vision requirments

So here is some information for people who don't already have a class A cdl and have vision problems.

What you have to do is get a intrastate CDL through the state you live in. Witch only lets you drive in your state, with no passengers, and no haz-mat. After 3 years you can apply for a interstate waiver witch will allow you to drive out of state.

In California from what I understand to this point you get you physical and vision tests done, fill out the regular cdl app, take the written test for your permit. After that is done you info is sent to the safety commission. They review it with in 30 days and from there they set up your driving test.

If anyone has done through this please fill me in if any of these steps are wrong.

 

As long as your eye doctor certifies you me the requirment, your good. He may have to fill out a form for you but thats all. I have a lazy eye and I meet the requirment. even when you get your physical and they have you read the chart and they tell you, you did not pass. They did that to me and my doctor said he is the doctor when it comes to your eyes! Just sayin.

 

I called today and I have to get my physical and vision exams, then go to get my permit, when they send my test results in they will go to the safety commission and they will be reviewed then after school I will take my driving test with the safety commission, at least that's what I got out of it.

 

I talked to my eye doc, my left eye is no where near good enough.

 

so are both of your eyes 20/40 or better

 

My eyes are 20/30 with glasses for reading, my bad eye will never get better or worse. When i have gotten my physical and read the chart they always tell me i cant drive because my eyes are 20/70. I go back to my eye doctor and he said by reading their chart on the wall is not accurate. By his equipment i get accurate results. He says i don't need my glasses to drive which i don't. But everyone else says i do. I do what my eye doctors says! He knows my eyes best!

 

That is great for you, But I am not so lucky my left eye is in the high negative range, so no chance of getting to 20/40, but at least I have the option on getting the Intrastate waiver for 3 years then getting the interstate waiver.

 

frank_the_tank,
Have you (or anyone else) made any headway on your situation. I have the same problem and I feel like I'm out here chasing my tail around! I finally got a call from FMCSA this morning and the representative told me that I first need to apply for a vision waiver at the state level; to apply at the federal level, I need 3 years of commercial experience. But I can't seem to find where to apply at the state level. If anyone has any info, let me know. Thanks.

 

Spanky, how does this affect you if you want to go to truck driving school? It seems as though a school might be hesitant to accept you on those terms??

 

I need to call again, but from what I was told my the DOT, and this is how I understood it but who knows. In order to get you permit you have to go to the dmv take the test and when you fail the vision, that automatically gets sent to the DOT. After they get it, they contact you so you can go do the driving with them in order to get your permit.

The part I need to find out is, do I go to school and do it through them or do it my self. Many people get there permit before starting school so and I don't think there is any driving involved. so I need to call again and find out what I have to do. I think the proper way to do it would be to get the permit, then go to school and after you fail the vision test at the end at DMV then you test gets sent to DOT and they contact you to come in and take a driving test with them in order to get your Class A.

I was going to do all of this but financial things have changed and it will have to wait. It suck that we will have to drive in state for 3 years , but if you can find a descent job in state with no experience then it might be a blessing.

We might be the opposite of most others. Many people start out OLR and then go local, we might just do it the other way around.

If you find out anything please post it, I would love to know the proper way of doing it.

P.S. Dont go to you local DMV and ask you will get different stories from everyone you talk to. I was told I could do it just like i did with my class C but them I was told its different for a commercial license.

Call Sacramento or the DOT. That is the only way to get any info. Sacramento would know about the In state stuff. I just need to call again and clarify everything. Sorry if all I did was confuse you even more.