Lying about sleep apnea?

Unless he has a physical deformity that literally prevents using the machine, then it's not that he CAN'T, it's that he WON'T. It's not an easy adjustment, but if he wants to be a trucker, its one he's gonna have to make.

If he truly CAN'T use the machine, then he doesn't need to be a trucker. He needs to find a job where he can be home every night so you can watch over him to make sure nothing happens. In our trucks, we are alone, and no one would be there to help if things went bad. There is 0 chance that anyone would even know things went bad until a lot of time passes and he's not responding to the company anymore.

None of us can stop him from lying, but you have seen what we've all said. I promise you, if he does, he's going to walk into a minefield that one day he won't be able to find his way out of. Is it really worth risking time in jail over it?

 

It took me about a month to really adjust to using it. But after another 15 days or so, man.....I was noticing the difference.

But I won't say the first few weeks aren't difficult for a lot of people. I still have nights, after over five years of using CPAP, that the mask and I argue!

 

What? I'm confused now.

 

Dude, no one here is questioning your driving skills.

We're not talking about your skills or abilities. We're talking about your life, your health, and your freedom. There are companies that will help you get all the tests you need. I know at Maverick, they're doing the sleep studies right there at the terminal, in the Maverick Hotel that is built there for students.

If flatbed is your only option with them, and you don't want to do that, I can't blame you - that's why I drive temp control. But there are other options out there. And you should explore them, because either way you need a definitive test so you know for sure. I'm sure Maverick is not the only company that helps with that, someone mentioned Schneider earlier.

 

CaptainX3 is giving you excellent advise. Another problem could be the machine isn't on the correct setting. When I first got my CPAP I wanted to know what the buttons and knobs were for and I had to take it back to be set up again. I would also think that when your husband applies for a job his previous employers will be listed on the application and a background will be started. Some only look at the DAC and MVR and may or may not contact a previous employer. The new employer may overlook a mistake if it has a reasonable explaination but a lie probably would not be looked at in a favorable position. And another issue is showing that the CPAP is in use. Your husband may be wasting a trip to orientatation. If the company pays for his transportation and he shows up without documentation that the CPAP was not used 70% of the time in the last 2 weeks (minimum) they won't hire him and he has to find his own way home. Maybe the company he is applying to wants 6 weeks of CPAP documentation? I would try to work this out on the phone before I wasted a trip. I would also suggest you get your answers in writing. JB Hunt uses a recruiting service. The recruiters are paid when a driver shows up for orientation so the recruiters have been known to lie. With JB Hunt the background check doesn't start until the first day of orientation and it is not unusual for 50% or more of the class to be sent home on the second day.

I sleep on my side and they also came in and woke me to sleep on my back. It was determined that I have moderate sleep apnea. They use a second sleep study to determine the CPAP setting and I was awakened again to sleep on my back.

I hope this part of life's journey ends well for you.

 

If he uses the machine every night at least 4 hours minimum then you are compliant. Maybe use it 6 hours to be safe. Just don't tell the company you can't sleep and are tired all the time. I know the machine that I use has 3 different masks available. Good luck man.

 

I'm honestly out of responses, I'm not sure what you're wanting us to tell you. I don't think there is anyone that is going to tell you that it's ok to lie to his employer. If that's what you're looking for, you're in the wrong place.

Suppose he lies to his employer, then gets the job, and then gets tested and the results are positive. By law, the doctor must disclose that to the employer because sleep apnea is a DOT reportable condition. Once this happens, if his employer looks up records and sees that he already knew about it beforehand, he'll be terminated, and will be very unlikely to find another job in trucking, because his company can say that he was terminated due to falsifying his employment application.

Because it kinda seems like you guys have already made up your minds and are just looking for someone to tell you it's ok, I feel the need to post a statement because you're getting ready to commit a crime and this thread is a permanent, public record. Not to mention that my own employer watches these forums. So here goes.

As per your request for advice, I'm telling you that it is NOT okay to lie to your employer about having been diagnosed with sleep apnea in regards to driving a commercial motor vehicle. I have no involvement in your decision to lie if you choose to do so, and have given you advice based on common knowledge of the laws and requirements of DOT. Whatever you do is 100% your decision.