Medical Card Help

So I’ve been driving since 2017, haven’t had any major health complications until now. Well I don’t think it’s major, so anyway the other day I went to get my medical renewal done and DOT physician asked why doctor had me on restriction for work and what it was. I wasn’t thinking and let it slip that it was a “no repetitive squatting restriction” due to an injury I got two months prior. I had to undergo one expensive physical exam in pt called and FCE just to even get a back to work authorization. The DOT examiner told me that she was revoking my medical card until I can get an all clear from doctor.

My question is do I have any other options or am I basically screwed?

On a side note, I’ve already started looking for non cdl employment to supplement income.

So I’ve been driving since 2017, haven’t had any major health complications until now. Well I don’t think it’s major, so anyway the other day I went to get my medical renewal done and DOT physician asked why doctor had me on restriction for work and what it was. I wasn’t thinking and let it slip that it was a “no repetitive squatting restriction” due to an injury I got two months prior. I had to undergo one expensive physical exam in pt called and FCE just to even get a back to work authorization. The DOT examiner told me that she was revoking my medical card until I can get an all clear from doctor.

My question is do I have any other options or am I basically screwed?

On a side note, I’ve already started looking for non cdl employment to supplement income.

Wow, Functional Capacity Eval .... hmmm..... did they put a TIME constraint/limit on that? I mean, you're NOT sidelined forever..right? I'd go back to your primary physician, and ... ask just that ^^ !

I had rotator cuff surgery years ago, and I sure had one, too...but wasn't DOT/CDL related, yet safety sensitive.

Mine was a 3 month re'evaluation, and .. I passed it. Yours could be less; the doc that did mine, scheduled the re eval at the time, and I agreed to the 3 months (W/C.) She'd said Six Weeks earliest..... so ... ?!?

YMMV, just my 2 cents!

~ Anne ~

I'm thinking Old School could SURE chime in on this, as well as PackRat !!!!!

Go back to the doctor that put it on restricted status and have him clear you. After all, there's no repetitive squatting required for trucking. An occasional squat but that's it. Should be easy to clear up. Kinda sucks when the truth slips out and bites you in the arse.

Go back to the doctor that put it on restricted status and have him clear you. After all, there's no repetitive squatting required for trucking. An occasional squat but that's it. Should be easy to clear up. Kinda sucks when the truth slips out and bites you in the arse.

(Doesn't 'repetitive squatting' depend on your dispatcher?!?!?) << back at ya, Mikey!

O M F G ....

No, you didn't....

O I'm still wiping the tears!!!!

So wrong / so right!!

~ Anne ~

My question is do I have any other options or am I basically screwed?

Nah, this falls under the bubble wrap rule. No physician wants to make your condition worse so they will always defer to the safest, most conservative, no-risk option available even if it's a PITA and makes it impossible for you to do routine, necessary things like bathe or work. The ME doesn't want to override your doctor's restriction. It's safer for them to wait for your doctor to remove it. If they remove the restriction and you make your injury worse, even if it was for a completely different reason (lightning strike, snake bite, demonic possession, etc.) that doctor would be legally liable.

While you're out of luck for a CDL job for the time being you know who:

a) Would die of joy if you applied there?

b) Doesn't care about your Medical Certificate?

Box trucks, delivery vans, airport shuttles and movers all need safe, careful drivers and in most jurisdictions you can drive a 28' box truck without a CDL. Having a valid CDL will put you at the front of the line of applicants since it's proof that you drive to a higher standard than the 4-wheelers.

The physical therapist to which put the restriction on me, doesn’t want me driving a truck and suggested that I start a new career. I am going to call him next week and see if I can get cleared one way or another. The orthopedic doctor that sent the note to the examiner agreed with physical therapist and won’t remove it until the therapist does. Question: Should I go to a different examiner? Do I have a time limit before they downgrade license? Also will it catch up with me if I see and get certified by a different examiner?

Question: Should I go to a different examiner? Do I have a time limit before they downgrade license? Also will it catch up with me if I see and get certified by a different examiner?

The problem with a different examiner is the signature block on the MCSA-5875 (Medical Examination Report Form):

"I certify that the above information is accurate and complete. I understand that inaccurate, false or missing information may invalidate the examination and my Medical Examiner’s Certificate, that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information is a violation of 49 CFR 390.35, and that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information may subject me to civil or criminal penalties under 49 CFR 390.37 and 49 CFR 386 Appendices A and B"

Your best bet is to avoid a downgrade is to switch your CDL to an intrastate CDL. Intrastate only lets you run legally in SC but doesn't require a valid medical certificate so won't be downgraded. You can switch back to an Interstate CDL when you get your medical certificate. South Carolina is pretty medieval about downgrades, "To regain the commercial designation once it has been removed, drivers will be required to apply for a commercial learner's permit and complete all required knowledge and skills testing."

Thanks for the reply, I’ve been searching all evening on alternative options and I’ll fill out form on Monday and fax new form in for intrastate so I can keep my cdl.

Which version of intrastate cause sc doesn’t support or says it’s non applicable for excepted intrastate travel and I am too old to to meet requirements for non excepted intrastate travel. I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot but I wonder if I should call dmv on Monday and ask some cdl questions and see what is recommended. South Carolina seems to have weird rules when this stuff is applied.