DOT/BMI/MEDICAL DISCRIMANATION
Topic 4827 | Page 2
I'm already working out to lose weight because I do know I'm way over weight. So if they go off of bmi in Nevada I may be screwed. I'm already down 25lbs but I need to lose more! And not having insurance sucks because I can't afford a sleep test and I don't want this to delay me going to a cdl sponsored school. Guess I'll find out early November
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.
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.
Ironically, one of the benefits of using a CPAP machine is that many patients have reported significant weight loss, due to improved sleep patterns. The added weight and resulting sleep apnea become a vicious cycle and in some cases, the CPAP machine helps break that cycle.
Good luck in your journey back to the big rigs.
-mountain girl
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.
Ironically, one of the benefits of using a CPAP machine is that many patients have reported significant weight loss, due to improved sleep patterns. The added weight and resulting sleep apnea become a vicious cycle and in some cases, the CPAP machine helps break that cycle.
Good luck in your journey back to the big rigs.
-mountain girl
the other side effect is you get a power inverter even if the company dos not allow them.
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.
Sleep apnea is not limited to those who are overweight; although weight does exacerbate the condition. My boyfriend and I are preparing to get into team trucking. He is considerably overweight, and has already accepted the fact he will need a sleep study and more than likely have to use a CPAP. In his particular case, I think he does have sleep apnea. He's getting the ball rolling in advance of going to school to prevent any delays in getting his CDL.
To reiterate what Brett said, in my research I've found that many who were resistant to the testing and machine realize afterwards that the CPAP really does help them. This won't necessarily be the case for you, but it's worth a try. I'm sorry to hear your license was downgraded. No one should have to lose their livelihood.
At this point the best advice I can give is to comply with the requirements and get your license back on track. While it's not ideal, there probably isn't a lot anyone can do to change it. The DOT and insurance companies have decided this is what's best for the industry.
So what's the deal? If you use a CPAP, this means you can't get hired in this industry or chancing to loose your license?? I passed my DOT exam only later to find out that I did have sleep apnea and now using a CPAP but feel 100% better... I'm due for orientation in a couple of weeks and wondering now which route to take? Since I am now using the CPAP I can't very well deny that I have apnea?
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.
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.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Sleep apnea is not limited to those who are overweight; although weight does exacerbate the condition. My boyfriend and I are preparing to get into team trucking. He is considerably overweight, and has already accepted the fact he will need a sleep study and more than likely have to use a CPAP. In his particular case, I think he does have sleep apnea. He's getting the ball rolling in advance of going to school to prevent any delays in getting his CDL.
To reiterate what Brett said, in my research I've found that many who were resistant to the testing and machine realize afterwards that the CPAP really does help them. This won't necessarily be the case for you, but it's worth a try. I'm sorry to hear your license was downgraded. No one should have to lose their livelihood.
At this point the best advice I can give is to comply with the requirements and get your license back on track. While it's not ideal, there probably isn't a lot anyone can do to change it. The DOT and insurance companies have decided this is what's best for the industry.
So what's the deal? If you use a CPAP, this means you can't get hired in this industry or chancing to loose your license?? I passed my DOT exam only later to find out that I did have sleep apnea and now using a CPAP but feel 100% better... I'm due for orientation in a couple of weeks and wondering now which route to take? Since I am now using the CPAP I can't very well deny that I have apnea?
As long as you have the cpap you're fine. They worry about apnea that is untreated.
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.
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.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
You will indeed be fine with a CPAP. Just make sure it's one that they can monitor remotely.
Also, for anyone not too familiar with it we have a ton of information about sleep apnea in our trucker's wiki
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.
I don't want to say too much, but if I were you, I would find another more trucker friendly doctor. Phil
I don't want to say too much, but if I were you, I would find another more trucker friendly doctor. Phil
Truck driving or not, apnea is awfully dangerous.. Friend of mine (with apnea) was out to a BBQ and had quite a few beers but could maintain composure. Went home, fell asleep in his recliner and didn't wake up... Breathing interrupted but due to the apnea his senses didn't alert him when breathing stopped...
Some don't like the claustrophobic feeling with the CPAP but I have no issues with it at all. When I was training for my CDL I would wake at 5 am for the 1 hour drive to the training center. 15 minutes after driving I felt like I hadn't slept in a week it seemed, so I use the CPAP religiously...
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.
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.
I don't want to say too much, but if I were you, I would find another more trucker friendly doctor. Phil
Truck driving or not, apnea is awfully dangerous.. Friend of mine (with apnea) was out to a BBQ and had quite a few beers but could maintain composure. Went home, fell asleep in his recliner and didn't wake up... Breathing interrupted but due to the apnea his senses didn't alert him when breathing stopped...
Some don't like the claustrophobic feeling with the CPAP but I have no issues with it at all. When I was training for my CDL I would wake at 5 am for the 1 hour drive to the training center. 15 minutes after driving I felt like I hadn't slept in a week it seemed, so I use the CPAP religiously...
I dont drink so I wouldn't know about this.
Phil
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.
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.
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I had already contacted OOIDA being a member and was pretty much told to buy some good lube at least for now. They are looking into this really well though and I see them fighting it. It really is discrimination. If FMCSA is so concerned, why arent they making drivers who are fat getting a ekg done to make sure the heart is ok....oh thats right because a lot of us are ok.
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?
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.OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.