PTSD, DOT Physicals and FMCSA regulations

Friend of mine has PTSD he is out on the roads and is safe and medicated. Works at Melton at, only thing he told me was he had to get his doc to sign off on DOT card and give permission to Melton to talk to his doc.

 

what you should do is get diagnosed with ptsd before you assume or think you have ptsd. and until you do that, keep yer trap shut.

when a boss is looking for a reason to " get you", they will use any means necessary, even the ones you serve up on a platter to them.

what happened actually?? the mention of ptsd was perhaps get the boss off your behind for the other issues he was mad at, so you mention possible ptsd to form an excuse and instead he used that as another reason to get you??

either get diagnosed with ptsd or either quit using possible ptsd as a reason for certain actions, plain and simple.

 

Exactly. Well said sir. Companies ask you to disclose if you get VA disability as well. When comes down to it be as a vague as possible. IMO it is none of there ******* god **** business what the rate is or why, how, when.

 

"Back in the good ole days"....I jerked a "dispatcher" through his "protective window" once....but that was in the previous century! I think the Statute of Limitations has expired.....actually I think he has expired as well!

 

Here are a couple links. At least one is a PDF, you will need Adobe PDF to read this paper written specifically about PTSD and FMCSA/Trucking.

Medicines for anxiety or especially medicines that alter the mind or schedule one drugs will DQ instantly. Some medical situations are also DQ'ing.

I have a Ex who is a former Marine Sgt who has PTSD (Service connected) and she drove full reefer team with me almost a year. She knows her limits but I would not have her on the road again with a 18 wheeler what with the situations I see her in now when we are in a simple car out there on the road. However... she does her best to simply stay out of the VA mental health system which has turned unfriendly towards everyone within the last 7 years.

It is my personal opinion that I have a touch of it myself. But I am of the older kind who simply uses a few shots and quiet time away and get that taken care of. Get over it and get back into the saddle until next time. I try to learn my lessons and do better next time a horrible situation comes up out there on the big road. It's a form of battle to save lives. You cannot save everyone or yourself. With that particular issue, you need to have a complete clear, fast and clean mind, body, soul and good nerves to do what you need to do with whatever that came up right that moment. Veterans know this more than most people in society with the exception of EMT, fire, police etc. Who are paid to go into difficult situations.

There are thousands of results in a simple search about PTSD, Medicines, Diagnoses vs trucker and trucking qualification and so on etc ad-nauesum. The Industry is intent on having able bodied mentally clear people driving the big trucks because if there is something wrong with a driver, it becomes a 40 ton killing weapon of a sort.

And sometimes as a driver you face fears. If they come true in your private horrors you must continue to function. PTSD may not allow that or something else will get in your way and off the mountain you go.

If anyone understands mental health and it's possibilities around here it will be me. I spent the first 20 years of my life with those kinds of doctors in and out of school all of whom came up with a range of situations that would have in some ways institutionalized me and I would never ever have the freedom to live my life, my way as I have.

When I was 6 I had the ability and education equal to a 2 year old behind everyone my age. A simple visit to a really smart doctor solved this problem when he discovered that I am simply deaf. Once they got Sign Language into me, then english for 4 years with a assigned therapist by the state everything else was not only caught up but college level by high school in some areas.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmc...el-Psychiatric-Psychiatric-MEP-Panel-Opin.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions - FMCSA DOT Physical and Mental Requirements

FMCSA Requirements Regarding Medical Conditions | Qualifications For CDL Medical Card

MILITARY VETERANS & PTSD – How PTSD Can Effect Driving Commercially