Another way to look at this...if the larger companies can't get low wage drivers on the road for them one way, they may try another. Maybe we should look at where this overweight issue evolved and who is pushing lawmakers to consider being supportive of it ( besides the obvious insurance companies). Getting 25-30% of current American drivers off the road then sqawking to lawmakers you can't get enough drivers could open some doors (most likely to the south of our southern border) to fill a "void" that was created for a purpose. It never hurts to delve into all possibilities of WHY something is being done and WHO may or may not be behind it. I'm just saying. Back under my rock....

This post shows there is much more concern in this thread than appropriate . Nowhere does it say any drivers will be disqualified for being obese . The drivers would be a certain BMI would be tested for sleep apnea . For the drivers that didn't have it , no problem . For the ones that did have it , they would have to prove it could be eliminated , probably by using a pump when sleeping . I don't feel there are enough drivers with sleep apnea to justify mandatory testing .

I got a question, First I know this guy, 6', 402lbs with Rheumatoid Arthritis in both his hips and in both knees and he still drives a truck. He takes high blood pressure medication, high cholesterol, arthritis meds and he is bi-polar and takes meds for that. Yes, he is big and has other little ailments.

Ok, now with this law that there is no idling. He works for Werner and they seem to hire anybody and everybody, whether a good driver or not. Reasons, low pay and not many miles. So how does a big fat person sleep without cool air?

Is it all companies with no idling?

Is there going to be a law about hiring obese drivers? Can you imagine driving your car and some truck driver who is obese passes out and his truck goes array and hits you?

Karen

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Thank you and have a good day,
Karen

He should not be driving, an taking meds for bi-polar. Those meds are antipsychotics, he would not have gotten out of orientation if he told them all this. I believe antipsychotics automatically disqualify you from driving a commercial vehicle. Someone correct if I am wrong.

He does take meds for everything. He went to orientation at 2 other trucking jobs and didn't make it. One said his blood pressure never stabilized to the level they have it should be and the other, the same people weren't in management and said he had 3 traffic accidents which is not true because I saw the record. So he was forced to go back to Werner and they took him back, no questions asked and no orientation. Does that seem right?
Karen

__________________
Thank you and have a good day,
Karen

Obesity by itself doesn't cause people to black out. Diabetes will do it, but that's not limited to fatties. Being hit by a rig driven by a fat vs a skinny driver won't make much difference. 300 pounds out of 80,000 doesn't mean much. You're roadkill either way.

Congratulations Hunter, you're obese! The BMI was recalibrated a few years ago; now anyone heavier than an African marathon runner (you seen those guys? No meat on 'em at all) is considered overweight or obese.

Unfortunately this makes sense. But I've seen quite a few heavy Mexicans, too.

btw, if anyone objects to my use of the term "fatty" they can bite me. I'm 5'10, 250 so I'm as lardassed as the next man.

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He ain't wrong, he's just different, but his pride won't let him do things to make you think he's right.

Like other organizations calling for regulations these people cannot produce any data showing how many accidents were a result of the driver being obese or having sleep apnea . Public Citizen says drivers don't get enough rest driving 11 hours or getting a 34 hour restart but there is no data to prove this . Road Safe America and ATA cry for speed limiters and all research done proves speed limiters increase the risk of accidents .

Maybe you should hold classes? Healthy and clean! If you hold classes and get all the other truckers to eat right then maybe truck stops would do something about the-----------they serve. I know I rode, only as a passenger in an 18-wheeler and I gained about 20lbs from the stuff they served.

__________________
Thank you and have a good day,
Karen

The DOT should be a little stricter on their physicals. Some truck drivers are overweigh and some are obese. Yes there is a difference:


A person is usually considered obese if they weigh 100 lbs more than the desirable weight or twice the desirable body weight. ... This is why it is more difficult for very obese people to lose weight. ...

At that weight, wouldnt you say they grin and bear the pain when taking the DOT physical? That is why they pass.

The term overweight means that a person has more body fat (adipose tissue) than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary. As much as 64% of the United States adult population is considered overweight...


Overweight, as long as not more than 100lbs overweight I can understand for a trucker.

But OBESITY, that is an embarrassment!

__________________
Thank you and have a good day,
Karen

Help me understand a little better....

I am hearing sleep apnea. In my many years studying health, sleep apnea means without air while sleeping. Ok...so one with sleep apnea doesn't get the rest/sleep like they should. Obesity alone does NOT cause this. Many times there are other causes.

Now for my point....take a look around and think of the many people you know. How many of them are on sleep medications to help them go to sleep or to keep them asleep? Truth is....people having sleep issues is very common today. Any kind of sleeping issue will cause sleepiness while driving. Heck, if you want to go there, the hum of the engine and road will put many people to sleep. Seems to me, it is almost an insurance liabilty thing. If that be the case....better shut down the WHOLE trucking industry because there isn't a single driver without health issues in some form....but wait, they cant shut it down, they gotta get their food somehow and we all know, the world is too lazy to grow and raise their own these days.

To be honest, I am totally surprised that they haven't passed a mandatory law stating that you can't smoke while driving. You know...health issues, distraction from lighting up, smoking in the work place....Ok imma shut up before the feds peek in here and read this and get bright ideas.

Ya'll truckers have gotta start standing your ground! ALL of ya'll. Trucking is far from what it was yesteryear. All these kids with dreams of driving are going to see a rude awakening.

I personally think the lawsuits are what is doing this. Trucking companies sometimes get sued for more than doctors do under malpractice. Its the mighty dollar these days. Maybe the feds and the judges need to open their eyes. Im not saying all truckers are in the right but some of these lawsuits are ridculous. The judge should see that a million dollars isnt going to bring a life back...give the family money to cover the deceased medical bills and burial and a little to the family. Strip the wrongful trucker of their license and make them serve time, it is bad enough that the trucker will have to forever live with the image and guilt.

Learned this in a safety class: Many accidents happen to an unforeseen reaction and unforeseen action. Trucker sees a car brake ahead and brakes himself. Car behind the truck is following to close and doesnt have time to react. Car goes under the trailer and driver dies. Who is at fault? The car following too close....who gets charged, the trucker....why? There is no proof that the other car was following too close. Accident cases are awful. Any court case calls for PROOF, a vehicle court case calls for an "estimated guess" or "expert opinion" or in better terminology, a theory.


...stepping off my soapbox.