medical disqualifications proposed regs

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by 112racing, Mar 27, 2010.

  1. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    yeah - it's been shown time and time again that weight to height is not a valid method for determining BMI. In fact, the ONLY valid test is a submersion test: drop you in a tank of water and measure the displacement.

    When I was in the military, I was 6'6" and 280. Using the standards of the day, I was considered obese. Yeah, right. An immersion test showed I had 14% body fat. But I still had to lose weight - there was no way to get a variance.
    On the other hand, there was a guy who was about 5'5" .. I don't know what his weight was, but he was *ROUND*... and fell within their guidelines.

    These days, I'm running about 300 pounds (down from about 340 a year ago) and dropping. (Just not dropping fast enough to suit me. oh well)

    I DO have apnea. I've had it all my life - it's directly related to my asthma. In recent years, I've had to make use of one of those cursed CPAP machines (I'm less annoyed by it now that I've done away with the mask). Just to make FMCSA happy.

    Digression (more than normal) - if you have to take a sleep test, beware. They assume all people need 8 hours of sleep a night. If you sleep less, you get dinged as having a problem. Even if you sleep normally, otherwise. At least, that's what I experienced.

    ramble ramble ramble.

    All in all, though, having seen a significant number of beachballs behined the steering wheel of big rigs, I have to wonder at how effective the current med-card system is. There is no way somebody who can't reach to button his shirt doesn't have serious blood-pressure problems. I'm talking a BP that cannot be brought into compliance with the rules.

    Further, even if they DO successfully implement this proposed rule, I have to wonder how much of an improvement there will be in safety statistics as a result. Given that something like 75% of all accidents involving trucks are initiated by other drivers, I just can't see this being cost effective.

    </BLATHER>
     
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  3. brenda

    brenda Light Load Member

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    Hey GONZO. DID you ever drive for SPSA in portsmouth VA in 1991?
    The gonzo i knew,his name was Pete.
     
  4. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    How did you do away with the mask?
     
  5. Roadhound

    Roadhound Light Load Member

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    What sucks is the BMI testing formula is over 200 years old and hasn't ever been revised to show different body types.
     
  6. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    it's a product called "NOMASK". It's a bit spendy, but it's a heck of a lot more comfy than any mask I've ever used. Makes me wish I'd thought of it.
     
  7. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    BUT IT IS COMING!



    Mark these words, there is a plan at work RIGHT NOW designed to disqualify or force as many of the current drivers as possible OUT OF THEIR JOBS! Medical, safety, whatever reason than can CREATE,or just plain old "sick and tired of the BS", the goal is to recycle the entire industry. Not sure why, it could be rookies will drive for LESS PAY AND BENEFITS, and put up with more garbage than current drivers or it could be more political engineering to CREATE jobs...I don't know. But mark my words, in the next few years, if you are driving truck today, you better learn a new trade because unless you can walk on water, your days in trucking are numbered! !!
     
  8. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Oh well.

    I drive because I like it.

    I guess if they force me, it is back to the accounting life or maybe in an ambulance again.
     
  9. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    At least you have a backup plan.
    Most of us do not. Like a lot of truckers, I arrived at this career out of desperation. I was too stupid to get good enough grades in high school to pursue a college degree so as a result I bounced from menial, low paying jobs to krappy jobs and back, then I got into trucking and this trend continued only I made more money. Now I am looking at the very real (and scary) possibility that at 40 years old, I will forced out of a career that I have slowly learned to hate and only tolerate because I have no other choice, with NO education, NO worthwhile job experience, competing for an entry level job with every other swinging dick in this messed up world.
    No wonder I get depressed. And no amount of "happy pills" is going to make those symptoms go away either!
     
  10. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    I don't wanna sound.. denigrating or petty... but there's a lot of folks out there who proclaim that tomorrow will suck worse than yesterday. Rarely do they offer anything in the way of supporting data.

    Since this thread is about (additional) medical qualifications, I'll assume that's what you are referencing. Personally, I'd LIKE to see us all healthier - if for no other reason than it should allow us to perform our jobs better. (As I said earlier, I really doubt this particular action is going to have a measurable effect on safety statistics).

    (Of course, as others have pointed out, odds are, this isn 't really about safety, it's about money.)

    I don't think this is going to - in and of itself - drive many drivers (sorry) out of the industry. I imagine it will simply add to the cost of your periodic physical - which many carriers pay for already (tax write-off, I think). I don't see this changing - and if it does, it definitely becomes a tax write-off for the driver.

    (Personally, I think your statement, Dave, is too narrow. The current plan is to make EVERYBODY completely subject to the whims and wills of the government. Marx will win, in the long run)
     
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  11. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    You think you are depressed?

    How would you like to have to go back into an office and deal with the people after you walked out and left the employees behind?

    Not to mention, I sometimes get car sick in the back of ambulance and have to take motion sickness pills every once in a while.

    I like the view in my office now.
     
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