Disqualified Before School Starts

Hello everyone! So, this is mostly a venting session (thanks for 'listening'). Any experiences or advice would be appreciated, however!

My private CDL school starts on February 2nd. They arranged my drug test and DOT exam at a clinic an hour away from me (not my regular clinical system).

All went quite well, except my BP 142/98 and my BMI was right on the mark, sending me to sleep study!! I'm not taking this lightly because my health is important to me and I can appreciate the efforts to keep 'at risk' drivers off the road and/or ensuring those 'at risk' drivers are aware of health issues and are being treated. I get that part.

Anyway, I know there are two things going on here. First, my BMI is not typical; up until about 2 years ago, I was a gym rat and hobbiest bodybuilder for most of my adult life (I am 48 y/o). Even in the Army, I was allowed an extra 15 pounds following a pinch test to ascertain my true BMI. In other words, I have more muscle mass than the "average" man of my wt. and ht. These decisions today are being made by the chart and standards provided by the FMCSA. Here is their statement: "If you have a BMI greater than or equal to 33, you may be conditionally certified for 1 month pending sleep study evaluation". It goes on.... The Nurse Practitioner doing my exam said that a pinch test was not part of the process today and I would have to see my primary physician. In the interim, I am disqualified temporarily and have been instructed to arrange the sleep study. By the way, I don't snore, nor do I have any trouble sleeping; never have!! I have gained a few unwanted pounds in recent months/years, but I am far from obese!

The blood pressure: This is troublesome, but not something I'm too concerned about. Here are the factors: It was 4pm, I had just driven an hour to this clinic and I had taken a pre-work out supplement 6 hours earlier that could have aided in the increased BP (although, I thought 6 hours was plenty of time). I also shoveled snow for an hour, a few hours before the exam. They didn't ask any of these questions - it all came to mind on the drive home - I'm not so sure it would have made any difference in her decisions, however. At any rate, I'm relatively certain that I don't have a serious issue with BP that I can't get under control. It's the time factor before school starts that is really getting my dander up! So many hoops!

So today, I have to call my doctor and beg for an immediate appointment. As for the BP, she will sign off after 3 consecutive acceptable BP readings, each a week apart. That gives me only one week of wiggle room, before school starts. I am also to call the Sleep Center and arrange for that screening, hoping to get it done this month as well. It doesn't seem likely - we'll see.

Okay, this has been a long read, I know. Again thanks for listening and if anyone has a similar story (particularly a successful one), I'll be looking for your words of encouragement .

Thanks!! Joe R.

Hello everyone! So, this is mostly a venting session (thanks for 'listening'). Any experiences or advice would be appreciated, however!

My private CDL school starts on February 2nd. They arranged my drug test and DOT exam at a clinic an hour away from me (not my regular clinical system).

All went quite well, except my BP 142/98 and my BMI was right on the mark, sending me to sleep study!! I'm not taking this lightly because my health is important to me and I can appreciate the efforts to keep 'at risk' drivers off the road and/or ensuring those 'at risk' drivers are aware of health issues and are being treated. I get that part.

Anyway, I know there are two things going on here. First, my BMI is not typical; up until about 2 years ago, I was a gym rat and hobbiest bodybuilder for most of my adult life (I am 48 y/o). Even in the Army, I was allowed an extra 15 pounds following a pinch test to ascertain my true BMI. In other words, I have more muscle mass than the "average" man of my wt. and ht. These decisions today are being made by the chart and standards provided by the FMCSA. Here is their statement: "If you have a BMI greater than or equal to 33, you may be conditionally certified for 1 month pending sleep study evaluation". It goes on.... The Nurse Practitioner doing my exam said that a pinch test was not part of the process today and I would have to see my primary physician. In the interim, I am disqualified temporarily and have been instructed to arrange the sleep study. By the way, I don't snore, nor do I have any trouble sleeping; never have!! I have gained a few unwanted pounds in recent months/years, but I am far from obese!

The blood pressure: This is troublesome, but not something I'm too concerned about. Here are the factors: It was 4pm, I had just driven an hour to this clinic and I had taken a pre-work out supplement 6 hours earlier that could have aided in the increased BP (although, I thought 6 hours was plenty of time). I also shoveled snow for an hour, a few hours before the exam. They didn't ask any of these questions - it all came to mind on the drive home - I'm not so sure it would have made any difference in her decisions, however. At any rate, I'm relatively certain that I don't have a serious issue with BP that I can't get under control. It's the time factor before school starts that is really getting my dander up! So many hoops!

