I Am A Rest Area Attendant. Ask Me Anything.
Topic 19528 | Page 2
Rose up should be ramps up.
LOL
Tell that to the hundreds of drivers I talk to a week that are diagnosed with it and don't tell their doctor.
This Is true and false, I know many drivers that have sleep apnea and just don't tell anyone and still get 2 year cards.
Dot Medical Long Form: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/MedicalExaminationReportFormMCSA5875.pdf
Question 26.
You gonna LIE?
I certify that the above information is accurate and complete. I understand that inaccurate, false or missing information may invalidate the examination and my Medical Examiner's Certificate, that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information is a violation of 49 CFR 390.35, and that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information may subject me to civil or criminal penalties under 49 CFR 390.37 and 49 CFR 386 Appendices A and B.
Get caught and it is potentially criminal at worst, and will disqualify you from a medical card (and driving) potentially PERMANENTLY. And certainly get you terminated for lying on a DOT Medical Form.
Diagnosed OSA requires the issuance of a ONE YEAR MEDICAL CARD and COMPLIANCE.
We don't "guild the lily here", nor would ever EVER ADVISE SOMEONE TO LIE on a federal form, with criminal penalties attached.
That being said - DO WHAT YOU WANT. Unless you drop your weight way down below what is scrutinized as a BMI threshold, you are more than likely going to be required to take a sleep test at ANY company physical (especially ones that do training or hire recent grads). And you are going to have to use a CPAP and demonstrate compliance to gain/maintain compliance.
We've seen this enough here, to verify that it is not a RUMOR - nor is this "true and false". You can spin this whatever way you want, it's not going to CHANGE THE FACTS.
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.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
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.
Tell that to the hundreds of drivers I talk to a week that are diagnosed with it and don't tell their doctor.
Don't have to - I DO have to tell it to the ONE NON-DRIVER, that's thinking of a career, that came here seeking advice - and wants us to ENDORSE HIM LYING on a DOT Medical Form and/or at a company physical.
And you've spoken to literally "hundreds of drivers", that have disclosed to you, a total stranger - that they LIED?
But please - go right ahead and lie - and if/when you get caught, don't come here telling us we gave you BAD ADVICE.
Move along - nothing more to see here.
Rick
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.
Denny, you done ****ed Rick off. He'll respond next with ALL CAPS. Seriously though, you can't bypass the regs without having to pay the piper eventually.
This is my first post on this forum. I'm moved to post because the OP misses the point about sleep apnea. I say this as a person who has sleep apnea and who has had a CPAP machine for over 20 years. Sleep apnea is dangerous because it causes you to fall asleep during the day, sometimes for short periods called microsleep, sometimes for longer. When I got my CPAP, I sat in an office in a cube. My row included me and 3 other fat guys. Sometimes all four of us would fall asleep, causing office hilarity. When I got my machine and stopped falling asleep, the 3 other guy went for sleep studies. I took months to get used to the machine and I was helped with sleeping pills. (You can't drive commercially while using them, but I stopped using them once I got used to the machine.) The machines have gotten much more comfortable in the last 20 years. You probably want an auto cpap that adjusts the air pressure to the minimum needed, and a humidifier with heated tube. The problem with lying about your untreated sleep apnea is not that you might be in legal trouble. It's that you might fall asleep, get in an accident and kill someone. I fell asleep in a swivel chair. What if you fell asleep in the driver's seat?
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
I work at a rest area and just wondering if truckers have any questions for rest area employees? I have a few about truckers, but I do not want to come off as offensive and may ask some later on. I am currently in the process of losing weight so I can pass my dot physical and hope to be trucking myself in a few years. I am 37 now. Is 40 too old to get started in this game?
OK, Denny, what's the one thing you've seen that when you tell us we won't believe you?
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.
This thread did a complete 180.
Please continue...
Be honestly Denny, the drivers you are talking to work for companies that arent strict on the sleep apnea tests (super small fleets) or are O/O.
Any large carrier will pull you in for a thorough sleep apnea test if you look even slightly chubby.
I have trained a handful of students at Prime and the only one who didn't get a required sleep apnea test was my 2nd student who was in his 20's and weighed 130lb.
Not even joking. They don't mess around with this at all and about 95% of the new drivers coming in get a sleep test. I bet my paycheck they order sleep apnea machines by the truck load. You wont dodge it, dont be foolish. And if you do, you'll eventually get pulled in for a random drug test/sleep test and you'll be busted.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
Remember, it ain't over till the ....
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Dot Medical Long Form: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/MedicalExaminationReportFormMCSA5875.pdf
Question 26.
You gonna LIE?
I certify that the above information is accurate and complete. I understand that inaccurate, false or missing information may invalidate the examination and my Medical Examiner's Certificate, that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information is a violation of 49 CFR 390.35, and that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information may subject me to civil or criminal penalties under 49 CFR 390.37 and 49 CFR 386 Appendices A and B.
Get caught and it is potentially criminal at worst, and will disqualify you from a medical card (and driving) potentially PERMANENTLY. And certainly get you terminated for lying on a DOT Medical Form.
Diagnosed OSA requires the issuance of a ONE YEAR MEDICAL CARD and COMPLIANCE.
We don't "guild the lily here", nor would ever EVER ADVISE SOMEONE TO LIE on a federal form, with criminal penalties attached.
That being said - DO WHAT YOU WANT. Unless you drop your weight way down below what is scrutinized as a BMI threshold, you are more than likely going to be required to take a sleep test at ANY company physical (especially ones that do training or hire recent grads). And you are going to have to use a CPAP and demonstrate compliance to gain/maintain compliance.
We've seen this enough here, to verify that it is not a RUMOR - nor is this "true and false". You can spin this whatever way you want, it's not going to CHANGE THE FACTS.
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?
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.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
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.