Looking At Roehl Have To Take DOT And I Take Med Don't Know If I Can Drive?

I got a question ? Thanks for letting me join. I been taking Clonazepam 2mg a day at bedtime. I have been taking from 18 yrs old now I am 41. If I get my dr to write a letter saying I am ok to drive . And it don't hurt my driving. Is that what I need to do? I take it for nerves. I drove heavy equipment. But got laid of so I thought I would try truck driving. I didn't know if the DOT would pass me for taking the medicine. Thanks Rick

They are more than likely going to ask for your doctor to fill out a medical release form explaining why you take it and what effect it could have on your ability to drive. Some companies have their own policies on medications. An oilfield company I worked for said that I couldn't drive for 8 hours after taking a medication that I was on at the time.

It may eliminate some companies but as with anything involving government there are forms your Dr can fill out. I would think you'd need the letter before you go for your DOT physical. I currently take zolpidem (ambien) as a prn (as needed) "every night" medicine and nobody even blinked an eye. I have heard some people say that some companies have their no go list of meds, problem is they don't tell you ahead of time what that medicine is. But that's hearsay nothing I know for a fact. Good luck and remember forms forms forms

Welcome to the forum BB. There is a short answer to this, and a much longer one. The short answer is it depends; why is it prescribed? Important question. I don't need to know, but if it's for managing seizures than unfortunately it medically disqualifies you based on the FMCSA guidelines. Below, as follows:

FMCSA Medications Disqualifying a CMV Driver

If the above is not the case, then the advice that MindFreak offered is applicable. Keep in mind even though the FMCSA may allow a specific medication, each individual trucking company has specific policy on what is and what isn't medically acceptable. The bottom line; the Doctor who prescribed this must write a letter stating the reason you are taking it, indicating that it does not impair you in any way. Even with that explanation in-hand, the Medical Examiner may disqualify you based on the policies of the company you applied with. It's possible you can take something else that is acceptable to your employer. It's a gray area...you'll need to coordinate communication between your Doc. and the Medical Examiner, working with them both to arrive at an acceptable compromise.

Good luck!

Thanks guys. It is Anxiety I been taking for 20 yrs. The dr is going to write a letter stating what it's for and why I take it. And that I can drive taking it. I take it at bed time. So I should get 8 hrs + sleeping before I start driving. Am I going the right way getting the paperwork before I goto take DOT. Thank ya.

Just a heads up, but I'm going to say don't even bother with Prime unless you are willing to go to orientation, be told you need to switch meds, and then come back in 30 days after doing so. And honestly IMHO it isn't worth it cause you found something that worked for you.

I know several people who were sent home for the "banned meds" list. Like said before, they don't tell you what meds are banned until you go. That med is strong enough I'm sure it's banned, and the ambien mentioned in another post would have been too.

I took a depression med after my sister died but had stopped three years prior. They basically told me if it was more recent I would have been denied.

Here's something to ponder though, and I mean no disrespect. If you are already on anxiety meds, perhaps you should consider whether you could handle such a stressful job. Some people find trucking to be extremely stressful. Meeting appointments, driving through chaos during construction and accidents. Having stupid mechanical issues or rush hour traffic can all push some people over the top with stress and anxiety. My own brother has so much road rage I would never want him in a big rig.

I ask cause I wouldn't want you stability jeopardized. Good luck