Going to Prime

Many CPAP machines are not suitable for an OTR driver - they have to be usable both at home and in the truck. They must have a card reader so that your use of the machine can be monitored by a DOT certified doctor in order to get your medical card. Many insurance companies will not cover these requirements - and many drivers have been caught short by it.

If you're coming to Prime, make sure you ask the BMI question to a recruiter, just to make sure.

 

Wow card reader, never knew there was such a thing, as I have had 2 co-drivers with c-paps and they never had any form of a "card reader" I'm aware of, just a hour meter for compliance.

 

isn't prime's bmi cuttoff at 39? i'm a 41 will they still take me if i agree to a sleep study?? thanx 4 any info

 

That's why I've said make sure you ask recruiting. I've heard it both ways as above 39 - forget it... and here that they've dropped that again. I'll call tomorrow and see if I can get a clarification.

 

Our machines have a memory card that must be downloaded each month to verify compliance. The Dr. can pull you off the road if you are not using the machine.

You can do it with your own computer and a card reader, or there are about 30 TripPak locations that have the additional software and reader at the truck stop. Usually Petros and TAs but not all of them.

 

To my knowledge, these guys just used these machines due to sleep disorders and their use was suggested by their doctor. The strange thing is neither of these guys had any any weight issues, one was actually very thin.....It makes me suspect that weight (BMI) is only one of the many factors, that might indicate a sleep disorder and if this true.... there maybe tons of unsafe drivers out there with sleep disorders, that have no clue they have a problem (their thinking..."well why would I need a sleep study as my BMI meets this particular trucking company's standards.") If a company was so concerned about sleep disorders, why not make all drivers go through a sleep study.

Here is a link to a very interesting article http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/bmi.html

 

BMI is the one everyone stresses over. There is also neck size, throat restriction, personal medical history. In fact we are encouraged to go in for a sleep test - part of the deal made between Prime and the sleep disorder clinic is to offer tests at $150 to currently employed drivers if the test comes up negative.

I'll take your comment about "concerned companies" to mean other companies besides this one. You have no clue nor basis for that comment. In fact, the owner of Prime is extremely concerned about our health, and has started a number of programs to that extent. The BMI limit was one of them...

 

There are about a dozen threads concerning this topic, and about 3 that are Prime specific.

BMI is the leading trigger for the sleep study, however there have been a people flagged by their responses on the questionarre, and the throat/air passage exam portion of the physical.

So if you want to read up on it, search PRIME, BMI, DRISCRIMINATION, FAT.... And make further comments too.

Hijacking threads seem to be a favorite past time around here.

 

No, I think I will continue to post here about this issue, as based on the number of views and the fact that new people coming to your company need / would like more information on this topic, as there are very few companies that have these BMI conditions of hire.

 

What U2 said. There are about 10-20 threads on this already. It's not as if people coming here to research Prime can't find information on the issue.