? About DOT physicals (Sleep Apnea)

Yes Practitioners and Drs have to be in the National Registry now. Yes they are required to measure your neck if you are a little heavy. Yes it's about sleep apnea. Yes it sucks and yes it's a money grab. Yes you can buy blank medical cards from JJ Kellar and take one to a Dr that won't do the measuring and send you for a sleep apnea test and sign off on the card with a regular physical and no it won't be a valid card and if the officer at an inspection decides to verify the Dr and he isn't in the National Registry you will have a violation on you, and your company - remember the CSA thing - for not having a valid medical card. Sucks but it's true.

 

gee I am 6' 5" and 270 and that makes me 40 lbs overweight
I need a different weight guide I suppose

 

After reading all the posts on here with almost everyone saying if bigger- a neck measurement and sleep study is mandatory- I cant help but wonder: 2 weeks ago I got a 2 year med card. No neck measurement..no sleep study..Dr is on National Registry..I'm 6'1" 288lbs. Yay for me..

 

Weight is only one possibility. You can have big tonsils or an excess of tissue in your airways and an overbite is another condition where your jaw recess contributes to the closing of the airway. They need to start testing them people too and stop profiling. Drivers certify the questionaire and unless they answer any questions related to sleep problems the doctor should take that into consideration.

Build a medical device or create a pill and then convince everyone they are sick. We'll get rich!

 

I just went thru this bs. in jan 2014.I was given 3 month card until sleep test is done.I just got test completed this month and got cpap machine last Friday.Lucky for me I still have good med card until mid of next month since that was a pre hire physical in jan and I have no desire to go back to those quacks again.I just need to hope next month nevt doc will give me my 1 year card I normally get still don't know if they may give short card again till I show compliance using machine .For which I have used at least 4 hours a night or more like thet require.

 

The National Registry rule doesn't start till May 21st. You can get a physical by any doctor up till that date. Just talked to OOIDA about this Friday. They filed a complaint with FMCSA to push back that date since there is only about 10,000 doctors on the list. The sleep apnea rule didn't pass. Certain companies are making drivers do it.

I just did a prehire physical Thursday and they didn't. I'm 6'2, 285.

 

That's what I have found also. FMCSA has added an informational page, but with the stipulation that it not be used as a rule or even as guidance. In fact they go so far as to say they do not vouch for the accuracy of the information. I do know that investment advisers have been advising people to buy stock in companies that make cpap machines in anticipation of a mandatory sleep screening of truck drivers. It was also revealed that several doctors on the advisory board had ties to sleep clinics and companies that produce breathing aids. This called into question their objectivity.

Obviously drivers need a good night of sleep and we are a class of society which tends to be overweight and sedentary which can cause all sorts of problems with sleeping. Still, to use 2 measurements and decide someone needs to spend over $1000 for a sleep study seems rather arbitrary. The other issue is that if you truly want to screen for sleep apnea then you need a way to screen thinner drivers as well. My doctor is well within normal height and weight, yet he has it.

 

so schedule a visit with YOUR doctor and go over this stuff related to apnea and the criteria. If your Dr says you are good based on their exam , ask for a letter stating such. Not a bad idea to print out FMCSA stuff to take with to the DOT docs too. NOT a rule etc.....

 

The PA at my physicians office told me she was in the process of getting on the registry and I casually asked her if they were connected with the local sleep study facility and she without hesitation said,"YES." They already realize what a potential cash cow they are sitting on and there had to be something in it for the doctors to even show interest in the DOT physicals which historically have been performed by occupational health type facilities.

 

Im about tired of this.If it isnt HOS now its physicals with Sleep Studies and Databanks.......

Hey...Why dont we put Blood Pressure Cuffs in every Weigh Station Too?
That way,if You are told to "Pull arouind driver".....They will take your Blood Pressure once you go Inside...If its too high,You get Put OOS until its normal,And a Fine

Hey..Why Dont they check For Sugar Diabetes too? Did you eat a Cupcake in the morning with coffee? Get pulled around Back...Give you a Sugar Test..Too High, You Go OOS and a Fine.

Fat Neck? Same thing...Sleep Study Time RIGHT at the Weigh station...Officer makes you go to Sleep on a Cot and the Device sees you snore up a Storm..


This is getting Far Too Personal..And Drivers arent doing ANYTHING to stand up for our Personal,Private Health.