Is it best to disclose the medications I take during a DOT physical?

Better question. What happens if you cause a wreck and the lawyer finds you DIDNT disclose them? Theres your answer, do with it as you will.

 

It depends do you plan on blaming your medicine or condition when you hit things and get tickets for breaking the regs/laws?
80-90% of new CDL drivers quit before they get 12 months of work. They expect trucking to be like a series of pleasant car trips but while getting paid.

 

Provide truthful answers to whatever questions you're asked. You don't need to volunteer information, but don't lie if asked.

 

Well if it were me I would. I remember talking to an OO several years ago who was taking an opioid for a chronic back condition. He listed the drug on his physical. The ME discussed it with him and cleared him to drive. Why is this important you ask? Take a look at this! LINK Look at the exception! From the date of that physical that driver no longer had to worry about a hot drug test for opioids coming back on him.

Here is where a lot of drivers leave off some meds and why. If you are taking drugs for diabetes or blood pressure control you are only going to get a one-year card. Also, the DOT does not out and out prohibit a drug outside of illegal substances, they do prohibit drugs taken for seizure control. Outside of that, they leave it up to the MEs to decide. Be careful with the benzos, some MEs won't certify you.

 

I would definitely go ahead and do it. Worse comes to worse, you have to make some adjustments and are out for a month. This is why having an emergency fund is a good scenario for these types of situations.

Now, if you do not disclose your medication’s, and you get into an accident, you risk yourself for a lawsuit, and you get terminated for falsifying a DOT physical.

 

Less is more is the case here. TMI, loose lips sink ships….I know a driver who has a true classic form of white coat syndrome. It don’t matter what he does when he goes to the doctor his blood pressure is always high. He monitors it regularly and it’s in normal range when he’s relaxed at home. He knows he doesn’t have high blood pressure overall. When he goes in for his DOT physical he pops a BP medication the night before (I don’t know what he takes and what dose, but it gets him right in that perfect range.) it’s the only time he takes it. Lol
Why would he tell the examiner this? If the dudes monitoring his blood pressure regularly, he knows more than a doctor is going to know in a 10 minute window when your nerves are high.

 

If it’s in file with your medical doctor that you take meds, then YES, disclosed them. If worse came to worse in an accident, they will investigate and the truth will come out. Now, if you go to a medical doctor “Outside” the country, that’s a different story. Get the point

 

I got a chance to ask some questions related to this to the person doing my DOT physicals.

The letter needs to be something like this:

to whom it may concern,

Insert your name here is under my care for such and such. These are the medication‘s they are on. If you have any questions, please reach out at the number.

Now it is important to know that said Doctor writing that letter is not putting their own license on the line. The person doing the DOT physical is putting their license on the line. I hope this helps.