Question about dot physical and CA dmv

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by performan84, Apr 17, 2010.

  1. performan84

    performan84 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 14, 2010
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    I am in trucking school in CA at CA career School in Anaheim, CA. My question is I have nerve damage in my right arm so I can not bend at my elbow or raise my arm all the way up. I can move my right arm enough to grab the shifter and steering wheel. I can drive my personal truck with just my right arm. I know I can do the job. I am tired of being on disability. I have a family to support and I enjoy driving. Problem is the doctor that the school uses for physicals put on my CA DMV medical form that I need to have a skill performance evaluation certificate. Well when I went to DMV they gave me my permit asked no questions about the skill performance evaluation certificate but had me write no limitations on the section on the front where it asked about past injuries. My medical card says must have skill performance evaluation. So I am confused if I need it or not since CA DMV already gave me my permit. I faxed the SPE application to the FMCSA in Georgia where they handle the processing. I am just wondering since DMV already gave me my permit to me it was basically like they are telling me I don't need the SPE. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciative.
    Thank You all for your time,
    Justin​


     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2010
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  3. kickin chicken

    kickin chicken Road Train Member

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    Hello Justin and Welcome:) IMHO, you would still need to prove your dexterity and range of motion in orfr to pass the physical. You having been on disability reflects limits. Did you receive a long form DOT Medical Card? You cannot drive the truck outside of the range until you do. I would find out from a doctor, not the school's doc. If you do not research,for yourself, then you may just end up posting here, after the school processes (trains) you, asking us if we can help you to find an employer that will give you a chance.You are in charge of your success. I hope that you do conquer this issue. Best of Luck.
     
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  4. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    You have a permit, not the CDL license...you are going to need the signed evaluation certificate before the CDL will be issued.

    Many companies require a "fitness test", and I am sorry to tell you, with the limited motion in the arm, you will not pass their test. I am referring to the mega outfits...Swift, England, and the likes.

    But good luck to you and best wishes!
     
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  5. performan84

    performan84 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 14, 2010
    Cypress, CA
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    The doctor the school uses is from an urgent care facility. He doesn't actually work for the school. I had the ca dmv medical form which is basically the same as the federal dot medical form. When i turned the medical certificate in to dmv they never asked about the spe certificate and when i called fmcsa in georgia i was told i would need at least a tempory certificate to get my permit. Oh and the company i am looking at rhymes with berner and i have been told by everyone i have talked to there that if i can get through trucking school i can work for them. Basically i have a heart beat and can drive. Thanks,
    Justin
     
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  6. Jimbo60

    Jimbo60 Medium Load Member

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    Wow..... this sounds a little off on the DMVs part but, what doesn't in Cali?

    Ok, it was said well earlier in the thread, you are responsible for your own success. Get this straightened out before you hire on with any company.

    You either need the doc to give you another card that doesn't say you need the spe OR you need to get the spe.

    When you go to Werner, they are going to have you do a new physical that's their policy as well as policy with most trucking companies. It's a CYA thing for them. IIRC they don't do any supplemental range of motion type testing. If the Werner doc decides you need the spe, then your new job is on hold until it's done.

    Even if you get the urgent care doc to give you a new card based on what DMV did (might happen) what if Werner's doc decides that you need it?

    It's prolly gonna take alot of leg work, standing in line, being on hold etc.. to get it done but I think that you need to get it handled if you wanna work. It might even be a hassle finding a company that will hire you in your circumstance because there are a lot of newbs out there right now due to the economy that aren't in your situation.

    Not trying to discourage you here just trying help.


    .............. Jim
     
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  7. performan84

    performan84 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 14, 2010
    Cypress, CA
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    OK thank you all for your responses. Hopefully I can get the school to fill out the drivng certification part of the spe application so fmcsa will just give me the certificate not just a temporary. I would think the school would since I have my permit. THe way I have understood it with the company that rhynes with berner is if you came from trucking school no physical since you already should have one since you had to get a cdl. If you have been driving for a while and then go to work for the company then you must pass a company physical before being hired. It's hard to figure all this out because the doctor doesn't know anything about what the spe is and neither does the school. I would think If I had to have it CA DMV would have asked. When I was in there the first lady I gave the DMV medical form to looked over it and then asked a supervisor then had me write no limitations above where you would write about any past injuries. Sometimes its like the left doesn't know what the right is doing.
     
