A DOT physical evaluates whether a commercial driver meets the applicable FMCSA medical qualification requirements. A medical examiner on the National Registry performs the examination and makes the certification decision. Bring your license and tell the clinic whether you hold a CDL, CLP or another commercial-driver category. The medical certificate, your state license and an employer drug test are separate parts of the driver workflow.
For CDL and CLP holders, medical examination results are transmitted through the National Registry to the state licensing agency. Check that your licensing record has updated and keep any documents the examiner provides. An October 8, 2026 federal notice ends reliance on paper MEC proof for drivers licensed outside Alaska from October 12, 2026. The renewed 60-day paper exemption applies only to Alaska-issued CDL or CLP holders and their employers. It does not extend a certificate’s expiration or waive medical qualifications.
Continue prescribed treatment unless your treating clinician gives another instruction. Report fainting, severe sleepiness, chest symptoms, episodes of low blood sugar and medication effects honestly. Do not drive while a condition makes driving unsafe or when certification is required and has expired. A certificate can be limited to a shorter period than the usual maximum of 24 months. Passing an earlier examination does not establish that a new symptom is safe to ignore.