Health Restrictions
Topic 15593 | Page 1
Hi, Ben. Welcome to Trucking Truth forums.
Do a search with the search box above for "DOT physical". You'll get many parts of Trucking Truth's information on the physical requirements.
Also, there's the FMCSA's Driver Medical Fitness for Duty page.
Trucking Truth focuses on interstate OTR drivers. A requirement for interstate driving is that you need to be over 21, though inside your state, younger is OK. But for insurance reasons, trucking jobs mostly go for people over 21, even over 25 in some cases.
Here's more reading:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
The High Road program is a test preparation tool to help you get ready for the DOT written test. Hope this helps.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
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.
Ben, you'll have to speak with your doctor about that. If he doesn't do DOT physicals then he'll have to refer you to someone who does to find out whether or not you would qualify to drive a commercial vehicle. If you're on any type of prescription medications, those will have to be approved also.
As Errol mentioned you really won't find any opportunities until you're 21 anyhow so you have some time to look into this stuff.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thank you both so much! That is exactly the info I needed.
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Hi my name is Ben. I am a 19 year old with no girlfriend and no plans of ever getting married. I have wanted to be a truck driver since I was 15 years old. My great uncle did it locally and I used to beg my mom to let me go with him when I was a kid. I also have heart problems. They're pretty in depth to explain all the specifics of them but I've had a mechanical valve and aortic reconstruction. So my question is would I be allowed to drive or can people with heart problems not drive a truck?