Profile For Eric F.

I've been on CPAP for 12 years, starting in my early 40s. It's literally been a lifesaver for me, and I wouldn't even dream of trying to sleep without it. The minor discomfort of the mask is nothing compared to getting good rest and not falling asleep behind the wheel.

I'm a bit confused about the part where you said "Prime tells me I need a CPAP." Prime could have certainly required you get tested for sleep apnea based on certain criteria - weight, BMI, neck size - but it would have been the results of your sleep study that would have determined whether or not a doctor prescribed you a CPAP, not anything Prime would have done.

For the record, I have been a CPAP user for 12 years. When I did my sleep study in 2009, my AHI was 131, meaning I literally stopped breathing more then twice a minute. Being on CPAP has likely saved my life, and is giving me the opportunity to begin my second career as a truck driver. I just earned my CDL last week and had my Prequal with Swift today, and will be starting with my mentor within the week.

Thank you for your reply. I have OSCAR - Sleepyhead's "successor" - on my computer, hoping I could get it to work. However, a standard smart card reader won't read the one on my CPAP, and if it could, OSCAR doesn't support my machine. Apparently, only the Encore Pro software from Respironics will work. And as it turns out, even the sleep clinic that prescribed my machine in the first place isn't set up to read these things anymore, which of course, they wouldn't tell me until after I've paid for an appointment. Grrrr...

I'm supposed to be getting a prescription for a new machine, but in the meantime, is there any company that will train and hire me without my being able to produce that report? Or am I stuck having to wait it out until I get 90 days on my new machine?

First of all, I'm a new member, but have been reading the blogs and forums here for a couple months now. This is a great site and great resource!

I'm unemployed after 34 years in the printing business due to the company closing due to residual effects of the pandemic slowdowns, so now I'm pursuing a career in trucking, which is something I've thought about from time to time, but never did because of the time commitment and not wanting to be away from the family.

I started working with Swift, because they have an academy here in Albuquerque, which was beneficial because I didn't have to pack (yet) and I could do some gig work in the evenings to pay a bill or two while I was going to school. The only thing that I was worried about was my CPAP and the compliance report that was on the list.

I have been on CPAP for 12 years, and wouldn't dare sleep without it, because I know the wonders it has done for my quality of life. However, I have an older machine, a REMstar Pro Series M, which stores the data on a smart card. I have since discovered that it is extremely difficult, if not nearly impossible, to find someone to read the card nowadays.

Anyway, I told Swift that I had the machine and I would work on finding a way to show compliance. In the meantime, they allowed me to move forward with my training. I went to the DOT medical exam, carrying my machine along, and explained my whole CPAP issue. I completed the exam, and apparently everything else went well enough, because the doctor gave me a 1-year Med card.

I started school the following Monday, all classroom work to earn my CDL Learner's Permit. I passed the exam at the end of the week, and now I have my permit in hand. Also on Friday, I was asked again for the 90-day, which I couldn't provide, but I did send pictures of my machine, and of all the displays on my machine, showing that I was using it.

I started school the second week. The first day was all studying the truck and working on pre-trip inspection - properly mounted and secured, no abrasions, bulges or cuts, the whole routine. I started the second day, but then was pulled out of class because Swift decided that the pictures weren't enough to offset the lack of 90-day compliance report, and I was disenrolled from school. I don't blame Swift, because I know they have their policies to follow, and I wasn't able to comply, but it hit hard to think that I was on my way and then get stopped cold.

Now that you have all the background, here is my question. Given my circumstances, with my permit and my Med card but without a 90-day, will it be possible for me to get into another training school, company or otherwise, to earn my CDL? Or will I have to wait until I have a new CPAP and get through the 90 days to have that report? I really don't want to wait if I don't have to, because not only was I excited to get into school and started on my trucking career, but I would have to find another way to earn a living in the meantime.

Any help or suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!