Do My Psychiatric Meds Disqualify Me From Attaining A CDL?
Topic 9385 | Page 1
Okay, so I think I asked the wrong question. I know the DOT drug screening won't detect any of these and I read somewhere that different companies have different rules about the medications one is allowed to take. So my revised question is, can I find a job as a truck driver while taking these medications?
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.
Hi Jordan,
My best advice would be to declare all your meds when you go get your FedMed physical exam. The Traz is probably gonna get left at home, but not sure. Even Nyquil is illegal to carry in a truck! The doc can give you a ruling on the others. Instead of Traz, I use Benedryl with Melatonin to sleep; both are ok to carry and use together.
Hope this helps!
Bill in WI
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.
Went for my physical Friday, but I'm "disqualified" until the Doc gets a letter back from my Psych saying meds won't interfere with driving. I take an MAOI anti-depressant, and lithium. I knew it would me an issue, but I don't belive it disqualifies me permanently.
I'm scheduled for my permit Tues, but don't know if I can take the test without the med card. Calling DMV first thing Mon, then my Psych!
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.
Jordan J, Did they say you are okay to drive? What company are you going with?
Jordan J, Did they say you are okay to drive? What company are you going with?
Hello LadyA...you found a very old thread and the OP probably wont respond. The truth is, most companies would take issue with one or all of those.meds. Trucking is a very chaotic lifetsyle without a schedule. forgetting to take some meds that could result in deadly losses will be frowned upon by companies.
i know for a cact my company will not accept Trazadone let alone the others. we are not allowed to take cold.meds other than Mucinex or comtrex, so prescriptions are few and far between.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Hey Jordan I too have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, I was wondering if you ever got into trucking or not being on the type of meds we need to take.
I have schizoaffective disorder and take Latuda, (anti-psychotic), lithium (mood stabilizer), and Trazodone (tetracyclic antidepressant that helps me sleep). I could probably live without the Trazodone, but I really need the other two to be healthy. Does that mean I can never attain a CDL?
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.
Hey Jordan I too have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, I was wondering if you ever got into trucking or not being on the type of meds we need to take.
I have schizoaffective disorder and take Latuda, (anti-psychotic), lithium (mood stabilizer), and Trazodone (tetracyclic antidepressant that helps me sleep). I could probably live without the Trazodone, but I really need the other two to be healthy. Does that mean I can never attain a CDL?
You resurrected a post by someone not active on here for more than six years.
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.
Hey Jordan I too have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, I was wondering if you ever got into trucking or not being on the type of meds we need to take.
Howdy! You did not read all the answers to the question the original person asked. Kearsey answered for her company which is Prime. Many companies have restrictions that are very similar.
I can tell you that my brother was on Lithium and Trazodone as well as a couple of other meds and he could not get his CDL until he had been off of them for a minimum of six months. His doctor had him off for one year since he had been on those meds for 25 years before allowing him to get his CDL. He drove for 5 years when his wife started having seizures and is now home taking care of her. He is driving pickups and flatbeds for a local Kubota company delivering tractors, lawn mowers, etc. He wants to go back over the road but I believe he should not be a driver...he's very aggressive and I believe that could lead to road rage again.
Laura
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.
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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I have schizoaffective disorder and take Latuda, (anti-psychotic), lithium (mood stabilizer), and Trazodone (tetracyclic antidepressant that helps me sleep). I could probably live without the Trazodone, but I really need the other two to be healthy. Does that mean I can never attain a CDL?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: