What Being ‘On Hold’ for Medical Clearance Means

At Emerge Career, our mission is simple: help people get trained, licensed, and employed as CDL truck drivers — with a real career waiting at the end of the process.

Every student we enroll in trucking school must be able to pass the DOT Physical, which is required for all commercial drivers. This isn’t just about checking a box — it’s about making sure you’ll be safe on the road, meet federal requirements, and avoid being held back later in the process.

Why you might be placed “on hold” for medical clearance

Sometimes, information you provide about your health or medications suggests you may have difficulty passing a DOT Physical without extra documentation. This isn’t a personal judgment, and it’s not Emerge making our own rules — it’s based on federal DOT medical standards and current industry safety requirements.

Common reasons for being placed on hold for medical clearance include:

• Medications: Anti-seizure drugs, marijuana or illegal drugs, opioid pain meds, medications for opioid use disorder (Suboxone/buprenorphine/methadone), stimulants (including ADHD meds), or benzodiazepines.
• Health conditions: Vision problems (even with correction), sleep apnea, epilepsy, oxygen use for lung conditions, recent heart attack, stroke, heart surgery, or very high blood pressure.
• Vision concerns: Not being able to pass a vision test, even with corrective lenses.

The pathway forward: get a letter from your doctor

Being “on hold” for medical clearance doesn’t mean the end of your CDL journey. It just means we need confirmation from your doctor that you’re medically fit to operate a commercial vehicle before we can move forward.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Download the doctor’s letter template [linked here] (Click “File” → “Make a copy” or “Download” as a .doc)
2. Make an appointment with your primary care provider or the doctor managing your condition.
3. Show them the template and ask them to write you a similar one, confirming you are medically cleared to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
4. Send us the signed letter at support@emergecareer.com with the subject line: “Medical Clearance Letter – [Full Name]”

What happens next

Once we receive your doctor’s letter, our team will:

• Review the letter for completeness.
  
• Confirm the provider’s credentials.
  
• Move you forward toward trucking school enrollment if everything checks out.
  

Why this matters

The DOT Physical is a federal requirement — if you can’t pass it, you can’t get your CDL. By getting medical clearance now, you’re making sure there are no surprises later and protecting your time, effort, and investment.

We believe in second chances, persistence, and preparation. If you take the steps now, you’ll be ready to succeed when it counts.

Let’s get to work.