Are 1Yr Medical Cards Discriminated Against?

Yeah, who wants to hire somebody that is overweight, even though they don't have high blood pressure, isn't on any type of prescription medication, has a good work history, and a great role model for a valued employee? Someone who hasn't missed a day of work in eight years. Who would want an employee like that?
Of course, that is said sarcastically. Being, I am said employee. My last job of six years, the one before that was 2 years. Never asked off for any kind of medical purpose.

 

You are correct. Yet how would an employer really know
you are not on medication? Unless you told someone?
Life is not fair. Plenty of drivers are on medication
and no one knows about it.

I put 8 years of honorable service in the Military with a
spotless record. All most employers want to know is
will I be activated in the reserves. Its against the law
to discriminate against me for that but I can't really
prove anything. They can't even legally ask me if
I am in the reserves ( I believe). So I guess in order
to get a high paying job I need to get rid of the short
hair and gain weight. (sarcasm intended)

Whats ironic is that when the feces hit the fan and
the draft is started, I will be the last to be called
because I am not in any reserves. But people can't
believe I would give 8 years and stop.

Bottom line, most people have a reason for an employer
not to hire them, its up to you to overcome it.

 

FMCSA amended a rule that now requires a copy of the medical long form to be given to the State Driver Licensing agency.

Federal Register 73FR 73096
FMCSA -1997-2210
49 CFR Part 383,384,390,391

 

Truck Vet, I don't know why you have such a dismal outlook, whether it comes from being in the military, or who has done you wrong, but for the two times I sought employment for a driving position, I was hired. I passed my physical through the authorized medical clinics.
Unfortunately, we have to play by the rules. Even if the FMCSA wants to constantly change the rules, if we want to play, we have to abide by their definition of how to be in compliance.
I am honest in my dealings, although I imagine you will say that you have no way of knowing that.
I have a brother that was honorably discharged from the Marines after about 8 years of service. He went through a lot of tough times, but has come out on top. He is an IT specialist for a company and making excess of $100 grand a year. Life is good. It wasn't given to him, he earned it through hard work. He doesn't let the bad memories of times past hold him back.

Good luck to you sir, I hope you future is bright.

 

Dismal outlook? Me? I was merely demonstrating how
most of us have roadblocks to overcome when trying
to get a job. I never said I even needed one. I have
worked at the same job pulling a Flatbed for over a
couple years and plan on keeping it for a while because
I enjoy my family time. I report to work M-F at 6;30 am
and am guaranteed over 40 hours a week.

But when my youngest leaves the house in a few years
I will consider not even mentioning that I was in the
military if I decide to go back to LTL. I won't lie on the
application, but I am not naive enough to think
employers think being a vet is a plus anymore.
Too many National Guardsman have been activated for
that to happen . It ain't right, but I just
try to see the truth.

I have passed my physicals through authorized medical
clinics also. Yet I have noticed over the years that there
can be large differences between them. Some, for instance
require you to jog in place and check your pulse.
Others don't. Or perhaps they are just getting
more lax over the years. The strict ones put you in
a hearing booth. The lax ones see if you can hear a
whisper. Either one sells me the same card. IMO it
is not unethical to go to the less strict clinic. But
if you want to do things the hard way its your prerogative.

 

The physician I go to for physicals is well known for refusing to pass a driver for something until that driver goes to his personal physician to work out his problem. Even then, he will only give the driver a 3 or 6 month medical card. He also carries a tape measure in his pocket, to check the size of your neck. 17 inches or larger, and you are off for a sleep study.
It's not that I do it the hard way, I do as I am instructed by my supervisors. I go where they tell to go. I don't have a choice on where to get a physical. If I did, I would probably find some 'lax', less strict clinic.
I thought ex-military were supposed to get extra credit for their military background. From all of their leadership skills and all that, being able to follow orders, and execute commands. Isn't that supposed to make a person be a better choice to fill an opening?
Unless, there is a question of unhonorable discharge.

 

Well, sense I always gave the perspective employer
a copy of my DD-14s and showed them the originals,
they saw my honorable discharges so there was no
question. Where I work now, they valued that I was
in the military, especially when I made it clear I
would never miss work because of it. Bottom line,
when you apply for work, don't give your perspective
employer reason to think you can't reliably do the
job.

Obviously when you work for an employer you have
to go where they send you. Me? I go where I want
and my employer reimburses me. I have a Size 7 and
7/8 head with a huge neck to match it, yet in the
past decade of driving have never had a doctor
measure my neck. They did in the Military though.

 

Oh, the neck measurements are new. The FMCSA in all their divine glory, have decided that certain drivers should be sent for sleep study's. Most on overweight drivers, but the guidelines also indicate a neck size of 17 inches or larger.
The clinic we were sent to, he just doesn't go by waist size, he pulls out his trusty tape measure. 17 inches or bigger, and you are off for the sleep study. They want to make sure you do not have sleep apnea.

 

I posted this on an other thread before I found this one. I am not in favor of either side - lie; don't lie.

But I do have a question. How do these companies find out medical info if you don't put it on the paperwork - is there a data base that they can view one's medical profile. I understand getting the info from court records, but can they find out if you were at the hospital to get an appendix out, and from there find out whatever else the hospital might have discovered?

That just really does not seem right - the information age, soon there will be cameras in the bedroom if we have gotten to this point. I know that I have had my tonsils out, when I was less than 6, 7, or 8 years old, but why would I report that? And yes I had my appendix taken out, but I don't remember the year - last 5? last 10?

I get the court records thing, but the medical sounds like too much invasion - especially with all the medical advances. I get the idea of trying to make the roads safer, so I can see seizures and BP that is not corrected; drugs; alcohol; or similar issues that would cause a driver to involuntarily lose it. But it seems to me that these big companies have lobbied so that they can legally discriminate in order to make more profit. (Reduce medical bills by not hiring medically diagnosed people.)

Am I on the right track or way out in left field?

 

If you had your tonsils out when you were 6 and never
told anyone since you were say 16 I don't think anyone
could find out. Where they get you is in being consistent.
If you say they were taken out when you
were hired but later sign a form stating they were not,
thats where they get you.

Not that they would necessarily get you for that, but I
saw a driver forget to put that he took anti seizure
medication after it was already written somewhere.
This driver happened to be a trouble maker and the
TM used it to fire him.

You also have to be consistent between who they send
you to get your physical and your employer. I think
thats how they fired the above driver.

Another way they get you is if your problem you don't
disclose somehow causes an accident and the investigation uncovers it.

Your right, its a big mess. What if you go to the Gym
every week and squat 250 lbs just for fun yet 10 years
ago you pull a back muscle and had to take a week off
work because of it? It don't seem right someone can hold
prior back problems against you because of the past.
But a lot of Drivers go on disability because of back
problems so it would not surprise me if they did.