DOT physical question

Bootboy · Sep 16, 2012

I am looking at going to C1 Fort Worth and one thing is it said I will need to pass a DOT physical. Never gave it a second thought or concern til I saw another poster mention that their physicals are kinda strict. Someone said if you have a neck greater than 17 inches and your blood pressure isn't perfect you won't pass and that they use BMI.

According to BMI standards I'm about 50lbs overweight but I'm nowhere near fat (5'11, 220#). I've seen some huge truckers so I don't know where the cutoff is. My blood pressure runs low and my blood sugar but my doctor isn't concerned nor have I ever passed out. I know I could probably fudge the blood pressure issue by eating alot of salt and getting angry before the physical.

Gizmo_Man · Sep 16, 2012

Bootboy said: ↑

I am looking at going to C1 Fort Worth and one thing is it said I will need to pass a DOT physical. Never gave it a second thought or concern til I saw another poster mention that their physicals are kinda strict. Someone said if you have a neck greater than 17 inches and your blood pressure isn't perfect you won't pass and that they use BMI.

According to BMI standards I'm about 50lbs overweight but I'm nowhere near fat (5'11, 220#). I've seen some huge truckers so I don't know where the cutoff is. My blood pressure runs low and my blood sugar but my doctor isn't concerned nor have I ever passed out. I know I could probably fudge the blood pressure issue by eating alot of salt and getting angry before the physical.
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if your neck size is 17" you will (or may have to) take a sleep apnea test. on YOUR DIME..!!!

if your BMI is out of specs, you will have to lose weight.

i certainly would NOT recommend that you fudge anything...!!

DO NOT drink high caffeine drinks, or eat high sugar foods before the exam.

i am only 5'10" and i weigh 185 pounds, and i am OVER WEIGHT for my height.>!!!

my doctor says i should be about 175...???

when i lost several pounds and got down to 177, he sent me for blood work to make sure my thyroid gland was ok.>!!!

xtexasbabex · Sep 16, 2012

you will be fine with it

Wooly Rhino · Sep 16, 2012

I cannot speak to the physical you will be taking. I have had many and they seem to vary greatly from place to place.

When I was 214 I would have told your fat a s s was just fine but now that I am 180, what the hell is wrong with you. Get out and run some.

My blood sugar came back over 1000. my A1C was 15 plus and I had to get it under control. Failing a physical woke me up. It isn't the end of the world if you fail yours either. Don't try to cheat it, learn from it and take corrective measures.

I am still short for my weight but I am working on it. My A1C is now under 6.

Bootboy · Sep 16, 2012

That was a bit uncalled for. I used to be 350lbs so being down to 220 should tell you something.

Wooly Rhino said: ↑

I cannot speak to the physical you will be taking. I have had many and they seem to vary greatly from place to place.

When I was 214 I would have told your fat a s s was just fine but now that I am 180, what the hell is wrong with you. Get out and run some.

My blood sugar came back over 1000. my A1C was 15 plus and I had to get it under control. Failing a physical woke me up. It isn't the end of the world if you fail yours either. Don't try to cheat it, learn from it and take corrective measures.

I am still short for my weight but I am working on it. My A1C is now under 6.
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pilottravel2002 · Sep 16, 2012

5"11 and 220# you will be ok.

Bootboy · Sep 16, 2012

Thanks for a straightforward answer and not being a "health nazi"

pilottravel2002 said: ↑

5"11 and 220# you will be ok.
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Moosetek13 · Sep 16, 2012

Bootboy said: ↑

I'm nowhere near fat (5'11, 220#). .
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I'm 6'1" and around 190 pounds.

I'm fat.

Someone is in denial, unless one is super buff with a lot of muscle.

Wooly Rhino · Sep 17, 2012

I was not trying to offend you. It was a joke. I love to laugh. If you took it personal again I am sorry. Congrads on losing the weight.

My wife told me she lost 30 pounds. I told her to look behind her. Now she is my exwife.

RickG · Sep 17, 2012

FMCSA does not specify BMI or neck size on the physical form . They do ask the physician to look for indications of respiratory problems . It's the discretion of the physician whether to suspect sleep apnea based soley on BMI or neck size . Some do .

391.41(b)(5)A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with the ability to control and drive a commercial motor vehicle safely.
Since a driver must be alert at all times, any change in his or her mental state is in direct conflict with highway safety. Even the slightest impairment in respiratory function under emergency conditions (when greater oxygen supply is necessary for performance) may be detrimental to safe driving.
There are many conditions that interfere with oxygen exchange and may result in incapacitation, including emphysema, chronic asthma, carcinoma, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis and sleep apnea. If the medical examiner detects a respiratory dysfunction, that in any way is likely to interfere with the driver's ability to safely control and drive a commercial motor vehicle, the driver must be referred to a specialist for further evaluation and therapy.
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Blood pressure must be less than 140/90 to get a 2 year card .

Stage 1 hypertension corresponds to a systolic BP of 140-159 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP of 90-99 mmHg. The driver with a BP in this range is at low risk for hypertension-related acute incapacitation and may be medically certified to drive for a one-year period. Certification examinations should be done annually thereafter and should be at or less than 140/90. If less than 160/100, certification may be extended one time for three months.A blood pressure of 160-179 systolic and/or 100-109 diastolic is considered Stage 2 hypertension, and the driver is not necessarily unqualified during evaluation and institution of treatment. The driver is given a one time certification of three months to reduce his or her blood pressure to less than or equal to 140/90. A blood pressure in this range is an absolute indication for antihypertensive drug therapy. Provided treatment is well tolerated and the driver demonstrates a BP value of 140/90 or less, he or she may be certified for one year from the date of the initial exam. The driver is certified annually thereafter.
A blood pressure at or greater than 180 (systolic) and 110 (diastolic) is considered Stage 3, high risk for an acute BP-related event. The driver may not be qualified, even temporarily, until reduced to equal to or less than 140/90 and treatment is well tolerated. The driver may be certified for 6 months and biannually (every 6 months) thereafter if at recheck BP is equal to or less than 140/90.
Annual recertification is recommended if the medical examiner does not know the severity of hypertension prior to treatment.
An elevated blood pressure finding should be confirmed by at least two subsequent measurements on different days.
Treatment includes non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic modalities as well as counseling to reduce other risk factors. Most antihypertensive medications also have side effects, the importance of which must be judged on an individual basis. Individuals must be alerted to the hazards of these medications while driving. Side effects of somnolence or syncope are particularly undesirable in commercial drivers.
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http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/medical.htm

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