Blood Pressure Disclouser & The DOT

I think it's 140/90

 

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH]Reading[/TH]
[TH]Category[/TH]
[TH]Expiration Date[/TH]
[TH]Recertification[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]140-159/90-99[/TD]
[TD]Stage 1[/TD]
[TD]1 year[/TD]
[TD]1 year if £140/90.
One-time certificate for 3 months if 140-159/90-99.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]160-179/100-109[/TD]
[TD]Stage 2[/TD]
[TD]One-time certificate for 3 months.[/TD]
[TD]1 year from date of exam if £140/90.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]³180/110[/TD]
[TD]Stage 3[/TD]
[TD]Disqualified[/TD]
[TD]6 months from date of exam if £140/90, then every 6 months if£140/90.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
2 year card 139/89

 

Blood pressure medication will get you a 1 year physical card. Otherwise, no difference.

 

If your on meds you will only get issued a 1 year card even if you BP is under 140/90.

 

Blood Pressure meds do not show up on a drug test. You fill out the DOT Physical form as listed, there is a line with check box Yes or No for High Blood Pressure, then if Yes is it controlled by medication, If YES then list all meds taken to control it. It is possible to get a 2 year card even taking BP meds as long as it is under control. Your doctor needs to write a note explaining why he is approving a 2 year card and accepting responsibility for going against the DOT reccomendations then your carrier has to be willing to accept it and put it in your file. Many carriers have a preformatted letter for your doctor to fill out and sign.

How do I know this.......I have been on BP meds for 5 years now and am on my second 2 year card with no arguement from my carrier and believe me they are very strict when it comes to the regs and paperwork.

 

In general, on a DOT physical, you will get a 2 year card if your BP doesn't exceed 140/90. If you're over 140/90 but less than 159/?? you get a 1 year card. Higher than that, the doctor will usually give you a 3 month card and will make you see a doctor to get your BP under control. If you can bring it down below 160, then you get a 1 year card. Since, you're already under BP medication and your reading is 117/82, you can only get a 1 year card. You will not qualify for a 2 year card because of BP medication. The doctor will also want to know what BP medication you're taking and your doctor's info. Hope this helps.

 

I know they only test for certain drugs so other drugs like that won't show ? Then i would not tell them if it was me. it is none of there business . I would read the law if it don't say i have to then i would not .. And i know some are going to say the driver is required to say . if so show me the section of the law please . I am going to check myself

 

Just read the medical form.

For your information, there was an Illinois state trooper ran over by a truck with a driver who had a medical condition that was disqualifying. He also had medications in the truck that predated the medical form. His CDL was invalidated.

Look for medications to have a link to the driver name in the future because of the thoughts like you have here. It is the reason we will be seeing tighter control.

 

That is why i said "if" i see now the other driver in post said about the paper work ask you and that clicked and reminded me . and this is not a disqualifying medication . Always someone that has to mix apples and oranges. Who knows why they tighten up the regs up til 1987 160/90 got you a 2 year card that was fine for a long time . in this medicated time 140/90 they want to put people on meds and they proberly don't need a little exercise or less salt would do it . And i do stand by my statement if your blood pressure is fine it is none of there business

 

Then if you cross a scale or a drug inspection point, and the medications are found in your vehicle and they notice a 2 year card, they will know it to be wrong.

I went off my medications, but the medical form states "IN THE LAST 5 YEARS". So, for 5 years, I had to show I had been treated for it, not on any medications.


Do what you want for yourself, but I really think you should be correct in the information you present to the members of this forum who are asking.