How much personal info do you share during a DoT physical?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TawcoTruck, Jan 19, 2023.

  1. ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

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    The truck driver is screwed, already, because there will be other things they’ll come up with to ensure there’s a screwing. That’s just the way it is, these days. If you’re involved in something of that magnitude, your career is done, anyway.
     
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  3. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    I'm not trying to get on a soapbox. I am just amazed that what is really a simple process gets overcomplicated and people stay confused. When it comes to those questions answer them truthfully. Then shut up and don't answer questions NOT asked for. This same dynamic applies to the application process as well. Also, a smart person stays proactive. I was speaking to a guy that has been told he has OSA. He got the sleep study in the same place my Neurologist works out of. I trust these guys. He was having issues staying awake in the later parts of the morning. His wife suggested he see a doctor. He did and got a referral to the sleep lab. Even though he had a 2 year physical and was not due for another one he started using a CPAP and today reports sleeping better. He is also planning to have surgery later in the year. He is hoping that will fix his OSA.

    Now I want to address this----
    Most folks will blow off this comment. Oh, that can't happen to me they will say. All my medical records are covered by HIPAA. None of my other information can be released without my say-so. WRONG WRONG WRONG! I have seen where pre-pass data was used once in a lawsuit that came back to the driver's HOS not matching his logs. (this was before the new elogs). I have also seen it used in a divorce case. I once saw where an OO running his own numbers got in serious trouble and lost a lawsuit over a bad fatality accident. They got his 1099s and over time discovered his settlements did not match his last 6 months of logs. If you lie on that physical and later do ANYTHING that puts a personal injury Attorneys eyes on you or your company most of the time you won't know anything until called into safety and stand there mumbling as the safety critter hands you a copy of the lawsuit provided you have not already been served. Then as you stumble back into the hallway wondering what the heck just happened. You start to think what happens next? The next step in this process is discovery. Most all Attorneys employ investigators who can find out things about you that you did not even know. I remember a guy telling me his brother had a lawsuit filed against him and the attorney discovered some medical records in another state. Discovery also means a copy of your physical. Most of these Attorneys can also get a court order to have you examed by their doctors. In almost all cases the insurance will settle before the discovery process has finished. This actually saves a lot of drivers going forward. Because most settlements have nondisclosure clauses.

    Ladies and Gentlemen! Please don't be that driver!
     
  4. mpow66m

    mpow66m Heavy Load Member

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  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Moose, I was going to reply with a breakdown of what you said but decided it was too long and a waste of time.

    I will touch on a couple things, one is HIPAA doesn't cover US DOT regulated operators. I've seen where people claim this but it is right in the law, it is clear what it means and why it is there. Beside HIPAA doesn't, in any way, shape or form apply to people outside the medical industry.

    The other is drivers don't get that there are lawyers and investigators who know more about the industry than the driver does. They know what to look for, how to decipher things like logs and carrier records, the larger firms have a lot of doctors as consultants that look at medical records and financial investigators to look at the DRIVER'S finances to see what they can get out of them - insurance isn't always the source of revenue for punitive damages.
     
  6. silverspur

    silverspur Road Train Member

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    Have you tried/ heard of Power Putty to increase your hand strength?

    Also, there is a machine in the foyer of the supermarket that tests grip strength for a quarter. Shouldn't the doctors office have one too?
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2023
  7. silverspur

    silverspur Road Train Member

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    A driver ran a stop sign and killed someone. He claimed he had a seizure. Company of DOT medical examiner was brought into the lawsuit for not giving him a thorough physical.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2023
  8. TawcoTruck

    TawcoTruck Light Load Member

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    https://a.co/d/0o96nZi

    I got these power bar things where you twist them. Depending on how you do it they strengthen the open and close muscles of the hand. They were like $45 from Amazon for a set of 5 of varying difficulties. I was given some by the physical therapist years ago but they were lost with time.
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2023
    silverspur Thanks this.
  9. Lexuslane

    Lexuslane Medium Load Member

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    As long as there is a mortgage , no matter how small , on your home , a scumbag lawyer can’t take the equity ,
    If you lose the first court case and lose all the appeals and get a judgement against you, they can get a lien and prevent you from selling your property but they can’t take it .
    And if they did manage to get mine , they would find out , maybe years later when they got really sick , that it was contaminated with lead asbestos mold mercury radon and all kinds of stuff.
     
  10. dr5169

    dr5169 Medium Load Member

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    If you have a heart Stent put in... what is required for your next DOT physical?
     
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