here is your new drivers license????

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by chaz7r, Oct 22, 2014.

  1. RubberDuck198

    RubberDuck198 Light Load Member

    216
    150
    Mar 16, 2014
    Lemme check my atlas
    0
    Sounds to me like your CDL got downgraded due to medical card issues.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

    3,801
    3,994
    Aug 9, 2014
    Merrimack, NH
    0
    I think by 2017 we won't have to worry anymore and there won't be a medical card. We are suppose to be fully computerized by then nation wide and Canada. NH where I live is already online with the FMCSA. After my physical the doctor goes online and enters in my info to the national data base. So, in not too long when your pulled in for a paper work check your medical status will be available to everyone.

    I think many of you missed my point about what I said in a previous post.

    When doctors do anything it's recorded on a nation wide data base like flu, cuts from opening hard plastic packages and all sorts of other stuff. CDL medicals have also been recorded. Not your name, just the amount of ones that have been done, length of medical card, high blood pressure restrictions and lots of other data. From this they were able to determine given then number of valid CDL holders and medicals done they realized around %50 percent of medicals out there are forged. I can tell you that of the 7 drivers at the company I use to park my truck at 5 are forged and cannot pass the medical exam. These people are going to drop like fly's in the next year or so.
     
  4. G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

    7,031
    8,621
    Sep 3, 2010
    0
    I would doubt there are a huge number of CDL holders who have forged medicals. I know quite a few CDL holders and all of them go through the process of getting their medical from a legitimate clinic or physician. However, medical cards and long forms have been available from truck stops for years. So, the availability of these forms is there where drivers could forge them. I have seen the forms in truck stops, but assumed drivers would get them and take the form to their doctor to fill out. It didn't occur to me that a high number of drivers would forge their medical. I don't know that having a valid medical really makes roads more safe. If there really are a high number of drivers with falsified medical cards for drivers who are unable to pass the exam, then we could wind up with a REAL driver shortage rather than one fabricated by major carriers. It could be used to bring in large numbers of illegals or foreign drivers to fill the seats.

    I recently sent in my new medical card to my state and it showed up on my record the next day. I was told that I still need to keep a hard copy in my possession.
     
  5. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

    3,801
    3,994
    Aug 9, 2014
    Merrimack, NH
    0
    This is EXACTLY why they are doing this!
     
  6. Redtwin

    Redtwin Road Train Member

    5,322
    7,119
    Aug 17, 2012
    PBC, FL
    0
    Wouldn't those numbers be skewed by those who held a CDL, but as they were not driving a commercial did not have a med card?. Simply comparing the number of CDL holders with the number of valid medical cards wouldn't give an accurate picture at all. I got my CDL in '96 and my last med card expired in '02( I stopped driving a year earlier). I certainly hope they didn't just assume I was using forgeries for the past 12 years and made the changes to the system based on erroneous information.
     
  7. Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

    17,996
    35,640
    Sep 8, 2007
    Utah's DIXIE!
    0
    Better get with your driver's license people and check the status of your license. Some states just suspend your CDL if you don't have a valid medical on file with them. I mean a total suspension, not just reverting back to a standard driver's license. And more recently, many states will kick you down to a regular driver's license if you don't have your medical. They may or MAY NOT bother to notify you! The thing is, if you are stopped, and your CDL is suspended, it is treated just like any other suspension. Here in Utah, that means you will likely be booked, and whatever you are driving will be impounded. Seriously.
     
  8. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

    3,801
    3,994
    Aug 9, 2014
    Merrimack, NH
    0
    I'm sure the numbers are skewed and could be way off but it was still a large number. Enough to have them do this. Like I said above, I personally know 5 out of 7 people at the garage I use to park at forged their medicals. It's so easy to get away with. They ask for your medical and just glance at your expiration date. People with uncontrolled BP and diabetes can skirt the system.

    Pretty soon they will have brain monitors on us looking for decreased brain function and shuts down the truck in 30 minutes.
     
  9. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

    6,920
    23,774
    Aug 18, 2007
    ~8600+' and loving it!
    0
    One day we will have monitors in the bunk to make sure we're sleeping when we are supposed to. And TTR will be filled with those who have no problem with that either, because "What does it matter if you're running legal?":biggrin_25513:
     
    tsavory, Skate-Board and Big Don Thank this.
  10. Redtwin

    Redtwin Road Train Member

    5,322
    7,119
    Aug 17, 2012
    PBC, FL
    0
    I have already checked and my license status is "disqualified". Not really a problem *yet* as I am out of the country. Thanks to this forum and especially this thread, I wouldn't have known anything about it until an LEO was fitting me with a pair of shiny metal bracelets.
     
  11. Gitana

    Gitana Light Load Member

    138
    89
    May 23, 2012
    Kissimmee, FL
    0
    You were being naive about it, I personally know quite a few. Only 1 that would not pass it for sure, the rest are just either lazy, or working so much that they don't want to stop to go the doctor, or just have a general aversion for anything medical related.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.