DOT Diabetes Exemption Program - Questions and Experiences

No matter what you do and no matter how any carrier wants to tell you that you can't take a break for any reason - YOU need to take care of yourself first and foremost.

 

I sent in my application May 17. They kicked it back to me with a letter dated 5/31 (postmarked June 20) with 2 things highlighted - the ME didnt put a check in the 1 year check box and didnt write "insulin use" on the same line (duh, whats this whole production for? Insulin use.) They also wanted the word "federal" added so it would read "Accompanied by a federal diabetes waiver/exemption."




My ophthalmologist's signature was getting old but they told me before I sent not to worry about it, as long as it was processed before it expired, I would be good. But because kickin it back caused the processing to stop, (adding 4-6 weeks) His signature did expire and now I have to pay for another eye exam. Like they say, if just one 'i' is not dotted or a 't' not crossed...

 

I got a call from DOT the other day saying the "corrected" long form wasn't correct at all. The Dr. put the wrong date on it and didn't fill it out entirely. So, they gotta send it back again. It's the only part of the app process that's holding things up. I asked the nurse I was on the phone with if she could tell me the likely-hood I'd get the exemption and she said she had no doubts in her mind that I would get one. She said based on what she has seen in my paperwork, I should get it easily. So, now I know that and once the long form is complete, hopefully I'll find out real soon on the final decision. As it looks now, I think I could start driving in mid October.

 

and a little FYI, it is called an A1C test, not ACT.