off disability and into trucking..possible??

The FMCSA , Title 49 covers all the circumstances at issue. CFR391.41, MENTAL CONDITION OF DRIVERS; 391.49, PHYSICAL DEFECTS AND WAIVERS ( WAIVER OF CERTAIN PHYSICAL DEFECTS IS NOW REFERRED TO AS AN SPE, " SKILLS PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ". I HAVE DRIVEN UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE SPE PROGRAM FOR @ 20 YEARS. BETWEEN CFR POCKET BOOK AND SIMPLY CALLING THE OFFICE IN CHICAGO,OLYMPIA FIELDS, WITH QUESTIONS OR OTHER ISSUES IT HAS WORKED VERY WELL FOR ME. THE CFR IS ON LINE , AN FMSCA REP. WILL TALK TO YOU WITH NO " FISHING TRIPS " , YOU MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS. THEY ARE PRAGMATIC, DEAL WITH ALL SORTS OF VARIANCES AND DO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK. THE PHYSIATRIST ( NOT A SHRINK) ORTHOPAEDIC DR. HAVE INPUT AND CREDIBILITY IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS. I AM AN AMPUTEE , LEFT ARM , LOST IT AT AGE 13. MY EVALUATOR , LONG RETIRED , WAS A CURMUDGEONLY SORT, RETIRED OHIO STATE TROOPER. WE DID NOT GET ALONG. HE FAILED ME FIRST TIME AROUND AND INFORMED ME " HE WAS NOT A NICE GUY". I SAID I TOTALLY AGREED . 2ND TIME AROUND , 2 WEEKS LATER I GOT IT RIGHT. GRUMPY OLD CARL . HE WARNED ME " I KNOW YOU GUYS AND I'LL BE WATCHING FOR YOU; DRIVING WITH THE PROSTHESIS THROWN IN THE SLEEPER ! THEN I GOTCHA' ! SERIOUSLY , THEY HELPED ME A GREAT DEAL AND THEY ARE WORTH A CALL.

 

You passed! jk


But back to serious, bones you have a 9 month grace period to see if you can return to work without losing your disability status. It's kind of a win/win. It's not like you'll be without any income and thrown to the streets. If nothing else it will strengthen your disability case if you get turned down. A person is always happier working. Good luck!

 

Bones.... yes... there is an exemption in the Americans with Disabilities Act for meeting the requirements of a medical certification required by the Departmemt of Transportation. (ie you need to meet the requirements for a DOT medical card.),.


The medical requirements include past mental health history. There are lots of folks who meet requirements for certain type of disabilities (ie not able to handle full duty armed forces medical requirements and receive disabiliy) that meet DOT requirements and drive truck.

There are also lots of folks who for one reason or another do not meet DOT medical requirements and can not drive truck.

If you are not comfortable discussing the specifics in an open forum PM me and I can give a lay opinion. Better idea would be to spend the $ 50 or so and get your own DOT medical exam. Tell the truth and put everything down - not telling the DOT examiner everything opens a whole can or worms.

 

I know this is an older post... It was nice to read this and somewhat a learning tool for me! As I have NOT been approved for disability but had a brain surgery without any defects and hoping to get back into the truck between July and October depending on what the National Institute of Health says because the brain surgeon is so gun hoe on me getting back into the truck without any doubts!!

 

a friend of mine, went started trucking after recovering from radiation/cancer treatment. He went from being on disability to full time trucking. And then back after it proved to be too much after 6-8 months.
So it can be done