“Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure” is the mission of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) in taking immediate steps to enhance highway safety in Alaska, scheduled to start in January 2024.
Safety improvements include short and long-term actions that will:
- Improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians
- Increase enforcement of commercial vehicle regulations
- Educate new drivers about driving near commercial trucks
- Connect emergency responders with funding for training and equipment
- Enhance vehicle and roadside technology
- Build long-term infrastructure upgrades
In the first quarter of 2023, new statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) show a 14% decrease in large-truck fatalities compared to the same period in 2022. The number of large trucks involved in injury crashes decreased by 1.4%, and the number of large trucks involved in crashes decreased by 5.2%.
Source: Freightwaves research
The industry’s focus on safety has been paying off, and DOT physicals play an important role in the road safety and compliance of commercial motor vehicle drivers.
A commercial driver is required to pass a DOT physical by the FMCSA in order to be a professional and obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A DOT physical exam is a specialized health examination for DOT-regulated truck drivers to evaluate their overall health as well as their mental and emotional fitness to meet the demands of professional driving.
What is a part of the DOT Physical?
- Drug test history (failure or otherwise) urinalysis
- Smoking habits including but not limited to tobacco use
- Surgery records
- Medication
- Physical ability
- Blood test
- Hearing test
- Vision test
The passing of a DOT physical gives drivers the certification to be behind the wheel of their commercial vehicle, and this certification lasts between 3 months and 2 years, depending on the health of the driver. Learn more about DOT physicals from our other articles here.
Why Choose MedPhysicals Plus for Your DOT Physical?
MedPhysicals Plus offers DOT physicals for employers and CDL drivers in Alaska at our Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Wasilla locations. We specialize in providing comprehensive DOT physicals that ensure drivers meet FMCSA regulations and guidelines. Our team of experienced medical professionals is trained to evaluate and assess commercial drivers’ physical fitness, ensuring that they are safe to operate commercial vehicles on the road. Contact us today to schedule your DOT physical. We are here for you!