Fed Med Expiration Looming
Topic 25828 | Page 1
If it expires, your license will be downgraded.
Without a record of CPAP usage, and without a CPAP machine, there’s no way to get around the sleep apnea you were diagnosed with following your sleep study that Schneider requested.
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.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
PackRat, thanks. Bummer, I only have 4 weeks left to deal with this. Any suggestions about what I should do now?
PackRat, thanks. Bummer, I only have 4 weeks left to deal with this. Any suggestions about what I should do now?
To be safe? Suck it up and use a Cpap until you don't have to is my best solution. I know, I know...
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.
PackRat, thanks. Bummer, I only have 4 weeks left to deal with this. Any suggestions about what I should do now?
You have a couple of choices...
Typically, if you downgrade voluntarily due to allowing your med card to expire, your DMV should reinstate when you get your med card current.
But here's the deal - if you're planning on driving, your OSA is a matter of record, so you are going to have to get into compliance with your CPAP.
The other alternative, would be to deal with the underlying health issue that created the OSA in the first place, and doing another sleep study to demonstrate you are clear of the OSA and no longer need a CPAP to comply.
But keep in mind - if you still fall into the "guidelines" (however arbitrary they may appear to be), when going for an orientation (BMI/Neck Circumference) - they will likely want (yet) another sleep study.
Also - not all OSA is a result of obesity - so simply losing weight may not resolve the issue...
Rick
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.
Dm:
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
As posted, you’re going to need to procure your own machine. If you go to have a DOT physical, best you’ll get now is a three month card. They’re going to want you to use a machine and bring back documentation for a 90 day period.
It’s the same situation you were in with Schneider when you were driving, if I’m recalling correctly.
Stinks but it appears to me that’s the way it is going to be for you for now.
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.
Thanks guys. I've already lost enough weight to get below the BMI limit, but like you say, I still need to deal with the remaining issues.
One thing helping is that I'm getting taller. I noticed that now I've gotten taller than my hair so I must still be growing!
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Bruce it appears that your WISCONSIN CDL will be downgraded if you don't supply a medical card HOWEVER once you provide them one it will be reinstated. No need for tests in wisconsin. Copy/paste "https://www.fmcsa.dot.govPDF State-by-state Instructions for Submitting Medical Certificates to the State Driver ..." into a Google search and it will pull up a PDF with each states requirements. If I'm reading that wrong somebody please correct me. Its listed under consequences. Other states mention after x amount of days you must retest.
If you're not planning on driving until winter and working on getting rid of risk factors of Apnea you may be able to hold off. I'd call the DMV to ensure this is the most up to date.
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.
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.
Dm:
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.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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
PackRat, thanks. Bummer, I only have 4 weeks left to deal with this. Any suggestions about what I should do now?
You have a couple of choices...
Typically, if you downgrade voluntarily due to allowing your med card to expire, your DMV should reinstate when you get your med card current.
But here's the deal - if you're planning on driving, your OSA is a matter of record, so you are going to have to get into compliance with your CPAP.
The other alternative, would be to deal with the underlying health issue that created the OSA in the first place, and doing another sleep study to demonstrate you are clear of the OSA and no longer need a CPAP to comply.
But keep in mind - if you still fall into the "guidelines" (however arbitrary they may appear to be), when going for an orientation (BMI/Neck Circumference) - they will likely want (yet) another sleep study.
Also - not all OSA is a result of obesity - so simply losing weight may not resolve the issue...
Rick
Not looking to hijack this thread but do we know what those numbers are?
Now the Schneider is my new #1, I think it might be good to know them. My last examiner did measure my 16" neck. Used to buy 17 - 17.5" collared dress shirts!
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.
Dm:
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I ran into a similar situation last summer. My Med card was rapidly approaching expiration, but I couldn't renew it because I was on restricted duty and splinted. The good folks at the IL SOS office said that if I self reported as "intrastate exempt" (pretty sure that was it) I would not go into disqualified status, and that all I would need to do is get my med card and come back in and re-report as "Interstate non-exempt" and I'd be good to go to get back into multistate operations.
I haven't followed the other threads on this, but I know there was a discussion a while back with a number of us that use CPAP. If you haven't tried it, you should. It DOES make a difference in your everyday life. Or, it did for me. I had gone over 8 years without ever getting to REM sleep.
Not sure what the rules are in your state, but your local DMV CLD facility should be willing to help you out.
Good luck...
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Intrastate:
The act of purchasers and sellers transacting business while keeping all transactions in a single state, without crossing state lines to do so.
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.
Dm:
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
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CDL Qualifications DOT Physical Health Concerns Medical Certification Sleep Apnea Understanding The Laws
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So, I really need some advice. My Fed Med Certificate expires on 7/04/2019. I still have the unresolved sleep apnea issue to deal with. I want to get back to driving this winter. Should I let the Fed Med expire? Or do I need to keep it current? Schneider had me return my CPAC apparatus, so do I need another sleep study? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!