Looking for a DOT physical near Hammond, LA, that works around a driving schedule? Total Health Urgent Care sits about 26 miles east in Covington, and walk-ins are welcome daily between 7 AM and 7 PM, no appointment needed. The examiner who performs our DOT exams is nationally registered through FMCSA, and drug screens can happen on the same trip.
Quick answers for Hammond and Ponchatoula drivers:
- You can walk in for a DOT exam any day of the week and take care of a drug screen on the same visit.
- Starting September 15, 2026, Louisiana’s Office of Motor Vehicles says CDL drivers no longer have to hand in a copy of their DOT medical certificate.
- A med card lasts up to 24 months, or less if the examiner wants to keep watching a condition.
- Louisiana’s medical marijuana program doesn’t get a DOT driver past a drug test.
Where can Hammond drivers walk in for a DOT physical?
At our Covington clinic on Highway 25. From Hammond, take I-12 East toward Covington, then head north to Highway 25. The trip is about 26 miles from either Hammond or Ponchatoula, usually 35 or 40 minutes when traffic cooperates. You don’t need to book anything for a DOT exam, though you’re welcome to request an appointment or call (985) 400-5370 with questions first.
Hammond sits where a lot of freight traffic meets. Tangipahoa Parish’s economic development foundation describes the parish as sitting “at the crossroads of Interstate 12 and Interstate 55”, so if you drive for a living around here, keeping your med card current comes with the job.
Download our new patient and intake forms before you go, and for the exam’s vision and hearing standards, see our guide to the DOT physical in Covington.
Do Louisiana drivers still turn in their DOT medical card?
Not anymore. The Louisiana OMV’s Submit CDL Medical Certificate page now reads: “Starting September 15, 2026, commercial vehicle drivers will no longer need to submit a copy of their DOT medical certificate to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles in connection with CDL issuance.” Results now move electronically from the examiner to FMCSA’s National Registry, which sends them to the state. That’s a big change here, since an April 2026 Federal Register exemption notice named Louisiana as one of five states that “have not yet implemented” that system, called National Registry II.
Federal rules give a registered examiner until midnight (local time) of the next calendar day to transmit exam results to FMCSA (49 CFR 391.43). And since June 23, 2025, a CDL or learner’s permit holder with a current certificate “no longer needs to carry on his or her person the medical examiner’s certificate.” Keep a copy anyway. FMCSA’s National Registry FAQ for drivers says “you are encouraged to request a copy for your records,” and if a downgrade letter ever shows up after you passed, it tells you to contact your examiner first, then the state licensing agency, then FMCSA’s help desk.
What happens if your DOT medical card expires?
You’re sidelined from commercial driving until you’re recertified. Federal rules say a driver “must not operate a commercial motor vehicle unless he or she is medically certified as physically qualified to do so,” with no grace period written in. Then the state clock starts. Under 49 CFR 383.73(o), the state must, “within 10 calendar days of the driver’s medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance expiring,” update your status to “not certified.” It then has to notify you that your CDL privileges will be removed and complete the downgrade within 60 days.
A DOT physical renewal is really just a new exam, so the fix is simple: come in before the date on your card. Because we see patients Saturday and Sunday, a Monday-through-Friday driver doesn’t have to give up a work day to get it done!
How long is a DOT physical good for?
Up to 24 months for most drivers. FMCSA adds a caveat: “The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner’s certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure.” Two groups run on a shorter federal clock.
The ID and medication list are our own practical suggestions, not a federal checklist. Insulin users, note one detail: under the regulation, you have to give your treating clinician “at least the preceding 3 months of electronic blood glucose self-monitoring records” before you can be certified for the full 12 months.
Does driving only inside Louisiana get you out of a med card?
Usually not. The OMV’s self-certification page says a driver in the intrastate non-excepted category “is required to obtain a medical examiners certificate,” adding that “Louisiana has chosen to adopt FMCSA regulations.” Even the intrastate excepted category must “possess a valid medical examiner’s certificate.” Run loads both inside and outside the state? The OMV says to self-certify as interstate.
Federal rules do carve out drivers of “covered farm vehicles,” which generally means a farm-plated truck driven by the farm’s owner, family, or employees to haul agricultural goods, livestock, machinery, or supplies, and not used for hire. Not sure where you fit? Ask the OMV before your card lapses.
