Profile For Highway 44

Jeff,

If your current blood pressure is consistently near or at the 160/92 mark, then you should strongly consider lowering it prior to the DOT physical, especially in order to receive the full 2-year medical certification. Errol V. provided a link in his response, "blood pressure requirements for the DOT physical," review it. According to this information, your 160/92 classifies as either a BP stage 1 or BP stage 2, which equates to a 1-year or 3-month medical certification, respectively.

Also noteworthy, Kearsey is correct. There is no colors "number" test; instead, there is the standard red, green and amber "traffic control signal" colors test (left eye, right eye or both).

FMCSA Driver Safety & Health - Medical Requirements - Hypertension

Potential changes changes under a Duffy-led DOT?

Plenty action is needed, but the following immediately comes to mind:

1.) Infrastructure improvements, please; America's railways are far too outdated, while the overall condition of roadways is absurdly neglected. 2.) Parking facilities; parking, parking and much, much more parking please. 3.) Interstate highway CMV only driving lanes; this one is a stretch but a dream come true, indeed.

Good journey and God bless.

Mark,

If I understand correctly, is that you are in search of an FMCSA certified medical examiner with the ability to evaluate and sign-off on an SPE certificate, which will enable you to operate a CMV, yes?

Try the two provided web-links/sites, particularly the first link (scroll to the middle section of the web-page), as I believe it to have the necessary contact information to start you on the path to what you seek. The second link may also be of some use.

Good journey and God bless.

FMCSA SPE Certificate Program

FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiner's

Leslie,

As BK suggests, continue the search and apply, baby, apply!

These truck carriers evaluate / review each applicant on a case-by-case basis. The most critical thing to do is to be upfront and honest in disclosure with prospective employers.

If you already have not, try TMC Transportation or Maverick Transportation. These two carriers offer a flatbed division and, an in-house apprentice driver training program designed for limited, inexperienced (less than 6-months) Class A driver's. Plus according to both company hiring area maps, it appears North Carolina is in the coverage area. You may be required to commit to an employment contract; however, it's well worth another opportunity to get back in the saddle.

TMC Apprentice Driver training program

Maverick Student Driver training program

Good journey and God bless.

Scott,

I second the advice of BK. The best course of action is to retain an attorney specializing in driver's license revocation / suspension, transportation law etc. Most lawyers / law firms give a complimentary consultation.

The DMV should have sent an official notification, usually by letter sent through snail-mail, on this action being taken on your CDL. It should contain the information specific to the 2023 law passed, which now has your CDL credential due for downgrade (revocation). Otherwise, contact the state DOT / DMV to receive this information. It may also be a wise move to order a certified copy of your MVR.

Try these legal directories, both are an excellent database of lawyers / law firms, are highly rated and produce top quality local search results.

Martindale

FindLaw

Good journey and God bless.

Wesley,

As to not continue to pump dollar signs into the independent pursuit of a Class A, you may strongly want to consider a carrier company sponsorship CDL-A program. These programs require a contract commitment, typically approximately 1-year. In return, you are an employee on day-1 and receive on-the-job training while earning an income, in pursuit of the CDL-A credential.

Otherwise, another independent training option is to find somebody with a tractor-trailer. Seeing as you have a CLP, a co-driver CDL-A holder of minimum 1-year is legally required (if I remember correctly?).

Good journey and God bless.

Wesley,

The Sandman is correct, in that, if obtaining a Class A, Class B or endorsement for the first time, then the FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations apply to you. Additionally, this also applies if you currently possess a Class B and want to upgrade to a Class A.

FMCSA ELDT Regulations

The ELDT requirements went into effect on February 7th, 2022. It simply sets a federal national standard for mandatory training curriculum. The two components of this curriculum are Theory instruction (knowledge skills tests) and Behind-the-wheel (range / road skills test). Prospective CDL applicants will have to complete (pass) The ELDT with a registered training provider, prior to testing for the CDL and/or endorsements.

FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Do you currently possess a Class A and want to remove the (E) restriction which prohibits the driver from operating a CMV with manual transmission? If so, then PJ’s suggestion on Penske and Ryder is a solid start.

Good journey and God bless.

Gary,

In order to remove the “no manual transmission” (E) restriction from a CDL-A, I believe that yes, you can legally train to operate a manual transmission CMV on the condition a non-restricted CDL-A holder is present in the truck. Additionally, you may also have to obtain a CLP in order to even practice and/or road test. Might I suggest contacting the DOT/DMV of your CDL-A state of issuance for the most definitive answer(s).

Good journey and God bless.

J.P,

The long-and-short of it is that an employer drug screen, whether it is DOT mandated (urinalysis) or non-DOT mandated (hair follicle), the donor is given the opportunity to disclose any medical history such as surgery and/or prescription medication(s), prior to the collection of a donor specimen.

Once the specimen is given at the collection site and sent to the laboratory for testing and, if a positive test is affirmed, the results are sent to a medical review officer (MRO) for review. Basically, the MRO must determine if there is a legitimate medical explanation for laboratory confirmed positive drug screen results. The MRO contacts the donor to interview the donor and then follows a procedure to verify the prescription medication(s) that could have caused a false-positive result.

In your case, you have already gone through this process during the pursuit of a CDL i.e. the initial DOT drug screen and physical examination which secured your federal medical examiner’s certificate. The most important thing to do, if/when a hair follicle screen occurs, is to be upfront and honest in disclosure and to have the evidence e.g. pharmacist contact information, prescription documents, medication canisters etc.

Good journey and God bless.

No worries, Pete.

Don't panic. What's done is done; it happened. Try not to put unnecessary stress to yourself. Gather the information, the documents, make the phone calls to the proper entities to ask the questions for the answers; get the facts and then proceed from that point.

By the way, I second Kearsey's sentiment, in that a company sponsorship CDL driver training is the way to go. This way, you earn a CDL and secure employment on successful completion of the program. Yes, an employment contract will have to be signed, but the upside is that your admissions, enrollment and employment are secured from day #1.

Good journey and God bless.