Did you know that smoking affects your DOT physical? In fact, it can affect the length of your DOT medical card as well.
Smoking can increase your blood pressure which can reflect poorly on your physical. High blood pressure is one measurement that determines the length of your DOT medical card. If high blood pressure is present the length of your DOT medical card can range from 3 months to 1 year. Two years is the longest a DOT medical card can be certified for.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants all smokers greater than 35 years of age to have a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) using Spirometry. This test measures lung function. It also measures how damaged your lungs may be. If your DOT Medical Examiner requires the PFT that may cost you additional money to keep your DOT medical certificate.
The Cost of Smoking
The average cost of a pack of cigarettes is $5.65 in the state of Colorado but in New York the average cost is $12.85. If you were to buy a pack of cigarettes in Colorado every day for one year the total cost you would be spending on cigarettes is $2,062.25. If you were to do the same in New York the total cost would be $4,690.25. This article discusses the average cost of cigarettes in each state.
In addition to the cost of cigarettes, let’s compare the costs of a DOT physical exam over 20 years. If you’re a smoker and have high blood pressure you can expect to be getting a DOT physical annually. The cost of an annual DOT physical exam for 20 years at $70 per card is $1,400 plus the money you are spending for cigarettes. Using the Colorado average price per pack that is $41,245.00. However, the cost of a DOT physical for 20 years is less if you are coming biannually. The cost of a biannual DOT physical exam for 20 years at $70 per car you are looking at spending $700. Therefore, smoking affects your DOT physical exam but it doesn’t have to if you’re committed to quitting.
The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
Finally, people interested in quitting smoking should read The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. Here are his top 10 tips to stop smoking if not interested in reading the full book.
Schedule Your DOT Physical Exam in Grand Junction
Here is how the process works:
- Register and pay for your exam by clicking here
- Arrive ready to complete minimal paperwork
- We’ll do a thorough examination and determine your certification length
- Also, you have the option of having us recommend wellness strategies that’ll improve your health
Make life easier by registering and paying for your DOT Physical in Grand Junction, Colorado at www.dotgj.com and save $10