Is it possible to go to CDL school & drive w/rheumatoid arthritis

I was told the DOT will not allow people who have arthritis to drive a semi. Is this true? Could I possibly get a note from my rheumatologist stating I take medication for my condition, which my arthritis responds to & that he does not think my arthritis would impair my ability to drive a truck or driving a truck would aggravate my condition? I know sitting for long periods can aggravate arthritis, but I have exercises & techniques that assist with reducing those affects. Honestly mine is aggravated much more by standing for long periods of time. My brother in law said he thinks I should be able to get a doctor's note, then as long as I pass the DOT physical my having arthritis should not be an issue.

 

6. Other physical limitations. Clinical diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic or vascular disease which interferes with ability to control and operate a motor vehicle. This would include, for example, known to have acute episodes of transient muscle weakness, poor muscular coordination (ataxia), abnormal sensations (paresthesia), decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), visual disturbances and pain which may be suddenly incapacitating. Medical examiners must evaluate the severity and the likelihood of impairment affecting safe operation.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a very very aggressive situation, like a wolf. It will never be better for you. I have Osteo Arthritis system wide and can drive a 18 wheeler under Tier two non DOT medical card. But I have to heal first from a recent surgery before Im cleared to take the process to get going on that before harvest.

I believe under three seperate sources including direct to FMCSA you are disqualified for having a formal Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis in your system.

List from FMCSA of Disqualifying conditions....

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmc..._Driver_Fitness_Determination_649-F(6045).pdf

§391.41
PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR
DRIVERS
(a) A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle
unless he
is physically qualified to do so and, except as
provided in §391.67, has on his person the original, or a
photographic copy, of a medical examiner's certificate that
he is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor
vehicle.
(b) A person is physically qualified to drive a motor vehicle
if that person:
(1) Has no loss of a foot, a leg, a hand, or an arm, or has
been granted a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE)
Certificate (formerly Limb Waiver Program) pursuant to
§391.49.
(2) Has no impairment of: (i) A hand or finger which
interferes with prehension or power g
rasping; or (ii) An
arm, foot, or leg which interferes with the ability to perform
normal tasks associated with operating a commercial motor
vehicle; or any other significant limb defect or limitation
which interferes with the ability to perform normal tas
ks
associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle; or
has
been granted a SPE Certificate pursuant to §391.49.
(3) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis
of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control;
(4) Has no curren
t clinical diagnosis of myocardial
infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency,
thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety
known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse,
or congestive cardiac failure.
(5) Has no establishe
d medical history or clinical diagnosis
of a respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with his
ability to control and drive a commercial motor vehicle
safely.
(6) Has no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure
likely to interfere with his ability to operate a commercial
motor
vehicle safely.
(7) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis
of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular,
neuromuscular, or vascular disease which interferes with
his
ability to control and operate a comm
ercial motor
vehicle safely.
(8) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis
of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause
loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a
commercial motor vehicle;
(9) Has no mental, ner
vous, organic, or functional disease
or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with his ability to
drive a commercial motor vehicle safely;
(10) Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in
each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity
separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with
corrective lenses,
distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40
(Snellen) in both eyes
with or without corrective lenses,
field of vision of at least 70degrees in the horizontal
meridian in each eye, and
the ability
to recognize the colors
of traffic signals and devices showing
standard red, green
and amber;
(11) First perceives a forced whispered voice in the
better
ear not less than 5 feet with or without the use of a
hearing
aid, or, if tested by use of an audiometric device, does
not
have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than
40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz with or
without a
hearing device when the audiometric device is
calibrated to the
American National Standard (formerl
y
ASA Standard)
Z24.5-1951;
(12)(i) Does not use any drug or substance identified in 21
CFR 1308.11 Schedule I, an amphetami
ne, a narcotic, or
other habit
-forming drug.
(ii) Does not use any non-Schedule I
drug or
substance
that
is identified in the other Schedules in 21 part 1308
except
when the use is prescribed by
a licensed medical
practitioner, as defined in § 382.107, who is familiar with
the driver’s medical history and has advised the driver that
the substance will not adversely affect the driver’
s ability to
safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
(13) Has no current clinical diagnosis of
alcoholism.

 

I have RA, hasn't been an issue getting a medical card because if it. Suppose it may vary depending on the severity and which joints are affected though.

 

I drove the last 16 years of 30 years driving with it, There are so many new drugs to control it, but you must watch for infection an keep skin clean so you dont get one, It will limit the co. that will hire you somewhat.

 

Okay. I was about to say, in response to the first reply, I think the key there is that it says "that affects the ability to drive." I had read those items after seeing on the Prime website that someone with a rheumatoid condition could not drive per the DOT. When I take my medication mine rarely bothers me at all & if it does it's usually after standing for long periods or when I initially wake up. I do some exercises & it stops hurting.

I appreciate all feed back

 

So most likely any dream I have of driving for Prime is gone :'( I was considering them, Swift, or CFI & when I messaged my recruiters about having Rheumatoid Psoriatic Arthritis they all stopped responding

 

You may need some knowledge from @Chinatown

 

They responded on another post I have & suggested I go ahead & take the DOT physical & find out what happens. Thanks!

 

I have also messaged recruiters with Prime & CFI. Driver Pulse will no longer allow me to message my recruiter from Swift, which is kind of disappointing as they have a dispatch office a town away from me I was considering dropping into sometime next week just to check it out & get a feel for how things operate there.

 

Never admit anything to a recruiter.
Your health should only be discuss thru your doctor.
Nobody else's business as far as I am concerned