Wednesday, July 3, 2013

A DOT Physical Helps To Keep The Roads Safe To Travel

By Lawanda Burch


Keeping the roads safe to travel normally falls on the Department of Transportation. There is a division within the agency that tries to ensure that the people who are operating the big trucks that move supplies across the country and within cities are healthy enough to perform the job without unnecessary complications. One of the practices they employ is by having drivers of the vehicles pass a DOT physical before they are giving a new certificate to keep on operating the big trucks. There are several health issues that the agency tends to be more concerned about than others and failure to pass some parts of the test can result in the driver becoming decertified to operate large vehicles.

One item that will be checked on a driver is their eyesight. A person has to see well in order to keep their vehicle on the road and avoid hazards. A truck operator should expect to have at least 20 over 40 visions in each eye. Those who eyes are weaker are often allowed to use glasses to correct their vision problems, but they will have to wear the glasses anytime they drive.

The blood pressure of each driver will also probably be checked. Those who have normal pressure will have nothing to worry about. However, those with higher pressures might not pass the test.

What will happen to a driver with high blood pressure depends on high the pressure reading is. Those who are slightly higher can get a conditional license that can last anywhere from three months to a year. Those with very high levels might have to stay off the road until they get their pressure back under control.

Blood sugar levels are also checked by many agencies. High blood sugar often indicates that a person is suffering from diabetes and the operator may have to take medications to control it. A person suffering from uncontrolled diabetes can become unconscious or delirious when their sugar levels fluctuate wildly. One becoming unconscious can happen at any time and could be catastrophic if an operator loses consciousness while speeding down the highway.

Operators who are diabetic present some concerns for Department of Transportation officials. An operator who is controlling their condition through the use of oral medications or exercise can usually still work. However, a person who needs to inject insulin to control blood sugars will often have to retire and find another job.

The status of the cardiovascular system of a person is also of prime concern for transportation agencies. Someone who is suffering from congestive heart failure is not the best candidate to be licensed to operate heavy vehicles. Stress tests can help determine the state of any cardiovascular diseases to alert an agency to any potential problems.

Helping to keep roads safe usually involves the Department of Transportation. This agency will usually require drivers to take a DOT physical to make sure they do not have health problems that could affect their ability to operate a truck safely. Drivers who fail these examinations will often lose their driving privileges at least for awhile.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment