Question Re: DOT Physical & Sleep Apnea

I know for at least the last 3 years I have written about computer databases. As time goes by more and more folks are going to see it will get harder and harder to get by with lying in general. Honesty is the best policy. Thankfully this worked out for you!

 

I had NEVER HEARD OF A SLEEP "STUDY" until....
....I went, in 2008, to Celadon H.Q. (indianapolis) for the usual "New Driver" orientation. (I had been
CDL-A Licensed since latter 1999.)
From the beginning, after the messy "new arrival confusion", the "medical department" was full of questionable operatives as they talked down to prospective employees specifically during the "medical examinations" and refused to provide ANY INFO to the persons they claimed needed said (pointless) "study".
They "claimed" I needed a "sleep apnea test" but not from any verifiable results of the Physical, just "their opinion".
I checked with my Medical Doctor in NC and was indirectly told "it's a scam", "your reports provide ZERO INFORMATION to require such sleep test".
I stayed the rest of the week and weekend (for the free housing and food) then went back to NC and NEVER AGAIN heard any Medical Professional during any Physical Examination, mention ANYTHING about needing a "sleep study".

There ARE uncountable amounts of Overweight People that are DRIVING COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
MANY DRIVERS have NEVER NOR WILL EVER do a "sleep study".

Were I in your Stead, I would check around with other Companies.
No Need To Be Hampered with such "requirement" when it's most likely not required.

>>Just a little ol' add on: I've Snored since probably since age 6 or thereabouts. BOTH PARENTS SNORED. Doubt younger Sister snored. Never snored self awake, that I recall.<<

 

Outstanding, glad you got that monkey off your back

 

The most 'on time' driver I ever saw was a PTSD ex army ranger during 'Nam.
couldn't sleep more than two hours at a time [it was the 80's LOL] and I wonder how well he would do with a sleep study...

Bottom line is the medical industry [ is is a business after all] thought the sleep apnea was going into the regulations so they jumped on that bandwagon full force, willingly providing the infrastructure to be ready to reap the sheep...but wait! it didn't happen BUT they spent all that money......

Every person meeting the 'PROPOSED' numbers is, unknowingly, sent into their sleep study machine to keep it alive hoping to recover some of the moneys spent as they wait for the FCMSA to actually do something.

We lucked out.

When our turn key drug and alcohol got bought out by DISA and we were forced to use the electronic chain of custody they required, we found out that Concentra was the ONLY place in NJ to use it.

Half of our company drivers were over weight and started to run into the 'sleep study' buzzsaw long before the start of the Data base. They all started to use [and we approved] a local chiropractor and we paid them back the cost, as including physicals with the services provided by DISA was a convenience and not in our contract.

Most of them, like me, have now retired; not our circus, not our monkeys.

 

Pepsi forced me out trying to get there examiner to send me to a sleep lab, They kept sending me for DOT physical's because the safety officer in Mojave (Alfrado I think) did not want non-spanish speaking drivers, I kept bring him 2 year non restricted medicals. He finally just would not give me a truck to drive, and I was not even a Mojave driver I was a Buena Park driver, that used Mojave tractors. Mostly BS way of companies bulleying drivers at least in that casee. I just went and apssed another 2 years medical no problem, but no longer drive for Pepsi/Berns.

 

So happy everything worked out.
Please use the cpap machine if you need it.
I have been on BP meds for 25 years and I used to just lie and get a 2 year card.
I have a friend who got the at home study and gave it to his kid, passed with no problem.

 

Resmed machine has an app that gives you all usage information every night.
When I get my med card I just pull up the info and send it to the doctor

 

Call Concentra. Tell them you need another 90 day card.

I went through this. They (Concentra) gave me 3 90 cards till Iet their requirements. Then I got one year.

Now, I will say this, and it is not a popular opinion, but I love my sleep machine. I sleep so much better mad am more well rested. It is one of the best things I could have done for my health.

 

OSA is a real problem for many people, even people that don't drive for a living. One of the safety people I know uses a CPAP machine. Anybody that would be critical of someone that reports sleeping better with one is being a bit dense.

There are a lot of good people that run sleep labs all across the country. My neurologist is in a clinic with 2 Physicians that handle sleep medicine. They are all good folks that I highly recommend. The problem is there are also a lot of crooks too. Another problem is the CPAP machine makers are throwing money around like it is growing on trees.

My point of contention has been and still is there needs to be some changes made in the system. I DO NOT want dangerous people driving trucks on the roads. I am just getting sick and tired of this you have OSA until you can prove to me you don't attitude a lot of MEs have. I will never forget my last DOT physical. I got it at the Hampton Virginia VA hospital by now retired Dr. Anita Sagar. She simply asked me Mike how are you sleeping? When you wake up do you feel refreshed? Then took a look into my throat and gave me a one-year card. (I am a diabetic).

I have discussed OSA with several physicians over the years. My current Neurologist told me that as far as he was concerned almost all adults have episodes of OSA to some degree. It's when these episodes start affecting your quality of sleep that you need to see a sleep Physician and let them help you. I wear a health watch. Every morning I can see how well I slept that night. This information is available to my Neurologist.

I may never see it in my lifetime, but I think at some point medical research is going to find a way to fix this problem and put the sleep labs and CPAP makers out of business!