Medical

When I filled out my application to a driving school, I put down that I have a preexisting condition called Chrons disease. It's an inflammatory bowel disease. I've had it since I was a young teenager ( I'm 52 now). The meds I take to control it don't make a person drowsy or have any adverse effects that would affect driving safety. The school recruiter (Roadmaster), advised me not to put it down when I start applying for trucking jobs. That doesn't seem right. Won't the companies find out when I sign up for medical insurance? I wouldn't think a truck driving company would appreciate me lying to them.

I cannot speak for anyone but myself, and I can tell you I have been honest in all of my medical dealings with my prospective employer(Name Withheld) and I have had Quad-Bypass , I am on a Beta blocker, Cholesterol medicine and aspirin. I asked the doctor at the school before I got my DOT card if my condition or my medicine were going to disqualify me outright before I even finished my 1st week of school. he dug through some sort of book and told me that I was good as far as passing the DOT physical but that some employers may have more stringent criteria. I think of it this way, if you don't tell them and you go thru to their orientation, then they have me do a physical with their Dr. and he finds out this or that at that point, I will probably be asked to pay back the costs incurred by them in bringing me out there because I did not disclose this or that. Today as a matter of fact I just faxed off the medical releases required by the company stating my prognosis, and medications that are likely to show up on a hair follicle drug screen. Not sure if what I shared is relevant to your situation but maybe it is and helps you figure out what to do. For me I have too much to lose by not being honest. I want to be able to keep my honor intact if nothing else.

Mike, you are correct. Thousands of people get sent home from orientations every year for this very thing. Be up front with them - they are going to drug test you right off the bat and if stuff shows up in that test that you tried to conceal from them it's too late to try and explain it at that point. They will have a form that they give you to be filled out stating the prescription medications you take.

That recruiter was off base on this one.

I totally agree - tell them everything. Lying (or concealing, same thing) about anything on your application is that absolute surest way to get fired immediately from any company. I've even known of several circumstances where a driver was hired, sent out on the road, and then a problem was later discovered with the person's application. The company calls the police, has them go to the truck (they know the location with GPS) and literally kick the driver out of the truck and impound the truck. The driver was fired on the spot, out on the road, and had to figure out their own way home. No joke. I actually sat and watched it happen one time at a truck stop and I've been told by several people in management over the years about doing that with drivers in the past.

So just be honest with them. They'll let you know if the medications are acceptable. If not, you'll simply have to switch to one that is...no big deal.

Thanks for the advice guys. Honesty is the best policy, and let the chips fall where they may.