Question: bipolar/manic-depression

I take prozac in the day and pain killer / sleepers at night from a major injury. I am lucky to be walking on my own.

I have it ok, my deal is I cannot fall alseep that easy so no falling asleep challenge here.

I was with Schneider and was cleared through thier med section with back up letters from the prescribing DR.

I left Schneider and had trouble getting signed on at other places. You mention taking daily meds and you will never hear from them again.

I have gone through many phone calls, emails and papertrails to finally be told no or never called back from "good" driving jobs. Oh and I cannot pass a physical that requires heavy lifting, kneeling or climbing.

I was failed out of a great local driving gig on a physical.

I am all for being upfront and honest, but get real you will be discriminated against fast and early. I have experienced this several times up close and personal.

We all see a great many perfect humans with no daily meds who can barely drive a four wheeler let alone a big truck. They alll get to drive anyway.

If you want to drive and know you are (can) be good at it then who in world can tell you different.

I need the job and the income. Screw it. I am not just going to roll over and go do some other screwy job. I have twenty years in the industry.

My advice, dont tell them anything. Ur mental state is non of thier bizness anyway. If you know you can handle it then OK go for it.

The drug test will not show prescrip meds anyway, just pot, coke meth and a few others.

If you crash out, ur done anyway. Right? Then maybe your daily meds may come to light. Maybe not?

Ur med records cannot be easily seen by other people and company background checks without ur written approval. So they say hey, we see u went to this so and so Dr.

I say yes, I was there once for a relationship / domestic situation and we cleared it up.

I have had the door closed on me too many times to risk a "no" when you mention prescrip meds.

Schneider takes you no problem. They have a long list of ok and not ok meds available online somewhere. they have nurses on staff and a big medical section. easy with them difficult or never at other places.

It gets to the nitty gritty do you want that job or not. All the red tape keeps "ok" drivers out of the runnings for what?
Because the insurance companys dictate everything?

If you know what you are capable of driving well with all that it entails, then make it happen for yourself.

 

Oh yes they can

 

I am bipolar and am considering applying for CDL. I currently take tegretol (an antiseizure med for the bipolar...will this med disqualify me from passing DOT exam....should I have my shrink put me on depakote or lithium instead???

 

Hello there, I was diagnosed with Bipolar 14 years ago. Been taking Depakote since then and been able to have a pretty normal life. Can I be a school bus driver? Am I going to be disqualified for it? THANK YOU!!