Anti-depressants allowed? Employment discrimination?

FMCSA has a list of prohibited drugs.

If you need chemicals to deal with life, you really should rethink your career choice. Many companies will NOT hire you if you are on any legal anti depressant. Their choice and right to NOT hire you.

No insurance company wants to take the risk of you missing your medication and killing someone.

 

I've been on anti's for years. Have had many a drug test too. I'm an owner op though, so I can't help you regarding company drivers.

 

The FMCSA does not have a list of what you can take and can not. They have a list of what they test for.

Your first step should be with a doctor that is very knowledge on what we do. If that's your doctor then great. Ask the doctor if he or she would sign off on you driving while you're taking this medication. If he says yes then just to cover you own ### ask him for a letter. 2. Then when you find a company that you like before you take any test or fill out any paperwork ask to see the safety deptartment or whoever handle these things. 3. Tell them you have talked with your doctor and you would like to know if your company approves this medication. 4. If they do then give them a copy and get back in line.


The main step in gaining any employment while taking some medication is having you doctor know fully what you do. The laws and requirements say you can not take any schedule 1 medication. That's any drug that is illegal. You may drive if you take any other schedule'd medication or non schedule'd medication if your doctoc knows you are driving a truck.

That's what the laws states. However, you may run into more restricted regulations imposed by the companies themselves. They do not have to accept medication if the do not want to.

 

I wish I could tell you definitively, but I cannot. What I can tell you is that I just took my DOT physical the other day b/c I am starting CMV school on Monday. I do take a particular medication (pm me if you are interested and I will tell you exactly what) and made sure to tell them on the DOT form. The Doc. didn't seem phased at all. He just asked me if it made me drowsy. I told him no, and he said, "okay".

The one thing I will NOT do is hide it. That can lead to nothing but trouble!

Best,

CE

 

Yes, there is a list of disqualifying medications. BUT - as long as you get the prescribing doctor to certify that the med won't affect your ability to operate the vehicle, then DOT is pacified.

Your company may have different ideas or policies, however.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regu...sr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=392.4&keyword=392.4

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/faqs.aspx#question77

 

I'm going to chime in as well, although I may seem a little rude, and cynical, I don't really care,

Leave the trucking industry to those of us that want a real job.

I agree with the above that you may want to revaluate trucking if you have to take those type of pills.

Also, I say this, because, you seem like your just looking for a lawsuit, or a chance to pin some company to a wall. Why do I say this? you've made two threads asking questions about getting hired.

Not asking "am I too old" or "can I take this medicine" but using the word DISCRIMINATION

asking about "age discrimination" and "employment discrimination" and you haven't even filled an application out yet

 

I'm on Paxil I can't even get a dot health card I was pissed but I still deliver it doesn't make me clumsy or lazy it helps me with anxiety which is severe the only place in the world that's makes me feel good is the road funny how the world works

 

To anyone who has a problem with people with people taking anti anxiety or anti-depressants. We take them because we have to deal with people like you. I can tell you that there are companies who will hire you on those meds. The seeker, pm me if you want a list of who will do it.

 

The drug test does not show it, and if your doctor says you are okay to drive then you are. And I am not sure, but my opinion, your company has no right to ask what kind of medications you are taking. I think it would violate your privacy right. You do not have to run and ask your employer if you got a flue and want to take some cough medicine, what by the way more dangerous to drive with, than with an antidepressant. Of course only if your conditions under controll.