People with disabilities sometimes have to select only occupations they possess the physical capabilities to perform required tasks. It may come as something of a surprise to our valued community members with disabilities, but getting your CDL and earning a salary as a professional trucker could be within reach.
Although the regulations differ from state to state, professional truckers are typically required to meet certain driving skills and other standards to secure a CDL. Getting around some of these obstacles can prove challenging but not insurmountable. Prospective drivers typically participate in truck driver training at an accredited school. Students engage in a combination of in-class education and hands-on driving experience. Topics covered include the following.
- Reading Route Maps
- Learning How to Plan Delivery Runs
- DOT Rules and Regulations
- Safety Protocols and Emergency Situations.
States usually require a minimum number of in-class and on-the-road hours before a driving skills exam can be scheduled. Earning your CDL tasks applicants with answering 80 percent of the written test correctly and passing the road skills test.
One of the main reasons people with disabilities sometimes steer away from a truck driving career stems from the DOT physical examination. Unfortunately, people often operate under the misconception that the physical examination involves push-up, sit-ups, and other physical fitness measures. Nothing could be further from the truth.
A DOT medical examiner is far more interested in medical conditions that limit someone’s ability to operate a heavy-duty vehicle safely. The following rank among the issues that concern the DOT.
- Vision: A CDL professional must present with at 20/40 vision and 70-degree peripheral vision. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other corrective wear can be used to pass the vision exam.
- Hearing: A driver must possess hearing abilities to recognize a “forced whisper” at approximately 5 feet, with or without an aid.
- Blood Pressure: An examiner will test for signs of prohibitive hypertension that could lead to a heart attack while driving under stressful conditions.
- Urine Test: The presence of a controlled substance can disqualify CDL holders from operating a vehicle.
The last part of the examination covers a driver’s physical attributes. The heart, lungs, ears, mouth, and abdomen are typically examined for signs of impairment. Disabilities such as spinal injuries create an additional hurdle. However, the advanced technology being integrated into big rigs has opened the door for people who use wheelchairs to operate tractor-trailers.
The key will be researching the standards set in your state, accounting for DOT regulations, as well as your rights under the American Disabilities Act. The point of the physical examination is generally consistent with the in-class and on-the-road education necessary to secure a CDL. If you possess the ability to operate a heavy-duty vehicle without placing yourself or others at risk, it’s entirely possible you could earn a good salary in the trucking industry.
Source: drhandicap.com, theawesomer.com
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