Disabled driver question

What if they want to see your DOT physical, long form? Is it common for a carrier to request it. Or do they have to request it by law ?

 

Every company that I worked for required the long form. It was kept with your personnel records.

 

Required by law.

 

Sir I respectfully disagree. I am employed by a O/O who wants to know the slightest detail. Every company requires a long form to be kept on file and they would like to know too. Just for a precaution, I have kept a copy for myself in the truck along with the card itself.

Hunter

 

So what do you guys think ? Is it a waste of time to try and get a driving job because of the back surgery ? My doctor has given me the OK to go back to work but I'm worried once a company sees the long form they're just going to pass on me.

 

Well, what WE think really does not count. There is no way that we can know what your condition is, and really no way that you can tell us.

I believe there are a couple of things you CAN do to find out for yourself though. First and foremost, talk it over with the doctor that has released you to go back to work. Was his release for you to go sit at a desk, flip burgers, or run a cash register? Or was it to return to a "light duty" job where you are lifting under a particular amount of weight. Or was it a full blown "return to doing anything you feel like doing" kind of release.

While you are talking with him, find out what HE sees in your future as far as more back problems on down the road. If he tells you that you have some type of "re-occurring" problem, you might want to not be alone on the road, clear across the country from your home, if your back goes out again.

Assuming that he gives you a clean bill of health, then you should see if you can pass the DOT physical. If you can, you should be good to go.

Just the fact that you have had back surgery is not likely to keep you out of the driver's seat, unless it is a re-occurring problem. I've had back surgery myself, and drove for several years after it.

Once you actually KNOW what your medical status is, then you should start talking to trucking companies. But a couple of things to keep in mind are that recruiters for the bottom feeders are paid a bounty on each body they recruit. So if they get you signed up, and then it is discovered that you can't do the job, it is no skin off their nose.

Same thing for recruiters for driving schools. They are often all to willing to tell you everything is fine, encourage you to sign on the line and get you committed for the school fee. Once they have your signature, they don't give a right rip if you make it through the school or not.

You only have YOU to depend on here, so do your homework with the doctors, BEFORE even contacting a trucking company, or a trucking school.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for giving me a very well thought out answer, I appreciate it.

 

I would say INMO that letter will help you showing that your good to go. We aren't doctor's wish we can help more I say do more research Keep that letter it will only help you. I mean if I think about it on workmans comp. you return to work if the doctor says your able so if that letter states your injury is good then try it why not .

 

Just returned from seeing my surgeon, had surgery on Feb. 3rd for a bulging disc. He released me with no restrictions and said I could do just about anything I want within reason ( IE proper lifting ). Now my problem will be convincing a company that I will not be a risk as far as a workmans comp claim. I've never had a claim before, so that might go in my favor a little.
I do have a question regarding blood pressure and how to fill out the long form as far as BP goes. Maybe someone that has the same condition can enlighten me. My BP was border line usually hovered right around 140/90. I went to my doctor and he put me on a light medication, 5mg of lisinopril, and now my BP stays right around 130/80. My question is, now that I am on medication for BP do I check the box for high blood pressure, even though it is not high any more ? I know I have to list the medication, but do I still have to check high blood pressure box ?
TIA

 

You gave a good response Big Don except for the doctor saying you'll never have problems. They just can't say that because they don't know. I've had back surgery with the disc bulging and after about a year another MRI was done and the remaining disc had died. The doctors told me this is very common because after surgery the scar tissue will not allow the disc to get the proper amount of fuild to stay healthy. The disc will eventually become very hard like the silicone you use around the house. Now wheather or not that will cause a problem for someone all depends on that individual.

When I came back to work after 6 weeks I was returned to full duty. And my boss said your back to full duty here's your 12 hour shift with 6 loads and it's only a 118° out. Most the time on the job application they will ask if you've ever had any back problems or injuries within a certain time frame. I would answer that question truthfully and then show that the doctor has put you back to full duty if that's the case. I would then double check with a DOT doctor and have that doctor review your records and see what he or she says.

What I believe thanatos is saying that if there's no record of any medical problems no company can find out. But it's hard to hide a scar on your back and any doctor would know right away what it's from. So you're kind of in a position where you have to tell them. If you hide it they might just come back and say you're lying of your application and then your career would be over.

So it boils down to having a qualified DOT doctor clearing you of any back problems and making sure you can pass any lifting test a company might have. But to be completely honest with you alot of companies will look at back problems and say next. So good luck and give it a shot before you put any money out for school. Because there are drivers that have had the same surgery and are driving.