Failed My Lifting DOT Physical-Please help

STexan · Oct 16, 2013

jtannillo said: ↑

I wish I knew how to flag this post as irrellevent to this post.
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What the hell are you talking about? What is wrong with a carrier having their own physical agility and strength standards? Are you saying a flatbed carrier should not expect anymore physical capacity of their drivers then a reefer carrier?

xlsdraw · Nov 16, 2013

Yes, Knight's physical is demanding. Yes, there are some loads that you will lump. Been there and done both.

warhoop · Nov 20, 2013

JAVG said: ↑

Hello community,
This afternoon I failed my DOT physical with Knight and am being sent home. I need some help and information as soon as possible everyone, as the clock is ticking - I need some help fast.

I'm a 48 year old woman - 5' tall (short). I wasn't aware of what Knight's stricter DOT standards were, but I probably would've come anyway thinking I would be able to pass it. I was wrong. If I can get some serious help and answers, maybe this post will also serve to help others for which I found no information readily available or talked about online. I don't have time for this, because I need to work NOW.

I'm searching for a company that doesn't have such strict standards that I can get through. My background is a went through CRST without a contract (beacuse I was working for an O/O that sponsored me) and when he failed to pay me and my co-driver at the time, we both left and were hired onto the CAT dedicated were I've been since December 2012 to September this year. I have a year experience/100k miles, when CRST renegged on a deal with me. No surprises, and I've heard all the CRST trashing/bashing there is for a lifetime I don't need to focus on that. I chose to move on leaving the nightmares of team driving for a solo career. Everything looked great and yet I still had my concerns of getting into an orientation only be sent home.

For all who are needing to know, CRST does their DOT physicals onsite and it consistes completely of DOT regulation standards only. Blood pressure, hearing, vision, and some VERY BASIC range of motion test and viola! - You have a 2-year DOT card. Today Knight took us to a certified DOT physical (chiropractic) office to adminster our phyisicals. And there aside from all the basic requirements, I lifted a 40 lb crate 1 ft. over my head and brought it back down weighing 55 lbs. I carried a (I think it was..) 40 lb crate up and down a hall 5 x's, I pulled a 125 lb crate down a table from a squatting postion (where the assistant let go of the tie holding the weights, thereby flinging me backwards on my back - thank you lady) and I did 5 deep knee bends, - but the two I failed were lifting a 20 lb barbell shoulder height and then over to the left. Left / right it doesn't matter, I couldn't get the barbell up to my shoulder. THEN after lifting and taking down the 55 lb crate I was told to lift a 65 lb crate off the floor and onto a table that was modified to 4 feet. Couldn't do it. I tried like hell to get under it and carry it like all the server trays of food I used to carry out on a serving tray bigger than me, but I couldn't do it. By that time I was worn out. Most importantly I want to tip my trucker hat to all the women of Knight that took that test and passed it. My hat is off to you. I'm beside myself that I couldn't do it, and I wonder if I could've tried harder although at the time and in the moment I was unable to do it. Maybe if I had taken the time to rest a bit, I could've got that box up there. I don't know now because I failed and it's over. They aren't about to care about paying to let me retake it. Basically I failed their requirement and that is that. It's important for me to let others in my position know for sure what is expected of you so you don't have to go through the humilation of being sent home without a job like I am today.

I've looked and searched online and nobody prevelantly posts anything specific about a companies requirements. This is why I am turning to my community for help. I need my job. I love my career. I want to keep going. I need to know what companies don't require such stringent DOT physicals. I am 100% sure and realize that those that don't have such high standards (CRST e'hem) are also not the best companies to work for, but I'm not going to grow muscels overnight for a job that is otherwise 100% touchless, but now I need to know the best of the worst, I guess.

ANYONE who has specific information PLEASE help me.

UPDATE Y'ALL!!!!!! VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION HERE!!! I just received a call from the clinic that did our testing today. Knight just weeks ago implimented a new higher standard that in my very humbled opinion will exclude a major minorty of women from being hired with Knight. I got a call from the clinic saying that as far as DOT standards are concerned - I PASSED. It's Knight that failed me. And here's some insight. They didn't let me onto that fact. My recruiter couldn't even look me in the eye after I came back and never mentioned the recent change. But the clinic told me that they reccieved their directive from HQ to implement ASAP, and I can believe that, because they were all mixed up trying to decipher the new form. The new "KNIGHT" form, not DOT form. ok? The clinic is sending me a completed DOT med card saying I passed for another 2 years in any attempt to help me get a job. They will attest to it if necessary. So listen all out there. Every guy passed but me. I can only imagine this has to do with insurance and Obamacare. I'm not interested in starting any kind of thread that is political, I ONLY want to help others in my position to understand what just happened to me. I do believe they are going to end up excluding a very high minority in our field by raising this company standard, and for that they will have a bigger price to pay. Please - i have my CB turned off so if that last statement makes you happy, I don't care and I'm not listening.
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This testing was done by Knight to make sure you could lump your own loads for a fraction of what a lumper cost. Just more free labor. I know a lot of drivers like unloading their own freight for the extra money and to stay in shape. More power to them. After 34 yrs. in the business, I personally don't really need anymore practice lumping freight after bustin' my ### to keep a ridiculous promise some wet behind the ears dispatcher made. The equipment we had when I started was a lot harder on your body and believe me I feel every stress and strain from those days, I'm tired and I am NOT fingerprinting anything. Now all you super truckers can start your berating of me and how lazy I am, I couldn't care less.

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