Commercial Driver’s Licence (CDL) Medical Assessments

Ensuring Fitness to Drive for Safety on Australian Roads

What is a Commercial Driver’s Licence Medical?

A Commercial Driver’s Licence (CDL) medical is a comprehensive health assessment required to ensure individuals are physically and mentally fit to safely operate commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, and passenger transport services.

These assessments are often mandatory for:

  • Pre-employment screening of prospective commercial drivers

  • Periodic occupational medicals for existing drivers

  • Regulatory compliance under national and state transport laws

📍 Applicable Legislation & Guidelines
CDL medicals follow standards set out in Austroads’ “Assessing Fitness to Drive” guidelines, which apply to commercial vehicle drivers across all Australian jurisdictions.

Who Requires a CDL Medical?

You may need this assessment if you:

  • Are applying for or renewing a Heavy Rigid (HR), Heavy Combination (HC), Multi-Combination (MC), Medium Rigid (MR), or Light Rigid (LR) licence

  • Drive a bus, truck, taxi, rideshare, or any vehicle used for public or commercial purposes

  • Have been requested to undergo medical assessment by licensing authorities such as Department of Transport WA or your employer

What’s Included in a Commercial Driver Medical Assessment?

Our CDL medicals are conducted by qualified practitioners and include:

✅ Medical history review – Including chronic conditions, medications, and previous injuries
✅ Cardiovascular screening – Blood pressure, heart function, ECG (if indicated)
✅ Respiratory assessment – Lung function and sleep apnoea risk (including screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea where required)
✅ Vision testing – Distance and peripheral vision using Snellen and Ishihara charts (with and without corrective lenses)
✅ Hearing assessment – Audiometry to assess compliance with fitness to drive thresholds
✅ Neurological & musculoskeletal exam – Reflexes, range of motion, strength
✅ Mental health and cognitive screening – As per Austroads cognitive function tests
✅ Urinalysis – Basic screening for diabetes or kidney concerns
✅ Optional drug & alcohol testing – If required by employer or role

All assessments are conducted in accordance with Austroads Commercial Standards and tailored for employer-specific or transport authority requirements.

Benefits of CDL Medicals

🛡️ Public & road safety – Ensures only medically fit drivers operate heavy or public vehicles
📋 Regulatory compliance – Meets national standards and licensing requirements
👨‍💼 Employer assurance – Supports fitness-for-duty decisions and reduces liability
🧑‍⚕️ Early detection – Identifies health risks that could impair driving performance
⏱️ Fast turnaround – Digital reports and same-day summaries available

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Please bring:

  • A valid photo ID

  • Any prescribed corrective lenses, hearing aids, or assistive devices

  • List of current medications

  • Previous medical history, reports, or specialist letters if applicable

  • Your Department of Transport WA Medical Assessment Form (if already provided)

Booking a CDL Medical at Djinda Health

Djinda Health provides professional, confidential CDL medical assessments with minimal wait times. We are experienced in transport industry standards and can liaise directly with employers or transport authorities upon request.