Concerning Med requirements on BMI and Sleep Apnea?

Have a question...been out of the scene for bout a yr and am getting back into it....I was a driver/trainer for CRE for 5 years and quit Oct 2010. I let my CDL lapse when my DOT Med card expired so I know I am gonna start as a newbie. I got accepted at Stevens Trucking and start thier school in a week in Phoenix. Yesterday I got my DOT card from my Doc good for 2yrs. I have Type 2 Diabetes which have only taken oral meds for and have never been on insulin. I am a big guy 6ft 6in and wiegh 321lb but I am active. I was told by 2 recruiters from stevens was ok to go ahead and get my Doctrs apprvl for my DOT card that would be ok. Hers my question I know alot of the big companies are bowing to DOT suggestions and going by BMI and sleep apnea and several people now are telling that even tho I have my DOT card thru MY doc, that wouldn't be good enough and they would still make me go thru thier doc and he made not pass me...is this true? And if I go thru the training get my hard copy CDL and get rejected I know there are other companies out there that don't follow the suggestions as firm...anybody have an idea of a good company in the Southwest...small opr large?

 

Thanks guys for the heads up. Just got off the phone double checking on my DOT Med card and whether or not they would accept it as valid. Was told by 3 people in Dallas they would look it over and chances are it would be accepted. They told me that my past experience as a trainer and driver for 5yrs would actually work in my favor. Was told might be asked some questions about sleeping habits but if the answers were good wouldn't be a prob. And if all else fails then I would at least have my hard copy CDL and med card and could go to work for almost any company....small or big. So its win win.

 

Gary...thanks...I have had type 2 diabetes for over 21yrs. Never have had the need to go on insulin. When I was with CRE I got 2yr cards with thier dr so I know it has been done. I did double check with Stevens and was assured that they will do their normal check as with anyone who brings in their own DOT Med card but that there should not be any prob. As for sleep apnea, the worst I do is snire and not even that loud. Its good info tho. I have a friend here in Phx who works at the scales south on I10 and he went over everything DOT is doing regarding sleep apnea and medical issues that drivers may have. He said. That alot of the big trucking companies are trying to suck up to DOT by putting drivers thru these things, in reality tho he said the DOT is not forcing anyone or any companies to do this. Guess might consider that a plus on my side, if not too many smaller outfits that will hire me.