Paying For First DOT Physical And Written Exam

I'm looking to find out if there's options to get help paying for the physical and written test when we first begin, other than going through trucking school. I also wonder if the hearing test has a directionality component as I hear nothing on my left side and both my aids send everything to the right; hence everything sounds like it comes from the right. As I'll be looking to drive intrastate for a local bus company I have no reason to go through trucking school. The company will train me and pay for me to take my road test but I need my permit to get started. Given that I'm 99% sure they'll require me to have a DOT Card, and not knowing how things will go with my epilepsy, I figure I may as well do both ahead of time. I realize this is more CDL related than Trucking related but I welcome whatever help and advice this great community has for me.

Hello, you could ask the company you will work for if they compensate you for the costs involved, some will some won't. You will however have to get an exemption waiver on both the hearing and the epilepsy. Have you talked to your physician about that? Epilepsy is generally a no go for commercial vehicles both class A and B but there are ways to get an exemption based on frequency of seizures etc. I'd make sure I could qualify prior to getting my hopes up. There are various rules governing hearing as well but you should be able get an exemption for that as well. I'd find out for sure on both counts as well as any other issues prior to investing too much time and money into the effort. Best of luck to you. I'm not sure if the rules are different for driving a bus versus a truck since you'll be responsible for the lives of your passengers if something goes wrong. I'd talk to the DMV , DOT and your doctor.

As far as the costs for the DOT physical and test (I am guessing for your permit), your prospective employer may pay for at least the physical. As far as the permit cost, they may cover it, but I know I had to pay for my permit out of pocket....

Now before you get to far into the process, call a DOT registered examiner that you will get your physical from and ask about epilepsy. There is a question on the physical form asking about epilepsy and seizures. The only one, IMHO, that can give you an accurate answer on your specific situation is a DOT doc. I'm not sure if there is an exception for seizures or not, but if there is, the doctor giving the physical will be able to get that squared away for you when they give the physical.

I hope all works out for you...