A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required in New York before you can drive or operate large trucks, oil tankers, passenger buses, or stretch limousines. To make sure that a driver meets the physical qualification standards, he or she needs to undergo a USDOT Physical exam. This is to ensure that you are well and healthy enough to stay safe on the road.
It was only in 2014 when the Federal Commercial Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA required all Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers to get DOT physicals from medical examiners who went through the training course and certification exam to get listed on the National Registry. So, the number of qualified health professionals who can perform physical examinations went from over 400,000 to just about 40,000.
A DOT medical exam is not available in all clinics or health centers. It has to be performed by a licensed physician from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) list. Here are three ways to find one in your specific city in New York state.
Official FMCSA Website
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA has a national list of medical professionals who are trained and certified by the United States Department of Transportation. Those USDOT medical examiners are the only ones authorized to perform the needed FMCSA medical examination in acquiring a CDL medical examiner’s certification.
Simply go to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners Search page and scroll down to the bottom. You will find a box where you can search USDOT medical examiners by registry number, name, business name, city, state, or zip code (the default is within a 25-mile radius).
DOT Exam Locations Search
This website is dedicated to helping drivers find certified DOT exam centers nearest to them. Just by entering your address, zip code, or city, you get a list of medical facilities, walk-in clinics, and urgent care centers that CDL physical exams.
When you type in “New York”, you get a list of cities within the NY state. All you have to do is click on the city where you live, or where you want to get tested, and a list of locations is presented to you. Each one states the name of the center or medical examiner, their address, phone number, and even a map for directions.
Google Search Engine
Another way to find a certified DOT medical examiner is simply by searching Google or any search engine of your preference. Type “certified medical examiner near me” or “DOT medical examiner NY” to get specific results within your area. Check the websites, ratings, and patient reviews of the CDL medical professionals you find online.
Once you find the health professional you are most comfortable with, schedule an appointment for a DOT exam. It may seem like so much work right now but it would help you get a CDL license, keep your health in check, and help save the lives of others.
