Medications

What was that?

 

They hired a doctor to review the DoT medical exams performed by other doctors (they can do that). That doctor threatened disciplinary action if we did not stop taking medications that he did not approve. Since he was not performing our physical or medically treating us in any capacity, he cannot legally do that. Also, if there's any medications a company does not allow an employee to take, those medications are suppose to be available for employees to review. They do not have to list names of medications but they do need to list classifications (I.E. anti-drpressants or Skeletal Muscle Relaxers) instead, when asked what medications were not allowed, we were told there was no list that it was just left up to the medical officers discretion.

Had they required that we go to that doctor to have our DoT physical re-completed, or had the medications we were taken been on the DoT Disqualifying list, it would be a different scenario but this was not the case.

Either way, I, plus 3 other drivers kept our jobs and now we have a new medical officer so I'll probably be looking for a new job come March.

 

I agree, that was illegal but on the other hand, the company can have its own list of disqualifying drugs.

There is also one huge problem I have with this entire system, if a driver gets a physical by doctor A and then applies for a job, gets the job and then the company demands a new physical and use their own doctor (B) the physical from A should be the legal and valid physical and has to be used for employment - follow me?

 

I completely follow and you are correct, the company can have its own list of disqualifying drugs but it has to be published somehow so employees know what those drugs are. They can't just tell you "there's no list, the medical officer makes it up as he goes".

 

Exactly, I am glad you got this all straight.