D.O.T. And Truckers With Fused Right Ankles

I have been put on hold for a while to get additional testing done due to a fused right ankle. I am really eager to get on the road and earn some money becoming once again self sufficient. I am wondering if there are any truckers at all that anybody knows of that drives truck with a fused right ankle? What are some opinions of the gas pedal and the inability to have full movement of ankle or foot? My concern is that i will be denied the opportunity to make a living in a career that suits my personality due to a fused ankle of the right foot. I can drive me pick up just fine. I am wondering if the gas pedals are the same? I will be driving Frieghliner if pass DOT and driving tests. Need some feedback just to settle the nerves.

My fredback probably wouldnt settle your nerves but i do wish you luck.

I cant imagine driving a truck with a fused ankle.. Im sure the acellerator would be the least of your trouble. My concern would be braking and shifting.

@ Sue D

Any reply from experience drivers will be helpful.

I have seen a couple of studies done on the amount of time it takes to brake. The slowest braking time was still under the alloted time according to the tests.

Why would the changing of gears be an issue? I was told next year all trucks will be automatic. Will that make any difference?

Thanks for replying.

It's really up to the medical examiner, and the company that is looking to hire you. Most companies have "physical agility tests" - one of these is called the "duck walk" - which simulates you going under a trailer to do an inspection. Can you "duck walk". There's more (physically) to driving a truck, than JUST DRIVING.

How are you at driving a car? Do you have to shift your entire right side, in order to control fuel and brake pedals?

This is less about you being "denied the opportunity to make a living in a career that suits my personality", and ALL ABOUT SAFETY.

If you are physically unable to deal with the rigors this job entails - and it's more than getting through a 1/2 hour road test, or driving a car 10 miles to an office.

Not trying to be a bummer for you here - just trying to be realistic. How are you with walking around? Can you walk A FEW MILES, without having to ice your ankle and hit the vicodin bottle (BTW - narcotic pain meds are a NO NO in this industry, so if you are on them - you can't be). Can you picture yourself shifting, holding a brake pedal and applying fuel hundreds of times in the course of AN HOUR (say), sitting in bumper to bumper traffic - without having to spend a few hours with your foot elevated afterwards?

There are companies with AutoShift fleets, that would make things easier - but most places that train, do so with a manual transmission.

I haven't heard of anyone here with a fused ankle. I'm sure, through SHEER WILLPOWER that you could probably suck it up and get through a physical, and maybe even an agility test. But the job itself might be somewhat tortuous for you.

Consider these things...

Rick

About the shifting thing, most drivers float the gears but downshifting whether you clutch or float could be problematic..

I dont know about other companies because ive only worked at my current one but we are fully automatic.. EXCEPT for training trucks like mine. All training is done with manuals because they want to know we can drive ANYTHING should they have to put us in another truck due to choosing to go back to a manual fleet or simply an extended repair time. They dont want us sitting and want all available trucks delivering freight.

@ Rick S.

Thanks for feed back. Let me answer your questions so maybe i can give a better idea how capable i may be. You asked "Can you "duck walk""? Yes i can and passed the test they gave for me. Also passed the getting into the back of trailer and out of trailer.

You asked "how am i at driving a car"? I have an automatic pick-up that i use to visit family and camp. I drive 9 to 12 hours with no issues. Then again it is not an everyday thing. I also tried hiking a steep hill where i live with a 50lb pack on me during summer and didn't make it far due to being out of shape.

You asked "Do you have to shift your entire right side, in order to control fuel and brake pedals?" No i do not have to move entire right side to control fuel or brake in my truck. I have normal leg range of movement just this darn fused ankle. The fused ankle is set at a 90 degree angle. My foot can move from left to right, but not up and down. Well except for the part of the foot that is not fused, but ankle is set in place. I do not need pain pills and if there is a need i take regular pain pills like motrin or aleve. For the most part i have no real physical limits other than the fused right ankle. I can imagine possible issue with snow or ice, but i plan on getting some snow and ice "do dads" that go over my boots to keep from slipping.

I have no issue with sitting in traffic. No issue with people cutting me off during traffic. I figure those things are to be expected.

My Denied the opportunity comment was the thought that if there are currently truck drivers with fused ankle and they have no issue with driving safely. Then i get the one person who reviews my paper work and am denied due that one persons view on the subject. Safety is a huge concern of mine also. I would not want anybody to be hurt on the road, nor do to a limitation that i have, that has been proven to cause accidents. I would not wish physical limitations such as mine on anybody. I have some friends who have back issues and other problems that limit them to enjoying life to the fullest, and if a fused ankle has shown to be the main cause of several accidents. I would not even attempt to get a CDL. I do not know of any reason in my mind that an ankle being fused could cause such an issue. In my mind i can see providing extra space to allow for stopping time. The only concern i thought of was the gas pedal. My foot cannot rest on heel and press forward. My trucks gas pedal is not attached to floor. I use my heel to press forward on gas pedal. Now if i was barefoot i could use other parts of foot to press forward on gas pedal a little.

So i guess a question i would have for you would be, are you able to push on gas without moving ankle?

Thanks for taking time to reply!

Frank, I'm a little confused about your situation. When you say that you are on hold for additional testing, what does that mean? Are they wanting you to get a federal exemption? Are you aware of that whole procedure? I saw a one legged truck driver not too long ago who worked for U.S. Express, so I know that you can do this, but I'm not real sure what they are requesting for you to do.

@ Sue D.

Please forgive my ignorance but what does it mean to float gears? It is good to know that gear shifting maybe the biggest issue. I hope it turns out that it is not if i get the chance to try. If DOT says no then i will never know from experience. The school i am going to has a yard that can be driven on to practice. If i cannot get permit without the ok by DOT. I cannot actually drive truck to know if it is an issue for me in particular. I would have to take the word of DOT. I mean if i could try once i would know if i was capable of doing such work 8 to 10 hours a day. Or if i was capable of shifting safely or keeping up to speed for long periods of time.

Well Sue i sure do appreciate your thoughts on the matter. Thanks again.

@ Old School

Yes let me clarify what is being ask of me. The FMCSR has further testing requirements for people with amputations, and limb impairment. The section that is quoted is 391.49. This has to be done by a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon or a Physiatrist. Then i was told after these test were done they are sent to FMCSR were they would examine the results of the certified doctor. Then there is the second part of the exam where i will recieve special behind the wheel testing to see if person see any problematic issues. Relays is what they were calling them i guess. I am not really sure of all the testing that needs to be done myself. I have a Temporary DOT disqualification and reasoning is Federal Waiver/Exemption Recommended and SPE provided to applicant. This is all that i know. Well other than if i pass or get the ok to get permit i will need to carry a type of note that allows me to drive. Like a person who wears glasses.

Okay, then I think the real problem you are facing here is that this whole process just takes some time to go through. Here is some information we have on the web site, and I'm hoping Robert B will jump into this conversation because he has gone through all of this and knows very well what you need to do. Try putting the word "exemption" in the search bar at the top of the page and look for any posts by Robert B that come up in that list. He has gone through this before and made some very valuable posts on this whole thing.

Info in our WIKI on exemptions

FMCSA Driver Exemption Page