Body Mass Index (BMI) and Neck Size Screening?

Yes, I was referring to your post. I'm glad to see you admit your responsibilty. And don't think I'm all "holier than thou" because I gained 25 pounds when I started trucking and have only lost 15 of that (so far). However, I caused me to gain weight, not trucking. It is possible (difficult, but possible) to find good food out here. We do have time to exercise (we have time to surf the Net, obviously). Quality sleep can be hard for light sleepers, agreed. It took me a while to get used to the noise. Not to mention the fact I've got a truck with an Opti-idle system so it turns on and off all night long. And OTR is very stressful, which is where exercise can help. Many studies have proven the stress reducing power of movement.

Everyone makes their own choices, and I don't mean to imply I'm so perfect y'all should worship at the altar of me. But let's quit making excuses, OK? Sure it's hard to stay healthy out here, but it's not impossible.

 

then what would you call it ? a group of people a classifed as unfit to work by a set of calipers and a calculator... regardless of past work history, safety records... I was 220 lbs at 17 going in the US ARMY and considered over weight at 6 foot tall... had to comform to a special diet all through basic and AIT and with all the running and exercise I still only lost 12 lbs in 4 and a half months.. I played football O-line and D-line and wrestled in school , been big my whole life,, but I always took pride in my work,, I'll be sweating away watching the skinny guy next to me dying try to keep up with my "fat" #$$... I like driving it is the best worst job I have found so far.. but it looks like I have to put my locksmith tools back to work and get my License where I don't have to deal with BMI to tell me if I can do a job or not...

 

My point exactly!!! Just cause some pencil pushing bureaucrat says so we are out of a job???
Amazing. After 15 years of doing just fine, some jerk figures out that I am too fat to do my job??? WHATEVER!!!

 

You guys are getting the cart in front of the horse. There is no ruling on the BMI or neck size nor is there one expected this year anyways and probably not next year either

 

driving is what I chose to do after years of warehouse,factory and other stuff that had no future. I been collecting locksmith tools and machines since I started driving and while taking the Foley/Belsaw course through the mail,, because I figured when I decide to stop rambling the roads I would settle into another "skilled trade" and work that until retirement,, but I been blessed by stumbling myself into the trucking industry I found that I do really like it and can do the job well... but by no means am I a hostage to the greed that is in the industry, I can make my mortgage payment mowing lawns if need be, everything else is paid for but the utilities and the frills which can go away to survive if need be... just burns my backside that we can have one set of standards for these people but not everyone,, if BMI is the standard the it should be industry wide, from the DOT personel, office workers, dispatchers, fleet managers, Safety,, all the way to the driver... everyone or no one

 

Pen and Teller had an episode of their "BS" show about BMI and weight.

They had 4 'fat' guys and 1 skinny guy do a bunch of different track events, the skinny guy placed 4th, just ahead of the REALLY fat guy.

And at the end of the show they said exactly what BMI is.


It's BULL SH**!
I've always been a bigger guy.
But I've been lifting weights for years, I walk every day, I ride my bike when it's nice out, I'm as athletic as I need to be, but because my height and weight dont match well on a spreadsheet, I'm "obese." No, sorry... Obese people are the fatties who need the cart at Wal-Mart because their knees are shot.

 

Prime isnt hiring anyone over the 39 limit... They arent firing anyone who was hired before they set the limit, nor anyone who has gained weight after being hired.

However, upon their next DOT Physical if they are still over the limit the driver is required to undergo Sleep Apnea screening and take a sleep study test. They've partnered with an outside vendor and have set up a sleep study lab at the company hotel.

 

driving Prime's slow trucks would make sleepy during the day too....

 

The BMI and neck thing all point to sleep apnea. This is what they are concerned about. Doctors can evaluate your heart condition. But sleep apnea is in the wind.

I get my sleep study done tomorrow. Any wise trucker will get this stuff done ahead of time before they crack down. You know if you have it. Now it's time to get treated. From what I hear, it makes a new person out of you.

 

bmi is ########, if you wanna see if the person is physically fit and good for the job check their body fat and/or put them on the treadmill and see how their body reacts, i know skinny people that can barley run a mile and good buddy of mine he is fat did triathlon few months ago, so just putting number on the sheet of paper and making few calculations shouldn't evaluate you in terms of being physically fit