DOT Physical Gone Wrong...
Topic 11613 | Page 2
Here is a helpful thread I started a while back:
When is it OK for a trucker to get a second opinion on a DOT physical?
But, Anchor, right at the top of your thread is this:
Horan says yes, drivers can get a second opinion, as long as they provide a full and honest history to their medical examiners and do not cross the line into illegal “doctor shopping.”
RebelliousVamp's "full and honest history" includes the sleep apnea issue.
Also, RebelliousVamp, you noted your blood clot thing had been resolved. Some "past" medical issues need an official Doctor Statement about resolution. Is that in your chart?
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.
I think this is the key party of the story for Vamp:
“Some are very conservative and others are not so conservative, so you may get two different answers from two different doctors using the exact same information. … In those cases, we don’t see that as doctor shopping, as long as you provide the doctor with the same information to make the call.”
Horan says medical examiners and the FMCSA are concerned about drivers who do not divulge their full medical histories to a second – or sometimes third – medical examiner after an initial examiner restricts or disqualifies the driver.
“If you go down the street and leave part of that history out, and obviously the new doctor that you’re at doesn’t have the information to make a full assessment and ends up giving you a card, that is doctor shopping,” Horan said.
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
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.
This is the exact same thing I going through with Prime. The answer to your question is they do not report. HOWEVER if your in a accident, your medical history will open up like a can of worms and lawsuits could occur towards yourself or your company for not reporting the sleep apnea.
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.
I think one thing you have to keep in mind is that no matter what happens now, you will more than likely be getting a new physical done when you start a new trucking job. I would not be surprised at all if this whole sleep apnea thing comes up again. You may end up needing to use a CPAP machine to get into the industry. You will need to decide beforehand if that is a deal breaker for you. If you are required to use the machine you will have to use one that records the usage and that data will be sent to your employer. This is part of the rules for the folks who need the machine. I know it seems like your bubble keeps getting burst as you progress along in this pursuit, but we want you to be prepared for what you might be getting into.
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.
Just go to another place that specifically advertises that they do DOT physicals. They do not require any past medical history at all. Fill out the long form and if you no longer have sleep apnea don't mention it. Pay your $100 and get your card and get packed and hold your head high and go for what you want out of life! Good Luck :)
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.
Just go to another place that specifically advertises that they do DOT physicals. They do not require any past medical history at all. Fill out the long form and if you no longer have sleep apnea don't mention it. Pay your $100 and get your card and get packed and hold your head high and go for what you want out of life! Good Luck :)
So what happens if she gets in a sleep related accident and they pull her medical history....... not so "Blessed" then.
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.
Just go to another place that specifically advertises that they do DOT physicals. They do not require any past medical history at all. Fill out the long form and if you no longer have sleep apnea don't mention it. Pay your $100 and get your card and get packed and hold your head high and go for what you want out of life! Good Luck :)
Wouldn't that be "Doctor shopping," that the regs prohibit?
Dave
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.
The blood clot issue has been documented as resolved, yes. I'll go for another sleep study. It will NOT allow me to start classes on December 26. By the time they order it, that I go for the appointment, that the medical equipment person makes the appointment to come at my house to set me up, then I believe they have to monitor me for 30 days on it, go back to the doctor office to get my medical card.....yeah....its not happening for me, again. Merry Christmas to me. :(
The blood clot issue has been documented as resolved, yes. I'll go for another sleep study. It will NOT allow me to start classes on December 26. By the time they order it, that I go for the appointment, that the medical equipment person makes the appointment to come at my house to set me up, then I believe they have to monitor me for 30 days on it, go back to the doctor office to get my medical card.....yeah....its not happening for me, again. Merry Christmas to me. :(
Does the private trucking school require a medical card before you start? Since you'll more than likely have to get another physical done by whatever company hires you, maybe you can wait. Or, do they perform their own physical? I would ask them if you don't know for sure before spending the money on a sleep study.
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DOT Physical Health Concerns Medical Certification Sleep Apnea Understanding The Laws
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Here is a helpful thread I started a while back:
When is it OK for a trucker to get a second opinion on a DOT physical?
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.