Can Louisiana drivers use medical marijuana or CBD?
Marijuana is off the table for DOT-regulated drivers, Louisiana medical recommendation or not, and CBD is a gamble. Louisiana does run a medical marijuana program regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health, but that doesn’t change federal testing. FMCSA reminds employers and drivers that “A physician recommendation for medical marijuana or use of a CBD product is not a legitimate medical explanation for a laboratory-confirmed marijuana positive result.“
What about the federal rescheduling headlines? In February 2026, the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse posted that “For now, the DOT drug and alcohol testing process has not changed.“
Is a DOT drug test part of the physical?
Not automatically. The medical exam is governed by 49 CFR Part 391, while DOT drug testing falls under Parts 382 and 40. Before a new hire does safety-sensitive work, the employer must have “received a controlled substances test result from the MRO or C/TPA indicating a verified negative test result” (49 CFR 382.301). Those tests carry a lab standard, too: under 49 CFR 40.210, “instant tests are not authorized.”
We offer physicals and drug screens, DOT and non-DOT alike. For employers, we collect chain of custody drug screens that get sent off, and our 5 and 10 panel rapid on-site screens cover pre-employment, random, post-accident, and workers’ comp testing. Just tell the front desk whether you need a DOT test or a company screen. Companies can also ask about discount contract pricing on yearly and pre-employment physicals and testing.
What does a DOT physical cost for Hammond drivers?
Give us a call for the current price. Total Health Urgent Care doesn’t publish a DOT physical price online, and the clinic suggests calling (985) 400-5370 ahead of time to get an out-of-pocket estimate. Wherever you go, ask what the quote includes, especially whether a drug screen is billed separately.
What makes the best place for a DOT physical near Hammond?
The right place follows the federal rules to the letter and doesn’t cost you a shift. Look for four things:
- A registered examiner. Federal rules require an examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry (49 CFR 391.43), and you can look one up with the National Registry search tool.
- Hours that match yours, including early mornings and weekends.
- Drug screening under the same roof, so a new hire isn’t making two trips.
- X-rays and lab testing on site, in case something else needs a look.
Total Health Urgent Care was built around exactly that: a nationally registered examiner, doors open seven days a week, drug screening in the same building, and X-rays plus lab testing on site. Jennifer Duncan, the nurse practitioner who founded Total Health, brings more than 25 years of experience across emergency and urgent care medicine.
If you’re searching “urgent care near me” from Hammond on a Saturday, our Covington urgent care clinic also treats sore throats and sinus infections, sprains and strains, and simple fractures. Chest pain, trouble breathing, or signs of a stroke are different: call 911.
Frequently asked questions
No. Walk-ins are accepted for DOT exams and screenings seven days a week, with doors opening at 7 AM and closing at 7 PM. You can still call (985) 400-5370 or request an appointment if you’d rather plan ahead.
About 26 miles from each town, or roughly 35 to 40 minutes via I-12 East, depending on traffic and your starting point.
Not for driving. Federal rules say you must not operate a commercial motor vehicle unless you’re medically certified, and the 60-day window in 49 CFR 383.73 is the state’s deadline to finish a CDL downgrade, not extra time behind the wheel.
For insulin-treated diabetes, up to 12 months, and the exam has to happen within 45 days after your treating clinician signs Form MCSA-5870. Most other drivers can be certified for up to 24 months unless the examiner picks a shorter card to monitor a condition.
Not automatically. DOT drug testing follows separate federal rules, and an employer needs a verified negative result before a new driver starts safety-sensitive work. Since we do both physicals and drug screens, you can often take care of both in one trip.
Heading over from Hammond?
You’ll spot us on Highway 25 in Covington (73015 Hwy 25, Suite A). Walk in any morning, afternoon, or weekend before 7 PM, or get directions to our Covington clinic before you leave. You can also browse our full list of DOT, drug screening, and urgent care services.
Jennifer Duncan, APRN, MSN, FNP-C, is the founder of Total Health Urgent Care, and this guide was prepared by Total Health Urgent Care’s own team. It’s a plain-language summary of federal and Louisiana DOT medical rules, so check with your examiner or the OMV about your own situation. In an emergency, call 911.