DOT Physical - Official Form Regarding Current Prescriptions?
Topic 17648 | Page 1
My apologies. I actually found what I was looking for here...
DOT Medical Release Opinion DOT Doctor Medical Release Opinion Form
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
I'm going to be taking my DOT physical Monday and I currently take 2 prescriptions. 1) Wellbutrin for mild depression and 2) hentermineP for appetite suppression. I have an appointment with my doctor who prescribes these meds and was wondering if there's a form out there I can print to take with me so he can state taking these meds won't interfere with my ability to operate a CMV. Does anyone know where I can find this form (if it exists)? If not, can someone tell me exactly what the doctor should write?
For the meds you need a doctors release that States I am prescribing this med for mild depression and appetite suppression. it has no limitations for him to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Commercial Motor Vehicle:
A commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property with either:
- A gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
- A gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more which includes a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
When you apply to companies, you need to disclose these medicines in the initial application, with a copy of the doctor's notes.
It is my understanding that some companies have stricter prescription drug limitations than others.
It would really suck to get your CDL , go to a company orientation, then get turned away by stricter-than-required rules, and have to find another company with less strict prescription medication rules.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
A lot of companies may have an issue with Wellbutrin (from what has been reported here on the forum).
They might also have an issue with the Phentermine - which is considered a STIMULANT.
They will not necessarily result in a DQ from your DOT Physical - but some companies don't want to see folks on certain meds for insurance purposes.
We have seen examples of members here being sent home, for being on certain meds - even with a Drs note.
Also - though I'm sure your doc is aware of it - but those two drugs have MAJOR INTERACTION POTENTIAL.
So again - while they may not be on FMCSA's "no fly list" - they may be on a particular company's - and there's only ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
Rick
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Rick, I owe you sir! I gave it a shot and called the third party company that does Prime's DOT physicals. The woman that answered was more than happy to look up medications and let me know if they're allowed with my doctor's release or if they're not allowed at all. Phentermine is not allowed at all. I called my recruiter and we pushed my start date out 30 days. I was all set to start this Monday but I'm glad you said something because I would've definitely been sent home unemployed. My boss was happy to find out she gets to keep me for 30 more days. lol I would think that recruiters would ask about medications since most don't know about DOT physicals. Oh well, my recruiter has been great though.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
She said Wellbutrin is OK as long as my prescribing physician signs off on it.
She said Wellbutrin is OK as long as my prescribing physician signs off on it.
Good deal man! That one you probably don't want to go without, whereas the appetite suppressant and you can get by without. Good luck!
Rick, I owe you sir! I gave it a shot and called the third party company that does Prime's DOT physicals. The woman that answered was more than happy to look up medications and let me know if they're allowed with my doctor's release or if they're not allowed at all. Phentermine is not allowed at all. I called my recruiter and we pushed my start date out 30 days. I was all set to start this Monday but I'm glad you said something because I would've definitely been sent home unemployed. My boss was happy to find out she gets to keep me for 30 more days. lol I would think that recruiters would ask about medications since most don't know about DOT physicals. Oh well, my recruiter has been great though.
Glad to be of service - that's how we roll here.
Would have REALLY SUCKED - to ride the bus ALL THE WAY THERE, then end up riding the bus HOME for 30 days.
People think we're "full of feces" here sometimes - we ain't. We base our suggestions on the first hand experiences of members that are passed along to us here.
Recruiters either don't know - or from what we've found out - are NOT ALLOWED TO SAY for fear of the company getting sued for discriminating against someone with a disability. So there really isn't a "published list" of meds that are NOT ON FMCSA'S LIST - but will get you SENT HOME FROM ORIENTATION.
I had a feeling Phentermine was going to be on that list - I'm glad the 3rd party company actually disclosed that to you. For some reason, I thought Wellbutrin was on the list also - but I guess I was thinking about another med that a member was taking as a "sleep aid". Pretty much the only "sleep aid" you're allowed is Melatonin.
Good looking out there. Beats the hell out of being sent home.
Word to the wise - this:
For the meds you need a doctors release that States I am prescribing this med for mild depression and appetite suppression. it has no limitations for him to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
typically (and technically) IS the correct advice - BUT - experiences of members on the board here with certain companies have borne out even the "Doctors Note" is not always a pass on all meds.
Rick
Commercial Motor Vehicle:
A commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property with either:
- A gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
- A gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more which includes a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.New Reply:
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I'm going to be taking my DOT physical Monday and I currently take 2 prescriptions. 1) Wellbutrin for mild depression and 2) Phentermine for appetite suppression. I have an appointment with my doctor who prescribes these meds and was wondering if there's a form out there I can print to take with me so he can state taking these meds won't interfere with my ability to operate a CMV. Does anyone know where I can find this form (if it exists)? If not, can someone tell me exactly what the doctor should write?
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions: