Should I Just Walk Away??

I am a new CDL holder going through the FMCSA Skills Performance Evaluation program. For the drivers out there that have no idea what I am talking about it is another series of hoops a driver has to jump through if he is missing a limb, or has limb deformities that could interfere with the safe operation of commercial motor vehicle.

I applied for this waiver in July of 2022 so I could get started with CDL training. FMCSA sent me a training waiver with the requirement of having a CDL trainer with me. That is standard in any training program.

I finished CDL training and tested out. The last step of this whole mess is to send a copy of my CDL to the program coordinator in Atlanta so I can have the privilege of taking TWO additional road tests just to prove I CAN DRIVE A ######### AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with a prosthetic on my LEFT LEG. At what point does a left leg have anything to do with driving an automatic transmission?

Called the field office Tuesday to see when I can get this ######## process done and they have no idea when. Asked if they could give me an estimated date. Couldn't get that either.

So here I am now with about 13k out of pocket with schooling, lost wages to attend schooling, and medical exam costs and have yet to receive my first paycheck with trucking.

So here are my options.

1) Lie through my teeth on the med card renewal next month about the missing limb and take my chances with shady DOT card medical examiner.

2) Stay on the truck with the company I am starting with until the company training runs out and I get my own truck and run solo until the first Level 1 at which I will get placed OOS for failing driver fitness.

3) Don't keep a copy of my med card and just tell them it's on file with the state and pray the the SPE checkbox doesn't show up on CDLIS or whatever they use to check for a valid med card. Run until I make enough money to cover my losses or get put OOS whichever cones first.

4) Just walk away from trucking and be done with it.

Haven't even got my first paycheck yet and I am already sick of FMCSA ########.

 

This has crossed my mind. I have no restrictions on the training certificate other than having a CDL holder with me. From the list given to me our longest haul would be 1442 miles. Our company makes the drop and the tanker gets pulled straight back to the washout facility near our terminal. I will bring it up with him.

This whole process is just nuts. The Atlanta Field Office has no idea when I can get the last hoop to jump through scheduled. Not even an estimate of when. I asked the CDL examiner to fill out the two forms needed to finish the process, but an SPE "specialist" has to be the one to do it. If anybody outside of the FMCSA can name a SPE specialist they aint talking.

Meanwhile I am ready to work. I came from a career that is way more physical than truck driving. It just royally pisses me off that somebody that isn't missing a leg and sits behind a desk all day judges my physical capabilities. I have worked in environments far more dangerous than trucking. Millwright and machinist trades. It is what it is. All I need is an appointment to get this crap over. Thinking about having it filmed and going in front of an administrative law judge afterwards to see if I have any further need of any future examinations after this fiasco is resolved.