Maxem Health charges a flat $100 for a DOT physical. The price is published on the employer services page rather than quoted on the phone, which is worth knowing when you are comparing clinics.
What the $100 covers
The complete federal examination: health history review, vision and hearing screening, blood pressure and pulse, urinalysis, and the hands-on physical examination. If you meet the standards, you leave with your medical examiner’s certificate.
No appointment is required. Maxem clinics take walk-ins seven days a week including holidays, and you can save your spot online beforehand.
What is not included
A DOT drug screen is a separate test with a separate fee. It is commonly arranged at the same time because employers require both, but it is not part of the physical. Maxem provides DOT drug screens, substance abuse screening and MRO services alongside the exam.
Additional testing ordered because of something found during the exam is also separate. If your blood pressure reading is high enough to need follow-up, or a finding prompts an EKG, that is billed on top.
Does insurance cover it?
Generally no. A DOT physical is an employment requirement rather than medically necessary care, which puts it outside most health plans and outside Medicaid. Expect to pay out of pocket unless your employer covers it directly.
DOT physicals and drug screens are also explicitly excluded from the Maxem Health Discount Program, so membership does not reduce the $100.
Many carriers and owner-operator arrangements reimburse the fee. Ask your employer before you pay, and keep the receipt.
How to avoid paying twice
The expensive mistake is arriving without the documentation for a managed condition, being told to come back with it, and paying a second time at some clinics. Bring:
- Photo ID and your CDL
- Glasses or contacts, and hearing aids if you use them
- A complete medication list with dosages and prescribing doctors
- A recent A1C if you are diabetic
- A sleep study and CPAP compliance data if you have sleep apnoea
- A cardiologist’s clearance letter after any cardiac event
- Any specialist letters relating to a condition on your health history
Blood pressure is the other avoidable cost, in certification length rather than dollars. A reading pushed up by caffeine and rushing through the door can shorten a 24-month certificate to 12, which means paying for the next exam a year earlier than you needed to.
Other employer exams at Maxem Health
- Pre-employment physical: $35, excluding additional testing
- TB testing: $50
- DOT physical: $100
Maxem also offers return-to-work examinations, on-site flu shots and screenings, pulmonary function testing and workers’ compensation care for employers.
Frequently asked questions
Is $100 a typical price for a DOT physical?
It sits within the normal range for a certified examiner. What varies more between clinics is whether the price is published upfront and whether a follow-up visit costs again.
Does the price include the drug test?
No. A DOT drug screen is a separate test with a separate fee, even when done during the same appointment.
Will my insurance or Medicaid pay for it?
Usually not. DOT physicals are employment-related rather than medically necessary, which places them outside most health plans and Medicaid.
What if I need a follow-up before I can be certified?
Bring the documentation the examiner asks for. Arriving prepared the first time is the reliable way to avoid a second visit.
Walk in at a Maxem Health clinic
Maxem Health Urgent Care has 15 clinics across Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon, open seven days a week including holidays. Most clinics run Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm, though hours vary by location. Walk in for a DOT physical seven days a week.
Save your spot at your nearest Maxem Health clinic, or find clinic addresses and hours.
Federal medical standards are set by the FMCSA. See the FMCSA medical regulations for the authoritative requirements.
This article is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed provider. If you are worried about your symptoms, get seen.