I'm in a sleep apnea pickle.

I gave up my medical card due to this sleep apnea bs about 15 months ago. Been driving since 96

 

go get your physical from a chriopractor, or a pa. does not have to be a doctor.

 

They have to be on this list.

https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/home.seam

 

I would take the suggestion from the other poster... get into healthy eating habits and exercise.

Being overweight and in a truck 24 hours/many days you will simply gain more if you do not eat healthy and exercise..

 

most companies will put up the money for sleep study & CPAP & the deduct from payroll until it's repaid.

 

Personally I wont work for one that requires it, not required by DOT

 

There is no shortage of CDL holders. There is a shortage of drivers willing to work in a driving job.

The short answer to your question is 1) our litigious society. Even with all of the requirements, the training is still not enough to keep some drivers from hitting things, so companies have to CYA and show that the driver had to go through a bunch of hoops before being hired, and 2) money to be made by schools and training companies. Companies simply make more by paying a new driver 30cpm and running the risk that they hit something, as opposed to paying an experienced driver 50cpm.

You will find that it is ridiculously easy to pass the CDL test. You can hold a CDL, but that doesn't mean that you are capable of operating the truck safely.

Also, yes you will have to go through the sleep study thing when you get to a mega carrier, but they will do payroll deductions to pay for the machine.