If fatigued or have an illness that requires narcotic drugs or sedation, you should not drive any motor vehicle. The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the N.C. Department of Human Resources have adopted joint regulations concerning physical requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers based on the federal requirements of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). A commercial motor vehicle driver operating out-of-state must hold a current NCDOT Medical Card certifying that he or she has passed a physical examination, as required by the ICC.
i. Vision:
Visual Acuity: at least 20/40 for each eye and both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses.
Field of Vision: at least 150 degrees.
Depth Perception: demonstrated ability to distinguish the relative distance of objects from the bus.
Color Vision: demonstrated ability to distinguish colors that pertain to driving and traffic control.
ii. Hearing:
To operate a commercial motor vehicle, you must have good hearing to distinguish the warning sounds made by vehicle horns, screeching tires, emergency sirens, railroad crossing signals and train whistles. The ability to hear a whispered voice at five feet is considered adequate. If you use a hearing aid, you should always bring along a spare battery.
iii. Reaction Time:
Your reaction time is the time you need to recognize a driving hazard, remove your foot from the accelerator and engage the brake pedal. Most drivers require a reaction time of about 3-4 second. The instructor will judge your reaction time during behind-the-wheel training.
iv. Illness:
You must have no physical or mental illness that interferes with your ability to control and operate a motor vehicle. You must have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a motor vehicle. To operate a commercial motor vehicle, you must have no mental nervous, organic, or functional diseases or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with your ability to drive a motor vehicle safely.
Additional information on tests, physical examinations and mental requirements that apply to Commercial Vehicles requiring a CDL can be found in Chapter 1 in the on-line version of the Commercial Driver's Handbook.
For a complete list of information regarding North Carolina State laws governing Physical Qualifications for a CDL, and Medical Card Exemptions, contact any Driver's License Office to obtain the printed version of the Commercial Driver's Manual. Chapter One (Introduction) of the printed version of the Commercial Driver's Manual contains this information in greater detail.
North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
