Question: bipolar/manic-depression

It really depends on three factors:

1) The severity of the disorder
2) How well your disorder can be controlled by medication
3) Does the medication produce side effects that would prevent you from being able to operate safely.

If your disorder isn't severe, and is well controlled by meds that won't impair your ability to operate, I'd say go take the D.O.T. physical. Have a good talk with the doctor giving you the physical, and more likely than not he'll give you a waiver and stamp you fit for duty.

I know this only because my uncle is a driver for CFI (Can't Find It) and is a diagnosed manic depressive. As long as he stays on his meds, and has a follow up with the D.O.T. doc every 6 months, he's on the road.

 

I'm sure you could always hire on with Swift or JB Hunt, but that's like running a marathon to just give up 10 feet from the finish line. I'd suggest finding a smaller company, or an O/O that will put you on the road. Build some experience there, and use that as proof that your illness won't be a liability and you should be able to get your foot in the door of a larger/better company.

 

Do you feel like hurting yourself or Others?......If Not the you are fine, most companies out there are looking 4 safe drivers, and if you are not classified as Bipolar you might have a chance....they are looking in your past about 7 yrs....

Good luck

 

I think the problem you are going to run into isn't the illness. It is going to be the medications you are taking.

 

I agree, the biggest problem will be the meds. Most MAOI's and other depression medications make a person very drowsy and sometimes enough to fall asleep with little notice.

I'm not sure what they put you on, but I do know the basics of the condition, and sometimes they put the person on both an upper and a downer to try and stabilize the swings.

Talk to your Physician, or Psychiatrist and see if there is a non-drowsy alternative (if you're not already on it) Just keep in mind that an Adderall style medication can make it hard for you to get sleep when you need to, which will make your job very hard.

Just get whatever you have to that can be approved, maybe look online to find a list of approved medications.

 

I have done quite a bit of research into this matter as a former driver diagnosed with depression who is looking to go back to driving. You and I have the cards stacked against us due to the diagnosis and medications. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 391.41 covers medical qualifications and part (b)(9) specifically addresses mental health issues as follows:
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with the driver's ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely. Emotional or adjustment problems contribute directly to an individual's level of memory, reasoning, attention, and judgment. These problems often underlie physical disorders. A variety of functional disorders can cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, weakness, or paralysis that may lead to incoordination, inattention, loss of functional control and susceptibility to crashes while driving. Physical fatigue, headache, impaired coordination, recurring physical ailments, and chronic "nagging" pain may be present to such a degree that certification for commercial driving is inadvisable. Somatic and psychosomatic complaints should be thoroughly examined when determining an individual's overall fitness to drive. Disorders of a periodically incapacitating nature, even in the early stages of development, may warrant disqualification. Many bus and truck drivers have documented that "nervous trouble" related to neurotic, personality, emotional or adjustment problems is responsible for a significant fraction of their preventable crashes. The degree to which an individual is able to appreciate, evaluate and adequately respond to environmental strain and emotional stress is critical when assessing an individual's mental alertness and flexibility to cope with the stresses of commercial motor vehicle driving. When examining the driver, it should be kept in mind that individuals who live under chronic emotional upsets may have deeply ingrained maladaptive or erratic behavior patterns. Excessively antagonistic, instinctive, impulsive, openly aggressive, paranoid or severely depressed behavior greatly interfere with the driver's ability to drive safely. Those individuals who are highly susceptible to frequent states of emotional instability (schizophrenia, affective psychoses, paranoia, anxiety or depressive neurosis) may warrant disqualification. Careful consideration should be given to the side effects and interactions of medications in the overall qualification determination. See Psychiatric Conference Report for specific recommendations on the use of these medications and potential hazards for driving.
See Conference on Psychiatric Disorders and Commercial Drivers at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/medreports.htm"

About the only way someone with diagnosed mental health issues will get qualified to drive is to have documentation from their personal physician stating that the driver is able/fit to drive, and any medication taken for the condition will not affect their ability to drive safely. Many doctors are hesitant to do this because of liability issues. Even then, a trucking company's D.O.T. doctor or the safety department or the company's insurance carrier may disqualify you.