FMCSA considers CDLs for hearing impaired

How will a hearing impaired person hear if the unit isn't working as in dead or nearly dead battery when something "breaks" on the truck as in a tire that blows out, his warning buzzers if the light is burnt out? An Emergency vehicle approaching maybe from the right side or from around a corner? An air leak on the truck and trailer while doing a walk around? Someone yelling a warning at him because he can't hear approaching danger in a yard or construction site or on a dock or even in a field? Or walking behind a tractor as it starts in reverse to back under a trailer? This exact accident happened I believe last week on a construction site here in Springfield. The tractor did have a working reverse beeper and the casualty got torn nearly in half when the tractor took his body under the trailer nose and back to the king pin. A 23 year old is dead. Can you imagine what the body looked like or the extreme pain and the thoughts going through his head as he watched and felt his body start on that journey? I can tell you exactly what it is like having gone under the LRO drive on a T600! I lived he didn't have a chance.

This industry has no place for anyone that is hearing impaired where a hearing aid doesn't improve anyone's hearing to where his life or anyone elses is endangered because he can't hear danger or disaster approaching. Yes, I'm a hard case but what's more important? Safety or a job for someone that an impairment can cause up to and including death because they can't hear? Hearing is as much a part of the job requirement as is reading and speaking and understanding English.

What about the stupid law suit that WILL happen if one of these "handicapped" drivers will do if a company he drives for or applies to requires they "Phone Home" for check calls and he wants like Q-com or a texting service? Now companies again have to bend over, spend more money because someone sues them so they can work with how many right now on unemployment?

Again, I'm a hard case but I say no to anything that can cost more money for someone who needs a special requirement that costs more than what the driver will bring into the company. Unless the company can sue back for the costs the driver needs to complete his job. A weekly payroll deduction can work. Why do the companies get sucked into the handicapped laws that this is going to bring about?

And before you all who are Politically so Incorrect start your crybaby screaming I'm wrong. I am handicapped with the tag and pay!

Should some company bend over for me because I'm disabled, in a recession when there are more drivers out there that can do the job without them having to spend thousands of dollars because of some stupid government rules so 1 handicapper can work?

I say NO! They can go do another job that not hearing if a battery dies can cause any kind of injury or death or damage. Hearing is to vital to the safe operation of a CMV. Dead batteries happen. Electronics go bad. The same rule that those who wear glasses should apply but many do not follow is having a spare in the truck. Will they be required to carry not only a spare aid but how many fully charged batteries?

Sorry but I just can't agree to this.

 

First Rollver, I appreciate all the knowledge and wisdom that you put forth. However on this one, I'm going to say that you are slightly ignorant. Not incompetent, or dumb, just not fully qualified, or informed.

I just got my CDL yesterday, I've been wearing hearing aids for about 7 yrs now. So now in your opinion just because of that, I should not be driving a truck. That one assumption on your part, disqualifies me. On face value, it might. But someone wearing hearing-aids, may have reduce hearing abilities, but that does not mean they are totally deaf. I by no means am close to that.

Hearing loss, or impaired hearing takes on differing forms, and degrees. Hearing loss, from nerve damage, and also from the inner-ear bone, are different in how they are treated. The latter can be surgically corrected, sadly the first can not. I suffer from nerve damage.

Now most of the time, while at home I do not wear my hearing-aids. I listen to TV, with my wife in the same room. I carry on normal conversations without them. When I was tested, my audiologist stated that I have a reduced hearing of a specific frequency range. This was narrowed down to the frequency used in vowel sounds (a,e,i,o,u) by human beings, not the frequencies the consonants are found on. Then more over what the common female tone/frequencies utilize. Yep, I have a valid reason for saying What? to my wife?

I will also admit that I do have trouble hearing an air leak when there are other loud background noises. You certainly don't have to place your ear closer to where you think that leak is coming from to find it do you? I hope not, because that's all I do, and if so than you should be disqualified.

You would be surprised at the number of people, and truck drivers that are suffering from hearing loss. It's just they refuse to be tested. I'm not talking about the B.S. DOT whisper test. I would challenge a failure in court, backed up by qualified doctors, and audiologists.

A blanket statement like yours has little if any real merit.

 

Eaton18, I think you must have missed the highlighted portion of Rollover's comment. He clearly states that if hearing aids don't improve the person's hearing to a point where they are not a danger they don't belong in this industry.

 

Geesh, I was batting 100 yesterday wasn't I..

My apologies Rollover, for missing that very important line.

 

I wouldn't be surprised at most drivers suffering hearing loss over time anyway.

Sitting over a diesel at WOT all day.

 

These days if you hear the engine there is a problem! I go back to sitting on top of those Cummins, Cats and Detriots in International COEs called the Transstar II, A Pete a KW and a Mack. More noise comming from the doghouse that when the windows were down for air conditioning. Then graduating into Hoods, Petes, KWs, Macks, and Ints. The loudest was always the KW 900! The worst insulation package out there! But up till about '95 noise wasn't a big deal with the manufactures unless speced on a new truck.

Why more of us older drivers can still hear is a miracle. I kept my ear plugs in the truck when it got louder than I wanted.

I'm not against hearing aids but if the hearing is so bad that if the aid dies and the driver can't hear anything then there is where I have a problem if they do not have a spare battery or hearing aid like those of us who wear glasses and do not have our spare as we must have.

I can't count the times when going through a DOT and get asked if I have my spare glasses. Usually it's just a question but there have been a few times over the years I had to prove I had them. I actually have 3 pair! 2 are my regular but the 3rd is my sunglasses. I'm glad that even after radiation to the head and chemo and a chemical heart stress test ( FYI: If asked if you want a chemical stress test scream NO and get ready to run! The stair machine is way easier! No really it is! Ask me why sometime!) I still can pass that silly whisper test but the last audio test has me ok with the "normal" loss do to age.

If you can hear that bump on the right or a blow out with the windows closed than you're doing ok.

 

I don't really how it'll be that much different, considering the number of drivers out there who never seem to hear or see anything anyhow. Call the England truck on the radio after he nearly sideswipes you doing 60 down a 35 MPH hill with his brakes smoking like a hooker after a gangbang, and I guarantee you they won't hear you.

 

Yeah look on the bright side,,, deaf truckers WON'T be on their cell phones!

(Texting on the other hand,,,,)