Depression and getting your Medical Card/CDL Physical?

If you’re that depressed, you probably don’t need to be driving a 80k+ vehicle…

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/psych2.pdf

A person who has experienced a severe depressive episode, a suicide attempt, or a manic episode should be free of symptoms for 1 year before reevaluation.

 

The simple answer is, it's a medical condition, so yes, you have to disclose it.

 

Do you have or have you ever had:

14. Anxiety, depression, nervousness, other mental health problems


It is a specific question on the medical form.
Yes, you legally have to disclose the information.

 

I don’t knock anyone who suffers from depression. It’s a chemical imbalance in the brain. But I will tell you this. Long weeks out on the road are only going to exasperate someone who’s already depressed. Not the right profession for you to go in if you’re already suffering from depression because it most definitely will get worse doing OTR work.

 

I would imagine it wouldn't be thought kindly of if ya tried to hide it and it was found you had ''left out '' that info . But idk tbh.

 

If you're on meds - yes. Some depression meds will make a person "fail" a drug test.

If you're not on meds, it's a judgement call. If you've got a long history of mental health treatment, then yes. If 10 years ago you went through some stuff, got some therapy for that stuff and have been handling your business since then - no.

As others have said, getting into trucking is mentally taxing. If you're in a bad place, it will likely make things worse. If you were in a bad place and have already started righting the ship it may help things, it may also knock you ascot over tea kettle. If you at all struggle being alone this is not a good move.

Can You Have a CDL with Mental Illness? DOT Rules.

Best of luck to you.

 

some think you are mental if you have a CDL. lol

 

Does getting depressed every time I look at load board rates count too?

 

If you’re on meds for it then I would recommend disclosing it.
The doctor is required to ask you about it so choose your words wisely. “I’m under a Dr’s care for depression and I’m feeling good now”
Worst case scenario is you will be asked for a note from the prescribing doctor.

I’m not going to get into details on a public forum but I know a guy who had severe depression for years and truck driving was his cure.