Does a bipolar diagnosis disqualify me from truck driving?

Disability means SSA has taken this particular worker OFF the rolls of those able, available and looking for work as a classification. That means whatever the problem is in this case the mental health is backed by sufficient evidence for SSA to impose disability. They review it now and again and constantly challenge those who are on the rolls to prune the deadwood and the truly lazy moochers.

I prefer truckers to have nothing wrong with them upstairs, god only knows they lose half of it dealing with the battles out here on the road on the way to whatever it is that finally stresses the poor things out.

I am amused by self denying OP who claims not to use drugs. Legal and/or Illegal (Collective label = Drugs) but yet I smoke weed end qoute. In Philadelphia it is illegal period. In Arkansas it's a Medical Card situation, limited to those truly too sick to drive a Commercial Vehicle anyway.

With that said, Pot is schedule One Drug. FMCSA regulates all trucking, DEA says Schedule one drugs automatically DQ's a trucker instantly without recourse. And is one of the items against a Hot DOT drug test. God forbid you to be so stupid as to attempt a drug test with that stuff. You will find that the results will make you truly unhireable or even able to stay in this industry at all once SAP grinds your bones.

Choice. Having your pot medicine, or trucking. Never both. And you being in a non pot state. That's rich. Move to a pot state or legislate the stuff onto the Ballot and get the People to make a law allowing you to lawfully enjoy the medicinal effects of it. In Arkansas I actually am able to be prescribe the stuff. But it's not my flavor for one and second the law also says I lose my weapons permanently (Confiscation followed by meltdown) because I am a licensed carry.

Link provided as support info, last item on qualifiers list includes anything a DEA Licensed prescribing doctor deems appropriate including this condition possibly.

Medical Marijuana FAQ's Arkansas Department of Health

Sure the OP has traveled the USA, YAY. Wonderful. Traveling is not the same as trucking. Most people cannot barely get to the doctor across town within the hour on time. We are trying to get castrated governed trucks across a freaking Continent in any weather day or night to meet appt times in which if you were 15 minutes late, your load is rejected with prejudice. You then lost a week baby sitting the #### thing if you aint got a drop lot handy.

What I am saying is this. Dispatch calls me while I eat breakfast this hour I'm supposed to be in Memphis by lunch to load for Detroit 7 am tomorrow. I'm already actually am late. I need to get going NOW. None of these happy go lucky traveling get there when you feel like it. Sometime later this evening.

What this thread has been useful to me is to separate the people who seem reasonable versus the Franciscans of the world. I don't mind a little back and forth at or away from the lunch counter or reasonably precise information with or without supportive linking. Sometimes this website which I value greatly has the courage to respond in ways that are truthful and sometimes not what the OP wants to hear, including myself from time to time.

Sometimes days like this are so crazy, with the sun not yet up properly I might need a little something just to get started. I go crazy by degrees if I deal with things like this all the time. So there is that. Nothing different than a raging dispatcher 32 years ago wondering why in the world I aint got empty yet at the Hunts Point. Such dispatchers are usually dead by 50 due to drinking, smoking, vices and so on to escape the stresses of their office herding idiots like me who are never permitted any amount of actionable information to properly do these loads.

That is why I spent quite some time carefully testing trucking waters to find the things that motivate me and are good for everyone. That is where I belong. When I do find it. You wont believe what that was. McKesson, hauling medicines. Expensive medicines. In some cases crackpot or pain medicine if it isnt cancer and trauma kits etc also. It for me eliminated the aggravations that is common to this industry, all I have to do is be on time. I can do my traveling on my own time off 34 hour reset or 2 day recap to 70 HOS.

I'm am not a opponent. But this industry requires a little bit of stressing in battle to get things done without killing yourself, someone else or destroying a family. If you needed anything at all to get through your ordinary morning coffee and a spot of disability or make work leaning on a shovel with no responsibility at all don't come out to trucking. Stay home and be happy.

 

I agree with this poster. I no and have family members who have been medically declared bi polar. It is not as bad as people think. Back in the 60's 70's we used to call them jack ###, or other dumb #### names. We just didn't no better and they were not diagnosed. But i personally do no 2 drivers who are million mile PLUS safe drivers with great records.

 

For a driver with 30+ years. I am 100% sure you have known, worked with, and probably even were/are friends. With other drivers both past and present who are no polar. Like I said before back in the day (like 60's-70's) we just called these guys crazy or stupid etc... The whole world wasn' medicated, nor did we have a name for everything back then.

 

I wished it were possible for this forum owner to find a medical Examiner and VERIFY they are who they say they are. Set up a forum and call it ask the ME or something. However it is possible to get some insights into this and other issues by looking at The Medical Examiners Handbook. I have received a lot of good answers here. Sometime's a person will come in here like this OP did six years ago looking for an answer only to get opinions and conjecture. These people need facts!