DOT Commercial Motor
Vehicle Driver Physical Exam
Prep 2026 100 Practice
Questions with Answers and
Detailed Rationales
1. What is the primary purpose of the FMCSA physical
examination?
A. Diagnose chronic illnesses
B. Determine eligibility for disability benefits
C. Determine whether a driver is medically qualified to safely
operate a commercial motor vehicle
D. Replace a driver's annual physical
Rationale: The DOT physical evaluates whether a driver meets the
medical standards necessary to safely operate a commercial motor
vehicle.
2. Which federal regulation governs the medical qualifications of
commercial drivers?
A. 49 CFR Part 390
B. 49 CFR Part 391 Subpart A
C. 49 CFR Part 391 Subpart E
D. 49 CFR Part 395
,Rationale: Medical qualifications for commercial drivers are found in
49 CFR Part 391 Subpart E.
3. Who is authorized to perform a DOT physical examination?
A. Any licensed physician
B. Registered nurse
C. A certified Medical Examiner listed on the National Registry
D. Emergency Medical Technician
Rationale: Only medical examiners listed on the National Registry
may perform FMCSA physical examinations.
4. The maximum certification period for a medically qualified
commercial driver is:
A. 6 months
B. 1 year
C. 2 years
D. 5 years
Rationale: Drivers meeting all standards without restrictions may
receive certification for up to two years.
5. Which vision standard must generally be met?
A. 20/100 corrected in both eyes
B. 20/50 in one eye
C. 20/40 or better in each eye with or without correction
D. 20/20 without correction
Rationale: Drivers must have at least 20/40 visual acuity in each eye
separately.
, 6. Drivers must have at least what horizontal field of vision in each
eye?
A. 50 degrees
B. 60 degrees
C. 70 degrees
D. 70 degrees
Rationale: FMCSA requires a minimum horizontal field of vision of 70
degrees in each eye.
7. Which colors must a driver be able to distinguish?
A. Blue and yellow
B. Black and white
C. Red, green, and amber
D. Purple and orange
Rationale: Drivers must recognize traffic signal colors.
8. Hearing requirements may be met by:
A. Passing only an audiogram
B. Hearing a forced whisper at 5 feet or passing audiometric testing
C. Hearing a whisper at 20 feet
D. No hearing evaluation is required
Rationale: Either the forced whisper test or audiometric testing
satisfies hearing requirements.
9. A driver with blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg may receive:
A. 3-month certificate
B. 6-month certificate
Vehicle Driver Physical Exam
Prep 2026 100 Practice
Questions with Answers and
Detailed Rationales
1. What is the primary purpose of the FMCSA physical
examination?
A. Diagnose chronic illnesses
B. Determine eligibility for disability benefits
C. Determine whether a driver is medically qualified to safely
operate a commercial motor vehicle
D. Replace a driver's annual physical
Rationale: The DOT physical evaluates whether a driver meets the
medical standards necessary to safely operate a commercial motor
vehicle.
2. Which federal regulation governs the medical qualifications of
commercial drivers?
A. 49 CFR Part 390
B. 49 CFR Part 391 Subpart A
C. 49 CFR Part 391 Subpart E
D. 49 CFR Part 395
,Rationale: Medical qualifications for commercial drivers are found in
49 CFR Part 391 Subpart E.
3. Who is authorized to perform a DOT physical examination?
A. Any licensed physician
B. Registered nurse
C. A certified Medical Examiner listed on the National Registry
D. Emergency Medical Technician
Rationale: Only medical examiners listed on the National Registry
may perform FMCSA physical examinations.
4. The maximum certification period for a medically qualified
commercial driver is:
A. 6 months
B. 1 year
C. 2 years
D. 5 years
Rationale: Drivers meeting all standards without restrictions may
receive certification for up to two years.
5. Which vision standard must generally be met?
A. 20/100 corrected in both eyes
B. 20/50 in one eye
C. 20/40 or better in each eye with or without correction
D. 20/20 without correction
Rationale: Drivers must have at least 20/40 visual acuity in each eye
separately.
, 6. Drivers must have at least what horizontal field of vision in each
eye?
A. 50 degrees
B. 60 degrees
C. 70 degrees
D. 70 degrees
Rationale: FMCSA requires a minimum horizontal field of vision of 70
degrees in each eye.
7. Which colors must a driver be able to distinguish?
A. Blue and yellow
B. Black and white
C. Red, green, and amber
D. Purple and orange
Rationale: Drivers must recognize traffic signal colors.
8. Hearing requirements may be met by:
A. Passing only an audiogram
B. Hearing a forced whisper at 5 feet or passing audiometric testing
C. Hearing a whisper at 20 feet
D. No hearing evaluation is required
Rationale: Either the forced whisper test or audiometric testing
satisfies hearing requirements.
9. A driver with blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg may receive:
A. 3-month certificate
B. 6-month certificate