  8. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    In CA, your kidding aren't you....the "left" and the "right" can never agree on anything!
     
  9. performan84

    performan84 Bobtail Member

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    I know they can't agree on anything. If I could I would get out of Cali because I am tired of my registration going up on my truck. Last year it was $500 something now this year its almost $700. Hopefully I will hear from fmcsa about the spe certificate. If I had it I would'nt worry about this crap too much. I just wanna cover my ### if I get pulled over especially while having my permit. If the school was'nt in Anaheim, CA I would'nt be too concerned but the commercial enforcement part of Anaheim P.D. are all pretty much trigger happy. I worked in Orange which is the next city over for a HVAC company. I was a delivery driver of the equipment. I drove all over SO CAL. WE had 26ft flat bed Ford F650's. So I know how to handle big equipment. I know Big Rigs are a different animal. I don't think I ever drove with both hands on the steering wheel. If the company wasn't owned by a cheap skate I would still be working there. I was just promoted to thw warehouse manager before I got hurt in a ATV accident in Glamis, CA which is a sand dunes recreational area. Handles bars broke when I went over a dune and landed which in turn strecthed all the nerves in my right arm. I am alot better now. Well the cheap skate is trying to tell me oh the workmans comp insurance is the reason I can't come back until I can use both arms. Trucks are loaded with a forklift. I would go after him with the americans with disability act but I know what will happen. He will find a way to get rid of me way one way or another. Others ahve cried to the union when he was screwing them over and they got can't for some stupid reason. I'm just done with it. The company is going to lose everything anyway. He's getting sued left and right from the Sheet metal workers union. Every one I have talked to that still works there is saying what a ###### Hole the company is now. THe idot he has running the warehouse now is his nephew. My old bosses son. He is nothing like my old boss. He thinks hes al that because he has a degree in construction management. I think it's funny that college boy can't run a small warehouse since its slow right now and the few idiot drivers that are there. I one good driver that was there that my old boss and I hired finally left because of all the crap. I'm fed up with that place so I'm looking at trucking. I know I can do the job and drive safely but I have to prove that I can to everyone else. Sorry for the rambling just been frustrated for the last year with all the crap that has happened. Tired of fighting with the wife about our tight budget since disability doesn't pay crap. It sucks being 26 and the only hting i know is really construction, automotive and driving. Construction and automotive really require two good arms so thats out. Drivng I can still do fine. So I am looking into that.
    Thanks For Your time again,
    Justin​
     
  10. performan84

    performan84 Bobtail Member

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    Not that I have a thing against mormons. I know there are good mormons but not at this company. The whole family is mormon. THe idiot owner now basically bought out his brother in law that went to run the warehouse which was my old boss. He was cool and actually gave a ###### about his employees. His attitude was How can I help you make money while I make money. The owner now, his attitude is how can you make me money and your scum and can be replaced at anytime. I know if my old boss was'nt basically forced out I know he would have let me come back no problem. In fact if I needed help with anything in the warehouse he would have given me a hand. Not the current owner. He sits in his office does nothing and gets paid. I know he does'nt want me back simply because he I'm not 100% and can't do everything easy. I could do everything I could before just somethings might be a little harder. I waited so long for trucking because I didn't think I could shift with limited movement in my right arm. But in March I finally heard from Werner after applying the day before and said ok I am going to try. I am tired of being held back. I don't want to be labeled disabled so I finally got off my butt went to the trucking school I am currently attending and asked to check out one of there trucks, a Kenworth T2000 and I was able to get into every gear no problem. I started there last week and I keep being told that I should have been driving along time ago because most of the stuff I get right away like the pre trip inspection and the 5 step in cab air brake check or I already know it. I'm not trying to be ####y but I know trucking is hard but it's not rocket science either. I just want too get out on the open road and make what money I can. Oh after this bad experience with a morman company I don't think I would ever work for one again. So I won't even look at Central, England, or Swift. Maybe if I am desperate. I have nothing against the Mormon religion just the way this company was ran. Like the saying goes one bad apple spoils the bunch.
     
  11. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    Well since you are so "enamored" with the Mormons...here is some pertinent information for you:
    1. Swift....Mormon
    2. C.R. England....Mormon
    3. Central Refrigerated....Mormon and part of Swift
    4. Knight...Mormon

    Kind of limits your training companies, doesn't it?
     
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