So Is The Sleep Study Mandatory Now?
Topic 18742 | Page 1
Some companies such as prime will have you get the sleep study once you pass the CDL and get hired. They front you the money and you pay it in increments.
I live in jersey and the sleep study without insurance done at prime in MO was cheaper than the one I got done with insurance in NJ.
If you get one done before hand you will need to not only bring 30 days of your readings....but you probably would have to buy a new machine from them. The machine used in trucking have modems to transmit your results while you are on the road.
I have heard the sleep study people say "we can attach a modem to your machine"... Then come up with excuses as to why it can't be done.
Plus if you get the test done, the company could come up with some policy as to why they won't accept your study
Primes is easy. They do it right in the motel owned by prime.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Thanks my Insurance I have now will Cover a sleep study so that is why I am thinking about getting one done before I go a Company. I also hear good things about prime unfortunately for me while I was in truck driving school I was told they don't like to hire people that are on high blood pressure medication that and it is harder to get a job at prime vs other companies.
I'm going to Prime out in Salt Lake for school. Since they require your permit before starting orientation, I was able to get a 2 year card. What Prime will do is during my 10k (PSD) phase is have me stop in MO and do the sleep study. Tats what the recruiters told me.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
Not everyone is asked to take the sleep study, there are some red flags they look for during the physical, being overweight does happen to be one of them.
Here's a bunch of great information about sleep apnea for truck drivers:
Sleep Apnea, Truck Drivers, & BMI Calculator
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Sleep study is NOT MANDATORY by FMCSA REGS.
They have been trying to get the BMI/OSA guidelines as "law" (regulation) for years - but haven't been able to do so because the "science" behind the guidelines is faulty. While OBESITY is a good indicator of the possibility of OSA - there are plenty of people that fall under the "suggested BMI" indicator for testing, that have it also. So FORCING EVERYONE that has a BMI over the guidelines to take an expensive sleep study, is too burdensome on the driver(s) - and is based on a guideline that isn't actually accurate.
They even went as far as to have a spot for BMI/Neck Circumference on the new 2016 DOT Med Long Form for 2016, when it first released in November - but then TOOK IT OFF the final forms that actually get approved for release. Tried to sneak that one on there.
Many of the major companies still use the guidelines and make drivers take a sleep study - but this is NOT BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED BY FMCSA.
OTOH - if you potentially HAVE IT - the diagnosis and use of a CPAP - will greatly improve your rest and quality of life (according to folks that use one). In severe cases, it can be LIFE SAVING.
Have a good friend that had it SO BAD, that he ended up with arrhythmias and his HEART WAS STOPPING while he slept. Ended up with a PACEMAKER first, then a CPAP.
Rick
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
I'm going to Prime out in Salt Lake for school. Since they require your permit before starting orientation, I was able to get a 2 year card. What Prime will do is during my 10k (PSD) phase is have me stop in MO and do the sleep study. Tats what the recruiters told me.
As soon as you take the sleep study it invalidates your med card. You then go for a new physical and the card is issued based on your diagnosis. Prime will wait until after your PSD and you get your CDL. If you don't pass the test, you don't get hired so no reason to take the sleep study
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
So would it be better if I did the sleep study before I go a company or just wait until I go one and have them do a sleep study?
Personally, I would wait. If you KNOW you'd be saving a ton of money by using your current insurance, then fine. (My insurance deductible was $800, but at prime it was $500 so i saved $300 by waiting). But if you know you are going to prime, I'd call the sleep study office and ask them which model machine to buy. Otherwise, you'd be paying for both the study/machine with your insurance then a new one done at prime. You need a machine that can transmit the information to them from the road. Regular machines record it in an SD card. So why buy two machines at $500-600 a piece.
It might turn out that this is all.moot and you either don't need a machine or don't even need the study.
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So I been reading a lot lately that most companies are forcing sleep Studies on driver just because they are overweight is this true? The reason why I ask is because I am overweight and to my understanding the dot Doctor would only give out a month to 3 month medical card if he or she thinks you need a sleep study is this true? I am thinking about getting a sleep study done before I go a Company so I don't have to worry about that when I go to one.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.