employee obligations

Sooner or later, it will be discovered during a physical or perhaps a drug screen, especially if you need to take medication for it. I have had relatives with some of the most advanced cases of Parkinson's Disease. It is NOT to be taken lightly.

RESPECTFULLY speaking, you may have to eventually find another line of work. Driving, like operating other types of machinery, requires steady hands and nerves, LITERALLY.

You may want to tell your employer about this, document it, to avoid getting into LEGAL trouble. First discuss it with a physician from D.O.T., confidentially.

There is a remote possibility that your employer may already know what is going on with you. It is something to SERIOUSLY think about.

It is TRULY and GENUINELY sad and tragic that all this is happening to you.

God bless you and your family! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

Read this pdf beginning halfway down page 2.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/TOPICS/mep/report/PD_MS_MEP_Opinions_09212009.pdf


I knew when I became a danger on the road from my health and went back to the DOT doctor and was disqualified.

Only you know that as a disease progresses. Just be responsible when it's time and do the right thing.

 

Ditto, I feel like mje does. You might even have several years left on the road. If you haven't already get you a short and long term disability policy and hopefully get the 1 year pre-existing condition behind you. Most employers offer them. That will keep some form of income coming in while you go through the disability process when they do disqualify you.

 

you asking about legal or moral obligations? legally, im pretty sure you are required to tell them. this is clearly a condition that potentially impairs your ability to drive safely, so is a disqualifying condition. not sure but thats my impression.
morally? only you can answer that. there are always gonna be that 90 year old man that keep driving when he shouldnt til he runs over the 14 kindergarten kids because they didnt see them standing in the middle of the sidewalk, right in his way. people dont always judge their limitations accurately. if you feel you can, then the next question is...if you hide it, how can they find out? will your doctor keep your secret? if so you can always claim not to have known about the condition til its discovered.

sounds like disclosing it probably will mean the end of your driving career. in your shoes, id probably do what youve been doing...keep it to myself and monitor my condition closely, waiting for the day when i had to quit because i was no longer a 100% safe driver.

 

Sorry to hear this...But if you feel that you are not save then please be the 1st to realize that you are not the only one affected...(which I'm sure you do) All of us have families that use the same roads that you travel..put yourself in their shoes...would you want me or any other driver that MAY be unsafe out there driving. ASK your Dr. , but please don't be selfish and hide this......someones life could be in the balance.....Good Luck!

 

I've seen many drivers with Parkinsons. Some have to hold their forearms against the edge of the table when they eat or fold one leg up and sit on the ankle or cross their legs tightly or hook their feet around the chair legs. They're still good behind the wheel. Personally, I would keep it to myself for now and concentrate on getting some finances in order.

 

Approximately 35 years ago, on the east coast, there was an older city transit bus driver who was forced out of his job after 30+ years of driving the main routes from one end of the city to another.

The bus driver had Parkinson's Disease. It was so severe that his hands and arms were uncontrollably shaking to the point that he could no longer control the steering wheel. Back then, many of the older city transit buses did NOT have power steering or hydraulic steering. It LITERALLY required a lot of muscle and steady arms and hands to control the steering wheel.

He also could not change the signs without help from some of the kind hearted passengers, and he could not operate or control any of the machines that were needed to regulate and count change. It got to the point that the bus driver could no longer use his ticket puncher to either validate or invalidate transfer tickets.

As a result, the bus driver was "let go" after 30+ years of driving. I believe he had, by the grace of God, turned age 65, in which he was able to receive social security and a "very small" pension from the bus company. They had to pay to him because he made it to age 65. Believe it or not, the state had to step in and make the bus company pay the retired bus driver his pension, at the urging of his wife. It was a very bad situation.

About 3 years later, the retired bus driver passed away at 68.

Parkinson's Disease is NOT a disease to be taken lightly. It is a HORRIBLY DEVASTATING DISEASE!

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

To the OP:

I would consider leaving OTR (if you havent yet) for a more favorable local job. You would still be subject to the same DOT regs, but at least you would be able to see your own doctor when your health starts to decline. Being out in the road with declining health is not a situation you would want to be in, because you really have no way of going home when you need to.

That being said, yes you are required by law to tell your employer. Remember that this is a safety sensitive job, and lives (not just your own) hang in the balance.