What's to stop me from forging a medical card?

Here's my problem I am 59 years old and I have been driving a tractor trailer for approximately 36 years all in which are accident free, having said that I am considered to be obese with nothing else wrong beside meeting the conditions for possibly having sleep apnea, and I don't have any symptoms of that, but because of being a male who is over 50 yrs old and obese with a large neck I have to go get an expensive sleep study done before I can get my D.O.T medical card renewed. I am currently unemployed because of my Medical card expiring and I can't afford to pay for a sleep study myself. so I have been in a career for 36 years and now I find my self a victim of some money making medical scam or Government scapegoat so what can I do so I can go back to work and afford to pay my bills and avoid Bankruptcy. I would hate to try and locate a fake medical card but my options are getting more lean. I shouldn't be caught between a FMCSA & Medical examiners confusing issue and no body seems to be able to clear this so called Not a Law but a Guidance up so people like myself can go back to work. can anybody give me some good advise

 

go to your DR
there is NOTHING in the FMCSA guidelines for the DOT medical exam for sleep apnea. It's literally mentioned once in 250+ pages. All this sleep apnea stuff is being driven by the companies, not the FMCSA.

go to a truck stop with a DOT medical examiner or whatever (lot of chiropractors are actually certified DOT examiners) and get a new card and update it with your state DMV. (or they'll downgrade your license)

 

Yes, and then don't go to work for a mega. They will not honor your current card and you will have to take the physical again with one of their doctors.

 

In Texas your med holds your CDL. One stop and a run on the computer and you have no CDL so now you're driving without a license. You will be removed from unit and unit will be towed. Deputy dawg will glad to put you up for the night too.

This won't end well....

 

It seems that some truck drivers think because they drive a truck means they lost there rights.No one no dot no police.no DMV official no one can get your medical history without a warrant.A doctor can not even say if you've ever even been there or not.so as of now no one can verify if your physical is true that's why companies pay for there employees so at least they have the bill to prove they actually went to the doctor . falsification of a document only you can decide .Yes it used to be at least common don't know how much Now.There is a reason why they sold the blank forms at the TA s.as far as judging someone who does I wouldn't I don't know if a medical card is a federal document a log book is and I falsified a lot of them

 

Has the form changed since '92?? They used to be one page. You may want to delve deep in before creating your own form. I had a US med form on file so filling in the blanks easy. Provided you know how to fill it out without raising any reflags no problem. Choosing a physicians license # is where you determine whether you are a larcenous SOB or not LOL Medicals are $60 these days so... Lets see,,$60 in my pocket or...... .

 

I wouldnt advise it.We had a driver that well...couldnt pass a drug test,had his name/number removed from the consortium(by a female boss he was sweet on.Long story short: changed his month from a 4 to a 9.Thought he would get over.He didnt realize they had his med card in the computer system at work and kept track of who was ready for card and license renewals etc.Told him they were making updated Copies of all drivers documents for a file.He hands them med card(and they checked it against his old copy! Anyway Fired him on the spot.He was a lead driver making $3 an hour more than most drivers.Plus,Nowadays card is registered at DMV and put on your CDL.No carrying a medical card anymore.JMO

 

Suggest measuring the distance around your neck.If the distance around is over 17 inches..you are candidate for an involuntary sleep study.Believe the criteria is over 50 years with a neck over 17 inches around.Happened to a fellow driver .Said"you have a 17 1/2 neck your 62 years old,youre going to have to do a sleep study.Tore $1200 out of his pocket for a Hannibal Lecture machine he is teathered to.He says "I drove a log truck for 12 years,never fell asleep driving".Doesnt Matter.Is it really about safety? Well maybe a little,but mostly a MONEY GRAB! So what can you do to pass? As SOON as you turn to step up on the scale,Start Stretching your neck up( like a chicken ,getting ready to cluck.All positive answers on the little medical questionaire."No sir,Im in perfect physical condition.Problems sleeping? Never.JMO

 

I am surprised how regulated your system has become considering the wages drivers earn. No doubt the reasoning is there is such a huge work force to bleed incessantly without any backlash. A very sad state of affairs
Okay...lets watch paint dry

 

Without all the BS, have you gone to your regular doctor and discussed this with him to see if your insurance will cover the sleep study and have it done with?

I've gone through this BS for the past, I don't know maybe 15 years. Every year it is something to do with the sleep apnea which I have to be blunt with you, I've had all my life. However this last exam (which is going to expire here in a couple days) was the best one yet, the NP went through every little thing and while it was time consuming, it was worth it, she didn't mess around and I am glad I didn't have to face the same PA I had to deal with for the past 5 years, who was a prick.

That said, if you decide to falsify your medical card, and get caught (which you will) - you deserve to lose your CDL for life. I and others will agree there is no excuse.

Actually you are really wrong about this. A dot examiner has the right to examine your records, the company who you work for has access to those records and there is no protection of privacy because DOT examines are exempt by law from those privacy laws.

Your falsifying the DOT today is really hard to do, the examiner has to have a record of it, the company can still ask for a copy of it and the DOT enforcement officer and company both can actually contact the examiner to confirm it is legit.