Occupational Health

Drivers are required to have at least 20/40 acuity in each eye with or without correction. They are also required to have at least 70” peripheral in the horizontal meridian, measured in each eye.

Drivers must be able to perceive what is known as a “forced whisper” at a distance of 5ft or less, with or without a hearing aid. This standard equates to an average hearing loss in the better ear of less than 40 dB.

The medical examiner will check the driver's blood pressure and pulse to look for high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.

A urinalysis is required. The test looks for indications of underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.

The physical exam will cover a dozen different categories:

• General appearance
• Eyes (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.)
• Ears (scarring of tympanic membrane, perforated ear drums, etc.)
• Mouth and throat (to look for problems breathing or swallowing)
• Heart (murmurs, extra sounds, pacemaker, etc.)
• Lungs and chest, not including breast examination (abnormal breathing, impaired respiratory functions, cyanosis, etc.)
• Abdomen and Viscera (enlarged liver, viscera, muscle weakness)
• Vascular (abnormal pulse, carotid, varicose veins)
• Genito-urinary (hernias)
• Extremities (limb impaired)
• Spine, other musculoskeletal (previous surgery, limitation of motion, tenderness, etc.)
• Neurological (impaired equilibrium, coordination or speech pattern, ataxia, asymmetric deep tendon reflexes)