California, like every state, requires special DMV physical examinations and certification clearance for certain types of commercial vehicle drivers. Some states require taxi and limousine drivers to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A CDL must also be obtained and carried by truck drivers (where the gross vehicle rate or gross combination weight is up to a certain limit), bus/van drivers (up to a certain capacity of passengers), and any vehicle used to transport hazardous materials.

Anyone considering getting a commercial driver’s license should know the conditions under which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations would disqualify a person based on his or her history. According to these laws, physical qualifications for drivers does not allow the issuance of a CDL if that person has now, or has had certain health conditions that would impair their ability to drive a vehicle, including:

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• Loss of a foot, leg, hand or arm

• Impairment of a hand or finger, arm, foot, or leg, or any other significant limb defect or limitation

• A medical history of diabetes requiring insulin

• A clinical designation of many types of heart diseases and conditions

• A condition of respiratory dysfunction

• A clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure

• A medical history of arthritic, orthopedic, rheumatic, muscular, neuromuscular or vascular disease

• A mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder

• Certain visual problems possibly with or without corrective lenses, including color blindness

• A hearing problem possibly with or without a hearing aid

• A history of a controlled substance or drug use or diagnosed alcoholism