Pre-Employment Medicals for the Transportation Industry

Pre-employment medical exams are an integral part of many industries, especially those with high-risk jobs such as transportation, mining, oil, gas, and construction. These exams are critical in ensuring workplace safety and preventing injuries that can result in liabilities for employers.

For the transportation industry, commercial drivers’ pre-employment medical certification is not only necessary for workplace safety but also for the safety of the public. This is why commercial drivers’ medicals are mandatory before hiring. These medical exams are designed to assess the driver’s fitness to drive heavy commercial vehicles and ensure that they will not put the public at risk.

Commercial drivers’ medical may include the following test. These can be custom designed for different industries concerning different positions in the industry. 

Commercial Drivers’ Medical Includes

• Physical and Mental Examination
• ECG
• Chest X-Ray
• Blood tests
• Vision Accuracy and Color Blind Testing
• Hearing Examination
• Urinalysis
• Aerobic Fitness Assessment
• Functional or Musculoskeletal assessment
• Drug, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse Examination
• Lung function Examination

The tests mentioned above and examinations are conducted in detail to assess the driver’s fitness. However, the most critical tests for any driver for commercial vehicles are the following. 

Physical and Mental Fitness Examination

Physical and mental fitness include an array of tests. This examination is designed to thoroughly check for chronic fatigue, anger issues, sleep trouble, and low or high blood pressure. These conditions can be fatal to the driver or the public. 

Vision and Hearing Tests

For any driver, a vision test is critical. If the driver wears a hearing aid, that should also be considered. Working with heavy commercial vehicles and machinery, your vision and hearing should be in excellent condition. 

Drug and Alcohol Examination

Lastly, a drug test is also on the cards for any driver applying for the job of a commercial driver. Substance abuse leads to impaired cognitive skills and weak decision-making. The drug test is designed to look for cannabis, methamphetamines, amphetamines, opiates, cocaine, and benzodiazepines in the driver’s system.

Commercial drivers that come in contact with commercial trucks, public passenger vehicles, and heavy vehicles that carry dangerous goods daily must be fit. They should meet the high standards of commercial drivers’ medical. 

Health Conditions That are Likely To Affect The Driver

Certain health conditions can be fatal for the driver and put the public at risk. These should be avoided at all costs. For example, 

• Recurring Blackouts
• Fainting and fatigue 
• Vision issues
• Heart diseases
• Epilepsy
• Sleep Disorders
• Diabetes
• Psychiatric disorders
• Neurological disorders

A detailed commercial driver’s medical will ensure that the driver isn’t experiencing any of these and is fit to drive commercial vehicles. 

Conclusion

Apart from the commercial drivers’ medical, there are many other considerations when employing a driver for commercial vehicles. However, the medicals should never be taken lightly. These commercial drivers’ medicals are vital to ensure the safety of the driver and the public.