Medically unfit truckers still on the road, safety study shows - Page 2 - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

"LOST SOUL" · **^ Top** #11 07.23.2008

All I Have To Say Is Its In The Food We Need To Eat A Few Less Burgers N Fries And Eat A Few More Veggies Drink Less Sugary Soft Drinks And Drink More Water Or Fruit Juice

I Usually Eat Once A Day And I Make It A Point To Find A Place Where I Can Get A Good Sit Down Meal Remember You Are Sitting Behind The Wheel Of A Truck You Dont Need As Many Calories Per Day As Say A Carpenter But I Notice Many Truckers Have 2-3 Big Meals A Day N Gorge On Junkfood N Pop Well Where Are All Those Calories Being Burned Off Simple They Are Not This Causes Obesity And Down The Road Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, And Heart Problems And Look Around Beleive Me Half Of Us Can Barely Climb In And Otu Of Our Trucks N Waddle Our Way To The Door

MO family man · **^ Top** #12 07.23.2008

This has been a concern of mine since I started. I see these guys at deliveries and at the truckstops. They have the purple edemic leg that usually is an indicator of diabetes and should prevent them from driving. I hate to see a man lose his job but I also hate to see the people they kill when they have heart attacks behind the wheel. There is no excuse for any of this stuff and frankly I am not sure I'd be opposed to the DOT having doctors at the scale house. We check the truck for safety we may want to look into checking the drivers as well.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #13 07.23.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO family man

This has been a concern of mine since I started. I see these guys at deliveries and at the truckstops. They have the purple edemic leg that usually is an indicator of diabetes and should prevent them from driving. I hate to see a man lose his job but I also hate to see the people they kill when they have heart attacks behind the wheel. There is no excuse for any of this stuff and frankly I am not sure I'd be opposed to the DOT having doctors at the scale house. We check the truck for safety we may want to look into checking the drivers as well.

I had to check on this because it seemed to not click with me. Purple edemic legs usually have been signs of poor circulation and possible Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). I have not ever heard of this to be an indicator of diabetes.

MO family man · **^ Top** #14 07.24.2008

Sure nuff is. Once it gets to that point it usually won't be long till it has to come off. If I'm not mistaken Waylon Jennings lost a foot to it.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #15 07.24.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO family man

Sure nuff is. Once it gets to that point it usually won't be long till it has to come off. If I'm not mistaken Waylon Jennings lost a foot to it.

It is and it isn't. As a paramedic, most of the purple coloring is the result of poor circulation. Most are found to cardiac.

However, some diabetics will reach this over time. It is not a direct sign of diabetes. When they are at the point of losing a foot, their circulation is extremely poor. This is attributed to diabetes at a level that a driver would not be able to be licensed for.

That is the reason I stated that if you see one it is most likely cardiac. I would not expect that a diabetic would be driving who is at that level. It would require them to be insulin dependent and it is not allowed. Cardiac problems are very prominent though.

MO family man · **^ Top** #16 07.24.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadmedic

It is and it isn't. As a paramedic, most of the purple coloring is the result of poor circulation. Most are found to cardiac.

However, some diabetics will reach this over time. It is not a direct sign of diabetes. When they are at the point of losing a foot, their circulation is extremely poor. This is attributed to diabetes at a level that a driver would not be able to be licensed for.

That is the reason I stated that if you see one it is most likely cardiac. I would not expect that a diabetic would be driving who is at that level. It would require them to be insulin dependent and it is not allowed. Cardiac problems are very prominent though.

Also a paramedic here (Former I should say, from NC). I am well aware that by the time diabetes cause the nasty leg issues that person should not be driving. That being said do you really think the current system of check ups is not riddled with fraud? You gonna tell me you don't see drivers everyday that you know damn well don't belong out here? Yet oddly they seem to be passing these physicals. Try this some time(You may have already done it please don't take this as a snub) get your cuff out and in an obvious manor check your own BP. It is not uncommon for someone to notice and wander over to you. They will ask you to check them and prepare to be amazed at how many are over 140/90. I don't have the answers, I wish I did though.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #17 07.24.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO family man

Also a paramedic here (Former I should say, from NC). I am well aware that by the time diabetes cause the nasty leg issues that person should not be driving. That being said do you really think the current system of check ups is not riddled with fraud? You gonna tell me you don't see drivers everyday that you know damn well don't belong out here? Yet oddly they seem to be passing these physicals. Try this some time(You may have already done it please don't take this as a snub) get your cuff out and in an obvious manor check your own BP. It is not uncommon for someone to notice and wander over to you. They will ask you to check them and prepare to be amazed at how many are over 140/90. I don't have the answers, I wish I did though.

That is definately a problem. There are many of the people that I wonder how they could have passed the physical. I don't try to pass judgement, since I do not know their medical history. I do wonder about them.

I also know of commercial drivers that the company chosen doctor will not certify them with their cardiac history. So, they now take the forms to their cardiac doctor for him to certify them to drive. This is now done by a doctor who has no knowledge of trucking.

As far as BP being high. Even mine fluctuates based on problems, moods, caffeine. With all of the stress, I am sure there are many running close to the limits or even going over the limits.

I have no answers to the problems. Could tougher regulations really make a difference or will there be ways found around it.

If they go the BMI route, I personally will not meet the requirements.

MO family man · **^ Top** #18 07.24.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadmedic

That is definately a problem. There are many of the people that I wonder how they could have passed the physical. I don't try to pass judgement, since I do not know their medical history. I do wonder about them.

I also know of commercial drivers that the company chosen doctor will not certify them with their cardiac history. So, they now take the forms to their cardiac doctor for him to certify them to drive. This is now done by a doctor who has no knowledge of trucking.

As far as BP being high. Even mine fluctuates based on problems, moods, caffeine. With all of the stress, I am sure there are many running close to the limits or even going over the limits.

I have no answers to the problems. Could tougher regulations really make a difference or will there be ways found around it.

If they go the BMI route, I personally will not meet the requirements.

You're right on the BMI part for sure. I too would be dead in the water. I think the solution may be a few stings(Send chubby cops in?) that get some crooked docs tossed in the klink.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #19 07.24.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO family man

You're right on the BMI part for sure. I too would be dead in the water. I think the solution may be a few stings(Send chubby cops in?) that get some crooked docs tossed in the klink.

You must have seen the same ones that I have that you wonder how they can climb into a truck.

heyns57 · **^ Top** #20 07.25.2008

In this current controversy with the advocacy group, the trucking industry agrees that the rules should be tightened. However, the American Trucking Association points out that the current regulations are not being enforced. There is a lack of uniformity among states. A number of states have yet to meet the goals laid out in the 1986 law that set minimum standards for the CDL program. See 7/21/08 Transport Topics, page 8.

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