Profile For Jack

I love stories of people facing adversity and finding it within themselves to overcome. We are all capable of doing so much more than we usually realize.

Great job and congrats to you.

Thanks so much! For years I wanted my CDL. I knew I could do it. We sure are capable of doing so much more than we tell ourselves

I stayed positive and made it happen. The first two weeks were the hardest. After that it got better and better

Update

I have had my CDL for about 6 months now.

No restrictions whatsoever with the new rules.

I went through my local trucking school. I took night classes for 6 weeks. I passed with flying colors. Even with good vision in one eye only i had the highest scores in my class.

it feels good to finally have my CDL!

Congratulations!!

Did you get the job with the local excavator?

Laura

Yes, I'm working for a local excavating company and I help a farmer from time to time.

This is all side work on top of my full time job.

Thanks again! With being basically blind in one eye I knew it was going to be tough. Honestly it wasn't bad at all. It was so much fun going through the training and learning to drive the proper way.

Update

I have had my CDL for about 6 months now.

No restrictions whatsoever with the new rules.

I went through my local trucking school. I took night classes for 6 weeks. I passed with flying colors. Even with good vision in one eye only i had the highest scores in my class.

it feels good to finally have my CDL!

the FMCSA changed the vision requirements to where someone with bad vision can now get a CDL.

But at the end of the form it says, "this new policy expires 12/2024."

What are the chances FMCSA back tracks and goes back to the original vision requirements when this new policy expires?

Or do you think they will extend it? I don't know how they handle issues like this...

I went and got my CDL permit last week. I passed the general, combination, and air brake tests.

I start trucking school in 3 weeks. My fear is I'm going through all of this and in 2024 FMCSA changes the vision requirements again and I won't be eligible for a waiver. Therefore, my CDL will be worthless and the $4,500 I'm spending will be a bust.

Do you guys see something like that happening? Where the FMCSA does something and then several years later goes back to the original requirements/plans?

Some states do not offer a vision waiver. This new ruling will allow you to obtain a CDL. I am just not certain about a time line for when applications can be filed. We will try to stay on top of this and provide the information when we can.

It looks like it’s official now?

So now what do I do? Can the DOT medical examiner grant me the medical card now? Or do I now have to go through my actual eye doctor and he has to write it off as I’m good to go?

When you get the link for the new waiver will you please post it? If that’s what I’ll need for my actual eye doctor.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/federal-register-documents/2022-01021

In a nutshell, it will be released in 9 days.... "Their exemptions are applicable as of January 30, 2022 and will expire on January 30, 2024. Conditions and Requirements as stated in the register."

Hopefully, more info to follow!

~ Anne ~

Thanks for the reply. I'll keep an eye out. I called the local trucking school yesterday and he said classes are booked up now until the middle of August since the new laws passed with everyone having to go through a licensed school. He said since the new vision deal is going to fall into place, and I passed everything with my DOT physical other than the eye he's putting my name down to start class in the middle of august.

But I'll just have to keep waiting until the new form is released and for the form to take effect. From my understanding the nurse practitioner who did my DOT physical the other day can sign off on the new form they are coming out with?

"A driver who has monocular vision or does not meet the field of vision standard in one eye must have a vision evaluation by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

2. The ophthalmologist or optometrist completes the new vision evaluation report, form MCSA-5871

3. The examiner then completes the DOT exam.

4. In most cases (with specific exceptions) the driver then must satisfactorily complete a road test."

Jack,

Sadly, that FMCSA link you linked to makes it sound like you'll have to wait. It says effective date: 3/22/2022

yes, I understand the waiting part. All in time. It should fall into place and workout.

Some states do not offer a vision waiver. This new ruling will allow you to obtain a CDL. I am just not certain about a time line for when applications can be filed. We will try to stay on top of this and provide the information when we can.

It looks like it’s official now?

So now what do I do? Can the DOT medical examiner grant me the medical card now? Or do I now have to go through my actual eye doctor and he has to write it off as I’m good to go?

