Depression and DOT

Iib

You will have to disclose your medications on your medical card. If you go OTR and you become
depressed that could be an issue so I would give that some thought beforehand.

 

You have to be med free, and if your med free I wouldn't mention it, because that would be a serious black mark. If I'm not mistaken, you cna;t get a CDL with that on your record if you disclose it.
But here is my biggest concern, if it is a true diagnosis, then driving OTR is not a good idea at all. This job pushes you to your physical and mental limits and then pushes you some more. Being alone out in a truck for days or weeks at a time is not a good idea if its a clinical depression. Everyone gets down sometimes, even depressed, but clinical depression is reoccuring for no reason. So think hard about going OTR and make sure it was just a one time thing.

 

I'm on an anti depressant drug. My employer was concerned, but a letter from my doctor stating he saw no need for concern cleared everything up.

 

You should be fine. My parents threw me in the looney-bin way back in the day for drug-abuse and ended up staying for two-weeks....nothing ever came of it. IMO--as long as your not listing barbiturates and amphetamines as your daily pills..you should be fine. Just don't disclose what you don't have too,if they don't ask don't tell...we all get down in the dumps once in awhile,if you need the pills talk to your doc--but don't tell him you want"hurt yourself" or anything like that. Nowadays---play the "anxiety"card...it looks better than depression.

 

I agree with you 100 percent about the idea of going OTR with a major depressive disorder that is under control for now, but you are mistaken about the medications.

One can indeed be on most medications for depression and still obtain a CDL and drive a rig, but it must be disclosed on the medical form and to the physician, beforehand. The lists of medications and conditions that are not allowed are on the DOT FMCSA website.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/medical.htm

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/medical-inner.aspx

In fact, pilots that are on anti-depressants can now fly again, as long as they are under the care of a doctor. Thats was not the case before. They were not allowed to fly when under treatment with medications for depression.

Personally anyone who is too tired, hungover, sick with a cold or flu, has a severe headache, and many other conditions should take control and not drive until they feel safe to do so. I myself will not drive if I have a bad cold, because it does affect my driving skills, and I would hope other people would do the same thing.

Its just not worth getting into a wreak and possibly harming other people, when you dont feel very well. Remember too, with CSA2010 coming up it wont take much to put a driver out of the drivers seat in these days ahead.

 

You have to Narcotic free! Regular psych drugs should be fine. The only thing is you won't be issued two years on your medical card. They will make you renew it every year. Relax man. Try to look forward to a new beginning (life)! You are not alone, a lot of people go through what you are going through. I was down on my luck before going on the road and when I finally did it was very refreshing! Set yourself some goals to look forward to. Once you get out on the road I think things will change for you. At the very least, you will be too busy to be depressed! Good luck man!

 

DOT Physicals are $20-$75 just go to your local clinic...


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