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DOT Physicals in Bear, DE
Certified medical examiner. No appointment needed. 131 Becks Woods Drive, Bear, Delaware.
Certified medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry · Walk-ins welcome, Mon–Thu 9AM–6PM · Hablamos Español
A DOT physical is the federally required medical examination that commercial drivers must pass to operate a commercial motor vehicle. At Comprehensive Accident and Injury Center in Bear, Delaware, the exam is performed by a certified medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry. Most exams take 30 to 45 minutes, and qualified drivers leave with their Medical Examiner’s Certificate the same day.
What Is a DOT Physical?
A DOT physical — also called a CDL physical or a commercial driver medical exam — is a health examination required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. It exists to confirm a driver can safely handle the physical and cognitive demands of the job.
The exam is governed by 49 CFR 391.41, which sets thirteen physical qualification standards. Two of them, for vision and hearing, allow the examiner no discretion at all. The rest are assessed against FMCSA medical guidance.
You need one if you:
- Drive a vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Transport 9 or more passengers for compensation, or 16 or more without compensation
- Haul hazardous materials in quantities requiring placarding
- Are applying for or renewing a Commercial Driver’s License or Commercial Learner’s Permit
If you are unsure whether your vehicle or route requires certification, call us at (302) 595-2584 and we will walk through it with you before you book.
Can a Chiropractor Perform a DOT Physical?
Yes. Doctors of chiropractic have been eligible to serve as certified medical examiners since the FMCSA established the National Registry in 2012, and Delaware is one of the states that permits it.
This is the question drivers ask most often, so here is the direct answer: what matters is not the examiner’s degree but whether they are listed on the National Registry. Every examiner — MD, DO, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor — completes the same FMCSA-accredited training, passes the same certification test, and is held to the same standards. A certificate issued by a registry-listed chiropractor is valid under federal law anywhere in the country.
You can verify any examiner yourself at the FMCSA National Registry website before your appointment. Call us on (302) 595-2584 and we will give you our examiner’s registry details so you can check them.
What Is a DOT Physical?
A DOT physical — also called a CDL physical or a commercial driver medical exam — is a health examination required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. It exists to confirm a driver can safely handle the physical and cognitive demands of the job.
The exam is governed by 49 CFR 391.41, which sets thirteen physical qualification standards. Two of them, for vision and hearing, allow the examiner no discretion at all. The rest are assessed against FMCSA medical guidance.
You need one if you:
- Drive a vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Transport 9 or more passengers for compensation, or 16 or more without compensation
- Haul hazardous materials in quantities requiring placarding
- Are applying for or renewing a Commercial Driver’s License or Commercial Learner’s Permit
If you are unsure whether your vehicle or route requires certification, call us at (302) 595-2584 and we will walk through it with you before you book.
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Can a Chiropractor Perform a DOT Physical?
Yes. Doctors of chiropractic have been eligible to serve as certified medical examiners since the FMCSA established the National Registry in 2012, and Delaware is one of the states that permits it.
This is the question drivers ask most often, so here is the direct answer: what matters is not the examiner’s degree but whether they are listed on the National Registry. Every examiner — MD, DO, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor — completes the same FMCSA-accredited training, passes the same certification test, and is held to the same standards. A certificate issued by a registry-listed chiropractor is valid under federal law anywhere in the country.
You can verify any examiner yourself at the FMCSA National Registry website before your appointment. Call us on (302) 595-2584 and we will give you our examiner’s registry details so you can check them.
There is a practical argument for choosing a chiropractic clinic for this exam, too. Commercial driving is physically punishing work — vibration, long static postures, climbing in and out of a cab, loading freight. Musculoskeletal assessment is the core of chiropractic training, and it is a substantial part of what the DOT exam evaluates.
What Happens During the Exam
Plan on 30 to 45 minutes. The examination follows the FMCSA Medical Examiner Handbook protocol and is identical in scope regardless of which certified provider performs it.
Medical history review. You complete the Medical Examination Report, Form MCSA-5875, covering past illnesses, surgeries, current medications, and any conditions under treatment.
Vision. Federal standard is at least 20/40 acuity in each eye and both eyes together, with or without correction, plus a field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability to distinguish red, amber and green. Glasses and contacts are fine — bring them.
Hearing. You must be able to perceive a forced whisper at not less than five feet, with or without a hearing aid. An audiometric test is the alternative standard.
Blood Pressure and What Each Reading Means
Blood pressure is the most common reason a driver leaves with a shorter certificate than expected. FMCSA guidance ties the certification period directly to the reading:
| Reading | FMCSA stage | Typical certification |
|---|---|---|
| Below 140/90 | Normal | Up to 2 years |
| 140–159 / 90–99 | Stage 1 | 1 year |
| 160–179 / 100–109 | Stage 2 | One-time 3-month certificate to begin or adjust treatment; 1 year once at or below 140/90 |
| 180/110 or above | Stage 3 | Not qualified until reduced to 140/90 or below and treatment is well tolerated |
If your reading comes back high, take your prescribed medication as normal, avoid caffeine and nicotine beforehand, and tell the examiner what you are taking. Well-controlled hypertension on medication is treated favourably. An elevated first reading is normally confirmed with repeat measurements rather than acted on immediately.
