Changes coming to the DOT physical....

Current Status :

Are there new regulations regarding a driver's body mass index (BMI), body fat ratio, weight, neck size, and sleep apnea?

Despite rumors to the contrary, no. While research was recently released stating that a driver's BMI is a risk factor for identifying sleep apnea, neither the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) nor the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program currently has any rules that restrict who can be a commercial motor vehicle driver based on BMI or weight, or neck size. For more information view FMCSA’s Spotlight on Sleep Apnea.

https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/FAQs.aspx?faqid=1412

 

Awesome!!

Except for one thing. The Dr doing the physical can decide to make it mandatory if they so choose. So we can sit here all day and argue whether or not it's in the stated regulations. It will get us nowhere. My Maryland Dr was ok with letting me go for a year and asking me to complete a study during that year. The Iowa Dr was not. That is well within their rights. Annoying as it is for me.

So regulated? No. Wrong? Arguable. Does it matter if the Dr wants it? Nope.


Ed

 

Doctors over ride the FMCSA/DOT

We had one of them try to measure a drivers neck at my work,
he made a scene about it , stated unless it was on the Gov't
form she had no right to do that to him. Another doctor was called in
...he got his card ...and the other doctor was Transferred .

We have some people where i work that are HUGE
and they are not impeded in getting their card.

Have to wait and see what happen in the future

 

Oh don't get me started.....

I was only at the training for a single day before I got sent home for a test. During that day I saw so many people far more overweight than I am that I just shook my head.

I understand being overweight isn't the only aspect to look at. But considering I fit a "profile" and was sent home after quitting my job to go there, and after passing a DoT in another state, was a little disheartening. Knowing that I could have caught on with a number of other companies that would have simply accepted my Maryland DoT card is also a sore spot.

However, I chose a particular company BECAUSE they are sticklers. I can't exactly fault them can I?


Ed

 

Which company ?

One of the Mega's ?

 

I went to, and hopefully will be going back to, TMC.

 

And these doctors are working at walk in clinics (mostly)....

Just wonderful

 

In our litigious society I can hardly blame them. As much as it annoys me....


Ed

 

Did everyone know everyone has sleep apnea. Well they say 1-4 Events per hours is normal. An event is 10 seconds of not breathing. So if you ever hear the guy in the drivers lounge sleeping you can hear him gasping for air that's sleep apnea. People are not breathing, and you brain knows this. So it tries to wake you up saving you life. That stops you brain from going into REM sleep and you brain is up all night. Then your body can also pump adrenaline in you body trying to wake you up. So by morning you wake up thinking you have been sleeping, but feel tireding like you body was not rested. It not you think you were sleeping but you brain was running all night trying to save your life. It's Hard to notice this because you were sleeping..

They score sleep apnea on a scale, 1-4 is normal for everyone. The top or sever sleep apnea is 35+ events per hour. That 35 times per hour at 10 seconds each a person stops breathing. That is 350 seconds or 5.8 minutes per hour. Try holding your breath for 5 minutes and see how you feel. You might notice a little strain on your body. If sleep 7 hours that 5.8 minutes per hour time 7 hours. That's just over 40 minutes of not breathing. Try holding your breath for 40 minutes and see how you feel.

 

I don't think anyone here is complaining about sleep apnea being a thing. Or being important. I'm pretty sure we can all agree it's a serious issue.

The problem lies in the fact that we are being forced to be tested because we fit a profile. I have no issues staying awake and alert during the day. I sleep well some nights, and not others, like oh I don't know, 90% of the population.

In my old job a large part of it was driving. Sure it was a car and not a "big rig" but still on the road and a danger to others if it was an issue. It wasn't. 0 accidents in almost 30 years of driving. No one ever said I should take expensive medical tests to be safe.

So as I can agree that apnea is a real issue that should be dealt with, I think just because you fit a certain profile isn't enough to be forced into testing.


Ed