So today, I have to call my doctor and beg for an immediate appointment. As for the BP, she will sign off after 3 consecutive acceptable BP readings, each a week apart. That gives me only one week of wiggle room, before school starts. I am also to call the Sleep Center and arrange for that screening, hoping to get it done this month as well. It doesn't seem likely - we'll see.

Okay, this has been a long read, I know. Again thanks for listening and if anyone has a similar story (particularly a successful one), I'll be looking for your words of encouragement .

Thanks!! Joe R.

Hey Joe,

I too suffer from the inaccurate bmi testing. I'm 6'4 at 275 and am considered morbidly obese.. really?? Compared to half the drivers I see out there I feel I'm in a good spot.. but their idea of bmi for me is a weight of 160... I'm not a small person, and at 160 I'd be sucked up and bone would be popping out... It's ridiculous and a BS system. If my neck goes another inch (18" total) I'll be needing a study too...unfortunately this is the governments way of thinking.

I wish you the best of luck.

Hello everyone! So, this is mostly a venting session (thanks for 'listening'). Any experiences or advice would be appreciated, however!

My private CDL school starts on February 2nd. They arranged my drug test and DOT exam at a clinic an hour away from me (not my regular clinical system).

All went quite well, except my BP 142/98 and my BMI was right on the mark, sending me to sleep study!! I'm not taking this lightly because my health is important to me and I can appreciate the efforts to keep 'at risk' drivers off the road and/or ensuring those 'at risk' drivers are aware of health issues and are being treated. I get that part.

Anyway, I know there are two things going on here. First, my BMI is not typical; up until about 2 years ago, I was a gym rat and hobbiest bodybuilder for most of my adult life (I am 48 y/o). Even in the Army, I was allowed an extra 15 pounds following a pinch test to ascertain my true BMI. In other words, I have more muscle mass than the "average" man of my wt. and ht. These decisions today are being made by the chart and standards provided by the FMCSA. Here is their statement: "If you have a BMI greater than or equal to 33, you may be conditionally certified for 1 month pending sleep study evaluation". It goes on.... The Nurse Practitioner doing my exam said that a pinch test was not part of the process today and I would have to see my primary physician. In the interim, I am disqualified temporarily and have been instructed to arrange the sleep study. By the way, I don't snore, nor do I have any trouble sleeping; never have!! I have gained a few unwanted pounds in recent months/years, but I am far from obese!

The blood pressure: This is troublesome, but not something I'm too concerned about. Here are the factors: It was 4pm, I had just driven an hour to this clinic and I had taken a pre-work out supplement 6 hours earlier that could have aided in the increased BP (although, I thought 6 hours was plenty of time). I also shoveled snow for an hour, a few hours before the exam. They didn't ask any of these questions - it all came to mind on the drive home - I'm not so sure it would have made any difference in her decisions, however. At any rate, I'm relatively certain that I don't have a serious issue with BP that I can't get under control. It's the time factor before school starts that is really getting my dander up! So many hoops!

So today, I have to call my doctor and beg for an immediate appointment. As for the BP, she will sign off after 3 consecutive acceptable BP readings, each a week apart. That gives me only one week of wiggle room, before school starts. I am also to call the Sleep Center and arrange for that screening, hoping to get it done this month as well. It doesn't seem likely - we'll see.

Okay, this has been a long read, I know. Again thanks for listening and if anyone has a similar story (particularly a successful one), I'll be looking for your words of encouragement .

Thanks!! Joe R.

Hey Joe,

I too suffer from the inaccurate bmi testing. I'm 6'4 at 275 and am considered morbidly obese.. really?? Compared to half the drivers I see out there I feel I'm in a good spot.. but their idea of bmi for me is a weight of 160... I'm not a small person, and at 160 I'd be sucked up and bone would be popping out... It's ridiculous and a BS system. If my neck goes another inch (18" total) I'll be needing a study too...unfortunately this is the governments way of thinking.

I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks David - yeah, it's a riot. My acceptable weight according to the 'experts' is between 140 and 169. Uhm..... 8th grade..? Maybe...? I'm about 230 right now - my perfect wt according to ME is about 215 and has been that way for about 15 or 20 years. No neck curls for you!