Med Card Questions
Topic 20288 | Page 1
Welcome Steven, you must use your most current card.
This is your first foray into trucking, and in our forum. I've got to tell you, when we see a total greenhorn come in here who knows more about how training should be conducted than the company who is doing the training, we can usually see a train wreck ahead.
Please, arm yourself with some reliable help and information before getting in too deep. Read as much of this information as you can tonight...
You have to use your most current card. Doesn't matter anyway because most companies will require a new physical when you change jobs. It's quite rare for an employer to not require a new DOT physical, but don't let a card expire because your CDL will be automatically downgraded.
I'm quite curious as to what company and what the unsafe training practice was.
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.
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.
Steven, I'm sorry I can't spend any time on this today - I'm working, but let's face two facts here.
1. There is a reason you were given a 90 day card. That reason needs to be addressed. It makes no difference that someone else gave you a two year card.
2. A drive away job is the farthest thing from what a brand new rookie needs for his first trucking job.
I'm hoping some of the other fine folks in here can help you out. We've also got some great podcasts in here.
I need some help im very new to trucking. I live in pa and I received my med card before i started school for 2 years. I got hired on with a company that made me get another med card this one is only 90 days. I did not stay with this company longer than a week, too unsafe practices from trainer. Now must i use my most current med card for my next job? Is it stored in a database? I have an interview tomorrow with a driveaway company and im not quite sure which med card to give them if they ask. Thanks for any help.
Typically - there is a MEDICAL REASON WHY a 90 day card is issued (versus a 1 or 2 year card).
YES - there are uploaded by the Medical Examiner to FMCSA's database (prevents DOCTOR SHOPPING).
The question I have is - WHY did you only get a 90 day card? You can go to your local Medical Examiner - BUT - if there was a condition that prevented you from getting a FULL 1/2 year card - and you DO NOT DISCLOSE IT to the next examiner, there's a good chance it will show up.
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE on a DOT Med Application, is a FEDERAL CRIME.
Before they computerized the records, folks would "doctor shop", until they found one that would give ANYONE that was breathing a card. Not so any more.
The MOST RECENT EXAM/CARD, is considered to be the "current one". Better hustle up and get a new one, and get it uploaded to your state DMV , before the current one EXPIRES.
Rick
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.
Dm:
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.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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Thank you all for the help. I know why they gave me a 90 day card, he said i need to have my fam dr fill out some paperwork if i need a sleep study. Dot examiner said my neck was too big.
I was only curious to see which card to give at next interview wasnt sure if they each belong to that specific company.
Any light shed to the bad of a driveaway company?
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.
Thank you all for the help. I know why they gave me a 90 day card, he said i need to have my fam dr fill out some paperwork if i need a sleep study. Dot examiner said my neck was too big.
I was only curious to see which card to give at next interview wasnt sure if they each belong to that specific company.
Any light shed to the bad of a driveaway company?
Most "company physical" Med Examiners - are going by the (supposed) guidelines of: over 17" neck and/or over 35 BMI. This has never actually been made an FMCSA REGULATION - because it is VOODOO SCIENCE. As many people UNDER the guidelines HAVE OSA, as people OVER the guidelines DO NOT.
This would be one of those cases - where I would say, go to the DME that did your last card - and get a NEW ONE (unless the driveaway company makes you use one of their docs too).
if you were talking about BP or some other condition - that would be another issue. OTOH - if you ARE HUGE, then there IS A CHANCE that you actually do have OSA.
WORD OF WARNING THOUGH - the current DOT Med Long Form, asks if you have ever gotten LESS THAN A TWO YEAR CARD. Because these ARE UPLOADED, you will "legally" have to answer YES to this question. In the explanation - you can put that ME wanted a letter from your PCP, regarding OSA, before issuing a 1 or 2 year card.
To play it REALLY SAFE - I would get a letter from your family doctor, to the nature of - "patient in my opinion does not require OSA testing", answer the question HONESTLY, and present the letter to the DME.
Some DME's are PITA's about the BMI/Neck thing - most ARE NOT. Most company DME's (Swift/Prime/et al), will require a SLEEP STUDY (which the company will gladly pay for and deduct from your paycheck) and odds are the clinic the the company uses WILL DETERMINE that you have OSA - at which point the company will gladly pay for your CPAP machine (and deduct it from your pay).
Rick
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.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
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.
Dm:
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.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.New Reply:
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I need some help im very new to trucking. I live in pa and I received my med card before i started school for 2 years. I got hired on with a company that made me get another med card this one is only 90 days. I did not stay with this company longer than a week, too unsafe practices from trainer. Now must i use my most current med card for my next job? Is it stored in a database? I have an interview tomorrow with a driveaway company and im not quite sure which med card to give them if they ask. Thanks for any help.