DOT Physical? (how healthy u gotta be?)

ive considered taking my bike with me on the road but have turned down the idea at this point because im afraid someone is gonna steal the #### thing while im in a resturant or something

 

In the same boat here wannabenks. I am 6ft 350 and on a CPAP myself. Blood pressure is a factor you definitely need to check out, not just for driving a truck, but for your overall health concern. Mine teeters on the 140/90 magic number the DOT doesn't like, without medication. Go see your PCP and have them put you on meds that will lower it if it runs that high or higher. I also developed Rheumatoid Arthritis earlier this year, but am being treated aggresively for it with the latest drugs. Any drivers out there that have RA and were able to get their CDL's? I have no joint damage and my pain level is now next to nothing. I still function like before I got it by being on the meds.

 

my buddy at werner had to have a doctors note AND a work release note before they would let him drive and use his CPAP on the truck.

 

Is Sleep Apnea disqualifying? 146
Drivers should be disqualified until the diagnosis of sleep apnea has been ruled out or has been treated successfully. As a condition of continuing qualification, it is recommended that a CMV driver agree to continue uninterrupted therapy such as CPAP, etc. / monitoring and undergo objective testing as required.
A driver with a diagnosis of (probable) sleep apnea or a driver who has Excessive Daytime Somnolence(EDS) should be temporarily disqualified until the condition is either ruled out by objective testing or successfully treated.
Narcolepsy and sleep apnea account for about 70% of EDS. EDS lasting from a few days to a few weeks should not limit a driver’s ability in the long run. However, persistent or chronic sleep disorders causing EDS can be a significant risk to the driver and the public. The examiner should consider general certification criteria at the initial and follow-up examinations:
Severity and frequency of EDS
Presence or absence of warning of attacks
Possibility of sleep during driving
Degree of symptomatic relief with treatment
Compliance with treatment.

 

This is a great question! The Dot Physical Report will screw up your career from the start. Remember anything you tell that Doctor, he is going to put in that report. Companies may ask for that report in the hiring process. Having a DOT Physical card does not mean you are ok to drive! Anything like a old perscription or old injury may throw out the "red flag" and they will weed you out of the hiring process this way!