DOT physical exams · Bakersfield
Need your DOT physical today?
No waiting. Walk-ins welcome. Same-day appointments. We know how important a current CDL medical card is, and we’re committed to getting you back on the road in no time.
DOT · Bakersfield
DOT
Physicals
Same-day visits
- Walk-ins welcome
- Same-day appointments
- New certifications & renewals
Pass your DOT medical exam
Helping drivers is what we do.
A DOT physical is the medical exam the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires of commercial drivers and other safety-sensitive workers. It shows you’re healthy enough to drive safely, and it’s how you get and keep your CDL medical card.
Our provider knows the medical requirements and is interested in helping you keep your livelihood. When needed, we steer drivers with medical conditions through the requirements so they can get or keep a current medical card and continue to drive. We’ll also talk through any concerns about your health and safety as it relates to your career.
Whether you’re a healthy 21-year-old with a learner’s permit or have a condition you’re concerned about, this is the DOT exam location you’re looking for. We’ll guide you through it so you can keep on truckin’.
Want to save time? Fill in the driver health history section of the official exam form before you arrive.
Get form MCSA-5875 from FMCSA · FMCSA driver fact sheet (PDF)
How it works
Four mile markers to your card.
Fill in your part
The driver section of form MCSA-5875 asks about your health history and medications. Do it at home or in our waiting room.
Walk in or call
Come in any time we’re open, or call 661-322-2875 for a same-day appointment. Please call ahead for exams near closing time.
Your exam
Vision, hearing, blood pressure and pulse, a urine screen, and a hands-on physical exam, with a review of your history.
Back on the road
If you meet the FMCSA standards, you leave with your medical examiner’s certificate. Results are reported to FMCSA.
Checklist
What to bring to your DOT physical
Bringing the right paperwork is the difference between a short visit and a second trip. If you have a medical condition, records showing it’s under control are the most important thing you can bring.
Questions before you come? Call 661-322-2875 and ask. We’re happy to tell you what you’ll need.
Bring these with you
- Your driver’s license (or learner’s permit)
- Glasses, contacts or hearing aids you use to drive
- A list of your medications, with doses
- The driver health history section of form MCSA-5875, filled in (saves time; get the form from FMCSA)
- Records for any ongoing condition: for example a recent A1C for diabetes, a CPAP compliance report for sleep apnea, or a letter from your cardiologist
- If you take insulin: the ITDM assessment form (MCSA-5870) from your treating clinician
What the exam checks
No surprises on exam day.
These are the federal standards every certified medical examiner works from. The examiner makes the final call, and many conditions only shorten how long your card lasts.
Vision
At least 20/40 in each eye and both eyes together, with or without glasses or contacts, a 70° field of vision in each eye, and the ability to tell red, green and amber apart.
Hearing
Hear a forced whisper at five feet or more in your better ear, with or without a hearing aid, or pass an audiometer test.
Blood pressure
Under 140/90 usually means a card for the full term. Higher readings often still qualify, for a shorter card while you get it under control.
Urine screen
Checks for protein, blood and sugar as signs of other health problems. It is not a drug test. A DOT drug test is a separate test.
Physical exam
Heart, lungs, abdomen, spine, limbs and reflexes: a hands-on look at the things that matter for safe driving.
Health history
Your medications, past surgeries and conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea or heart disease. Records help you here.
Employers & fleets
Keep your drivers compliant.
If your employees are designated as “safety-sensitive” by the Department of Transportation (their job can affect both their own safety and the public’s), they need a regular DOT physical to stay compliant and keep working.
A DOT physical follows strict guidelines from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, so you can be confident your drivers and other safety-sensitive staff are healthy enough to work safely. Send them over: walk-ins are welcome, and same-day appointments are a phone call away.
Questions drivers ask
DOT physical FAQ
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk-ins are welcome whenever the office is open. If you’d rather have a set time, call 661-322-2875 and we’ll book you a same-day appointment when we can. Please call ahead for DOT exams late in the day.
How long is a DOT medical card good for?
Up to 24 months. If you have a condition that needs monitoring, such as high blood pressure, the examiner may issue a shorter card, often one year, so it can be re-checked.
Is the DOT physical a drug test?
No. The urine sample in a DOT physical only screens for protein, blood and sugar. DOT drug testing is a separate test.
I have diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. Can I still pass?
Many drivers with these conditions are certified every day. What matters is showing the condition is under control, so bring your records: a recent A1C, blood pressure readings, a CPAP compliance report. Drivers who use insulin can be certified with the ITDM assessment form (MCSA-5870) completed by their treating clinician.
Concerned about a specific condition? Call us before you come in. Helping drivers through the requirements is what we do.
What if I wear glasses or a hearing aid?
That’s fine. Wear them to the exam. If you need them to meet the standard, your card will say so, and you’ll need to use them when you drive.
What paperwork do I leave with?
If you meet the standards, you leave with your Medical Examiner’s Certificate (form MCSA-5876). Medical examiners also report results to FMCSA’s National Registry, which passes them on to your state’s driver licensing agency.
Where can I read the official rules?
FMCSA publishes the CMV driver fact sheet (PDF) and the medical examination report form.
Haynes Chiropractic
Walk in today. Drive on.
Walk in for a DOT physical any time we’re open, or call and we’ll find you a time, often the same day.
Office hours
- Monday9:00–12:00 & 2:00–6:00
- Tuesday2:00–6:00
- Wednesday9:00–12:00 & 2:00–6:00
- Thursday2:00–6:00
- Friday9:00–12:00 & 2:00–5:00
- Saturday & SundayClosed