.In March of last year i had signed on with an O/O of a van who leased to Panther
(BIG MISTAKE) But on the otherhand i went and had their physical and they come back and tell me i have HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and my physical is only good for 1 year.I have never had HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE in my life.And i wasn't the only driver there who supposedly failed their test.I think they have some kind of a scam going on there to fleece the drivers out of their money every year.After 1 week i told Panther to kiss it.Went to a Medical Clinic in Ferndale,Mi to get a real DOT physical and the doc could not believe what good shape i was in for 55 years old.Passed the physical with flying colors And got my DOT card for 2 years.And the DOT physical only cost me 35 bucks.

Mike
Whitewolf 53

HERE LIZARD LIZARD LIZARD

Tennesseahawk · Feb 28, 2006

Funny you should mention that. I too had a one year physical from Panther because of some meds I was taking. I mentioned the same meds on a physical I took about 6 months prior, and they gave me a two year DOT card.

tec1959 · Feb 28, 2006

Can anyone say MONEY lol.....I worked for a company once that charged 3 times the price of a physical and always found something wrong with 18 out of 20 of us getting the physical wow...Plus they would only let you get your physical from their doctor only no other physicals allowed...

Critter Truckin · Feb 28, 2006

Oh yes, the ever-so-wonderful turn your head and cough. I'll try to make this lovely story short.

After leaving expediting for a short time, I found a job doing local deliveries. I went for there physical, and the latex glove man did his thing. I found a better job at a warehouse that involved some driving in a backup role. So, the very next day, I had to go for yet another visit to the man with the plan. Yeah, so here I am, one driver, three (3) DOT cards. Thanks be to whatever holy power is out there, that I only had to pay for one!!!

So if I have three cards, then why don't I have 6 years worth of physicals!!! I had my boys fondled more times in 2 days than I had in 6 years of organised sports... GOOD GRIEF PEOPLE!!!

tom tinker · Feb 28, 2006

Tom Tinker Retired or retarded. Hi will dot physical card work for most companys I got one a yr. ago good till 2007. Mine was done by a lady Doc. that was a surprise ,but she wouldn't accept a tip.
I think dot phy. is not as good as my Doc. Not as bad as military warm an breathing.:+

Home Again · Mar 1, 2006

I got my old job back before I drove for a year and even got 50 cents more an hour to boot. It's not a driving job so I won't worry about a physical then.
When my year was almost up Panther acted like I would have to go back to Panther to get my physical.