When you get the link for the new waiver will you please post it? If that’s what I’ll need for my actual eye doctor.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/federal-register-documents/2022-01021

Welcome aboard Jack!

Here's the deal...

You can't get a CDL for interstate commerce unless you can pass the physical. You can get a CDL for intrastate with a vision waiver. To get the federal waiver you have to get the state waiver first and then just work intrastate for three years before applying for the federal waiver. The waiver you need comes from the state. Go online and search for it as an intrastate vision waiver from the state of Illinois.

The FMCSA is currently working on changing this, but nothing is final yet, and they have been working on it for several years. Don't hold your breath!

You said this...

I'm wanting a CDL so I can haul heavy equipment for a local excavating company.

If this is a job that you know you can already get, then all you need is the state vision waiver. You will be limited to staying within the state borders. That is your only option with a bad eye. After establishing three years of verifiable experience you can then go for the federal waiver.

Here’s the problem. I can’t find a waiver any where online for illinois.

Im fully medically certified but I must have a waiver. I called everyone with DOT, SOS, and the illinois state police trucking division.

No one knew what I was talking about and kept sending me to the federal side. Federal side said it’s illinois deal and they have to give me a waiver for the 3 years and then I can apply for the federal one.

My head is spinning!!

So I saw the article and federal is changing the vision requirements. How does that help me if the state of illinois doesn’t have/doesn’t offer a waiver for vision for cdl’s? Or does illinois follow federal and once federal approves the vision issue I can call my eye doctor and go that route? Only problem with that is he’s going to ask for the waiver to fill out….but I can’t find one for cdl on illinois side.

Thanks so much for all the replies everyone.

Hello everyone

I am glad I came across this forum. I've been browsing and there's tons of information!

I'm having some issues and I hope someone can help me out. I was born with amblyopia. It is a vision issue in my left eye. It CANT be corrected, ever. In my left eye I am dam near legally blind. No surgery, glasses, or contacts will fix it. ever.

The only letters I can read on an eye chart with m left eye is the E and the F/P below the E.

I can't read anything else with the left eye only. I have color vision in both eyes and in my right eye its 20/20.

I went and took a DOT physical today because the doctor I spoke to said to come in and get it done. She will mark I need a waiver and I'll be good to go if I pass everything else. She acted like it was a piece of cake and it was simple as can be if I passed everything else. $100.00 for the physical down the drain as of now.

I went this morning and passed everything else other than the vision. She marked on my medical certificate I'm certified but I need a waiver/exemption for vision. Here's the problem...federal side will not give you a vision waiver until you have been driving with a CDL for THREE years.

How am I supposed to get a CDL if I can't pass the medical DOT exam to get a medical card? I know of one way. That's getting a CDL and working for a farmer in the state of ilinois ONLY for three years. No farmers around here will hire a guy if he can't go out of state. Besides that I don't want to work for a farmer for 3 years and make peanuts. Farmers need people who can drive out of state to haul grain. With the E.I. exemption you can't go out of state.

I just don't understand this....its okay to get a CDL and haul grain but I can't work for any other company without the waiver.

I have called every number in Illinois about this issues and I just get passed from one person to the next. I'm not sure what's going on or what to do ?

Here's the other problem. February 7th everyone must go through a licensed trucking school. I've already spoken to both local trucking schools and they have already told me I can't attend their training program without a vision waiver because they have the same vision requirements state/federal has.

This is just unreal. Surely there's something out there to get this figured out ???? I already called my local eye doctor and they pretty much said they have no idea what I'm talking about and they've never had anyone need a waiver for vision for a CDL and that they wouldn't even know where to begin; and for me to speak to the federal side (LOL) Its just getting passed off from one person to the next.

I talked to the federal side and they said get a waiver from Illinois but they couldn't tell me who to speak to.....

Has anyone dealt with something like this in Illinois? What did you find out? I'm wanting a CDL so I can haul heavy equipment for a local excavating company. sorry for the rant.