Urinalysis. This checks specific gravity, protein, blood and sugar as general health indicators. It is not a drug screen — DOT drug and alcohol testing is a separate federal requirement handled outside this exam.
Physical examination. General appearance, eyes, ears, mouth and throat, heart, lungs and chest, abdomen, vascular system including carotid and peripheral pulses, genitourinary, back and spine, extremities and joints, and a neurological assessment covering reflexes, balance and coordination.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Arriving prepared is the difference between finishing in half an hour and being sent away to gather paperwork.
- Photo ID or your driver’s licence
- A complete list of current medications, with dosages and prescribing physicians
- Glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids if you use them
- Any existing FMCSA exemption or Skill Performance Evaluation certificate
- If you have diabetes: most recent A1C and, if you use insulin, your completed Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form (MCSA-5870)
- If you use a CPAP: your compliance data covering the last 90 days
- If you take blood pressure or blood thinner medication: a note from your prescribing physician confirming stability
If you are managing a condition and are not sure what documentation the examiner will need, call ahead. It is a short conversation that saves a second trip.
DOT Physicals Near Me — Getting Here
Comprehensive Accident and Injury Center is at 131 Becks Woods Drive, Bear, DE 19701, in New Castle County.
We are convenient to the I-95 and Route 40 commercial corridors, and we regularly see drivers based in Bear, Newark, Wilmington, New Castle, Brookside, Christiana, Middletown and Delaware City, as well as drivers running routes through northern Delaware from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
After Your Exam: Your Certificate and Your Record
If you meet the standards, the examiner issues your Medical Examiner’s Certificate, Form MCSA-5876.
One thing has changed recently that drivers should know about. Since the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule took effect on June 23, 2025, certified examiners transmit exam results electronically to FMCSA by the end of the next calendar day. FMCSA then passes results for CDL and CLP holders to State Driver’s Licensing Agencies, which post them to your commercial driving record. For CDL holders whose status has posted successfully, the paper card is no longer the primary proof of certification — your driving record is.
In practice, keep the paper copy anyway. State systems can lag, and a posting delay can hold up dispatch or onboarding. FMCSA has recommended examiners continue issuing paper copies through the transition for exactly this reason, and issued a waiver permitting a copy of the MCSA-5876 to serve as proof for up to 60 days from certification.
Certificates are valid for up to 24 months. A shorter period is issued where a condition needs monitoring — most commonly blood pressure, diabetes, or treated sleep apnea.
Other Services for Commercial Drivers
Driving is hard on the spine, and the same clinic that certifies you can treat what the job does to you.
- Chiropractic Care in Bear, DE — for the low back and neck pain that comes with long hauls
- Back Pain Treatment
- Walk-In Injury Clinic — same-day care without an appointment
- Workers’ Compensation Care — if you are injured on the job
- Car Accident Injury Care
- X-Rays On Site — no second appointment at an imaging centre
Book Your DOT Physical in Bear, DE
Walk in Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or call (302) 595-2584 to confirm examiner availability and current pricing before you drive over.
DOT Physical FAQs
Yes, provided the chiropractor is listed on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Delaware permits doctors of chiropractic to hold this certification. Every certified examiner completes the same federal training and testing regardless of degree, and the certificate carries the same legal weight.
Most take 30 to 45 minutes. Arriving with your medication list and any specialist documentation is the single biggest factor in finishing quickly.
No. We accept walk-ins Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Calling ahead on (302) 595-2584 lets us confirm examiner availability.
Vision below 20/40 corrected, inability to perceive a forced whisper at five feet, and blood pressure at or above 180/110 are the most common barriers. Epilepsy and insulin-treated diabetes are handled through specific FMCSA exemption pathways rather than automatic disqualification. Many conditions that sound disqualifying are not — treated sleep apnea, for instance, does not bar certification when a driver demonstrates compliance with treatment.
Up to 24 months. Shorter certificates — commonly one year, six months, or three months — are issued where a condition requires monitoring.
No. The exam includes a urinalysis, but it screens for protein, blood, sugar and specific gravity as health indicators. DOT drug and alcohol testing is a separate federal requirement conducted through a different process.
Since June 23, 2025, certified examiners report results electronically and FMCSA forwards them to state licensing agencies, so for CDL holders whose status has posted, the driving record is the proof. Keep your paper copy regardless — state systems can lag, and a posting delay can hold up dispatch.
Comprehensive Accident and Injury Center is at 131 Becks Woods Drive, Bear, DE 19701, convenient to the I-95 and Route 40 corridors and serving drivers throughout New Castle County. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Thursday.
Take your prescribed medication as normal and tell the examiner about it. Avoid caffeine and nicotine before the appointment. An elevated first reading is normally confirmed with repeat measurements. Well-controlled hypertension on medication is viewed favourably.
Call (302) 595-2584 for current pricing and what the exam includes.