New DOT Physical Requirements?

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by kc8vje, Mar 18, 2007.

Do you think the DOT should have a more strict physical??

  1. *

    Yes

    21.6%
  2. *

    No

    72.4%
  3. *

    Who Cares

    7.5%
  1. geargrinder

    geargrinder Medium Load Member

    314
    60
    Nov 23, 2006
    More than likely waiting.
    0
    It's Sleep Apnea screening. They ask you some questions. If you answer positive to them you are at risk of having sleep apnea and then go on to the sleep study crap. If you don't want to get caught up in the sleep apnea circle, then answer the questions all no. Freaking sleep apnea follows you around like a positive drug test - well not quite - but it's just more BS. Also any testing beyond the screening questions are on your nickel. Best to wait until after you are hired and get on the companies medical program before divulging that you snore incredibly loud and only breath 10 times during the night;-)

    My wife insisted I had it. They came to my house and wired me up. They said I didn't have sleep apnea. I still snore like a maniac and have the occassional gag that wakes me up. It's snoring, mankind has been doing it since the beginning.

     
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  3. Attitude:)

    Attitude:) "Love each Day as if it was your last"

    510
    36
    Jul 13, 2007
    TX NM & CO
    0
    Just went through this with my son several months ago. His doc sent him to a sleep center, they tell me: He's not getting enough 02 when he sleeps, try to start him on oxygen at night, also that he doesn't have sleep apnea that's of any real significance and that EVERYONE over the age of 20 has some apnea. To make a long story short, we didn't get oxygen, it's not safe to use it all the time as we become dependent on it, and the doctors my mother work with are saying this new sleep stuff is running very close to a scam. Somewhere in the middle is the truth.......
     
  4. Truck Vet

    Truck Vet <strong>NRA AMA Libertarian</strong>

    201
    14
    Aug 30, 2006
    0
    Pretty sure what they do is adjust the seat so its sitting on the floor.
    So the air ajustment part is useless. Another driver at my old LTL
    company did that. Guy could barely see over the dash. Until the
    company got air ride trucks I bet his back took a lot of abuse.
     
  5. VULCAN1999

    VULCAN1999 World's #1 Grandpa

    708
    264
    Jul 28, 2007
    Bunnell, FL
    0
    NBA star Shaquille Oneil would have a BMI that would say he was MORBIDLY OBESE if you go off the current way it is figured.
    George Forman
    Evander Holyfield
    Mike Tyson
    75% of NFL Players
    All Pro Wrestlers
    Barry Bonds
    All the above would be considered OBESE by current standards.

    Get real just another reason to bring in all those 130lbs Mexican's to take the jobs from us fat lazy Americans.
     
  6. tomhorn

    tomhorn Light Load Member

    67
    2
    Aug 9, 2007
    Jacksonville, FL
    0
    The last thing we need is more government intervention in our lives. So, not only would there be pretty much nobody to drive trucks if the definition of obesity disqualified or any form of sleep apnea disqualified, but, as someone else here said perhaps every other occupation should have the same standards. That would be just wonderful. Now anyone with any medical condition or who is overwieght, underwieght, has too big of a neck, too short of legs or any handicap couldn't work period. Now we would have 80% of the population unemployable. Let me guess. The more government regulation crowd would solve this by raising taxes. Of course only on the rich (those making over $50K a year). This is absurd. The regulations are pretty stiff now. You should be drug free, responsible and in general good health. End of story.

    BTW, a few others on the list of morbidly obese according to the government:
    1) Gov Arnold Schwartzenager
    2) Tom Cruise
    3) Sylvester Stalone
    4) Val Kilmer
    5) Robin Williams

    I mean, PLEASE!
     
  7. bbmyls2go

    bbmyls2go Medium Load Member

    393
    96
    Feb 19, 2006
    Chattanooga, TN
    0
    I'm just searching the forums for discussion of sleep apnea right now. For the record Averitt Express will require you to take a thousand dollar sleep apnea evaluation at an overnight sleep disorder clinic if their DOT doctor (affiliated with a sleep disorder hospital here in Cookeville by the way, hmmmm) indicates on your DOT physical that you meet any one of 5 criteria. I now have to decide if I will pay for the study out of my pocket because I simply meet the physical criteria (overweight, thick-necked, and take 2 medicines for blood pressure). I have NO physical symptoms of apnea at all.
    IF diagnosed by the study, I then have to get treatment or Averitt will terminate my employment. I've got 3 days to think over my options before the end of orientation and may simply work for them for 90 days while looking for work elsewhere.bb.
     
  8. knighted

    knighted Bobtail Member

    33
    3
    Jul 28, 2007
    LA
    0
    I just finished 2 orientations and both were asking questions about sleep apnia. Some states that have idling laws will overlook the idle if you need the truck running for SA.

    Personally I don't think the physical needs to be any harder. I simply need a doctor to say that I am healthy enough to drive and perform the required duties of the job without endangering myself or the public. A caviat to that would be that a person did not have a life style habit that could pose an eminate threat in the near future. Being a person was so over weight or smoked so much for so long that they were out of breath in five steps.

    Hey, I smoke but not any 2-4 packs a day. I knew a driver that smoked 3 packs a day. Had a heart attack and went off a mountain side. He passed his physical only a month earlier. Doctor had no recourse but to sign off on him even though he told the driver he was an extreme high risk for an attack.

    What I see is this. There needs to be a single standard, government form for the physical. Insurance companies need to get their grubby little hands out of the pot. Every company I go to has a slightly different version of the physical. Each company needs you to go through their physical. One form should cover every company. Like a drivers license. Just because I have a TX license doesn't mean I have to take a drivers test in CA when I move there. I fill out a form and turn in the old one and get their license.

    This would cut down the costs for the companies. Our down time when moving to a new company which translates into everyone making a little more cash a little faster. For those at high risk, we just have to take the physical a little more often until the risk is reduced. A price we pay for living the way we want.

    This may make too much sense though and we'll never see it. After the politicians, civil organizations, and insurance companies finish with it. By then we may be taking a Marine Corps PFT in order to drive.
     
  9. Marine68

    Marine68 Bobtail Member

    42
    5
    Sep 30, 2007
    Treasure Island, Florida
    0
    Hello; I just took my physical one week ago and with the drug test it only cost $100.00. No sleep apnea test or any of the other things you mentioned. The big thing was blood pressure. Mine was just over acceptable and I got a 3 month temporary certification and I have to get three good tests within that 3 months before I can get a permanent certification.
     
  10. superman2112ms

    superman2112ms Bobtail Member

    23
    1
    Sep 2, 2007
    North Aurora,Il
    0
    I went for a dot two days ago. I was given this test. I thought it was becouse I decided to get comfy while waiting for the Dr. He measured my neck then had me answer some questions. If you had a score of x points then he would have gone further.
     
  11. Big Poppa

    Big Poppa Light Load Member

    73
    4
    Sep 27, 2007
    Somewhere in TX
    0
    As for making the requirements for the driver's health, I say it doens't need to be any more strict than it currently is.

    But, I voted yes because I do believe that they should have a requirement that the personnel giving the exam be certified by DOT to give the exam. I believe there are too many doctors (and medical assistants) that will give out a medical card if you can state your name and have a pulse.
     
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