- Part 1 – Can A DOT Medical Examiner Refuse You A Medical Card Unless You Have A Sleep Study Done?
- Part 2 – DOT Physical And Sleep Apnea Testing: Are Medical Examiners Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place?
- Part 3 [You Are HERE] – Commercial Driver Awareness About The Sleep Apnea Issue
- Part 4 – OSA: How To Know If You Have It
- Part 5 – Commercial Drivers Can Manage Sleep Apnea And Maintain Their CDL
The sleep apnea issue could affect both your livelihood and your life.
Ask yourself – “Am I ignoring or denying personal health problems (longer term life risk) because I can’t afford time off work (shorter term financial risk) or to lose my job?”
By being aware of the different circumstances and perspectives around sleep apnea, you get to manage this before it becomes an issue. Then you can do what you need to do to protect both your earnings and your health.
CHECK OUT THESE STEPS
Step 1: You’re At Reasonable Risk for Sleep Apnea.
A combination of symptoms and / or diagnosed medical conditions indicate that you may be at high risk for sleep apnea.
You can bet on these pointing at a sleep study test in your near future. And the Medical Examiner is justified in requesting a sleep study test.
Step 2: You May Suspect You Have Sleep Apnea But You Haven’t Been Diagnosed Yet.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition that can have serious life-threatening consequences if not treated.
If you have reasonable suspicion that you have sleep apnea, it’s recommended that you investigate it further, see your physician and do a sleep test if necessary — BEFORE it becomes an issue for your medical card — and while you still have time to look into OPTIONS that work best (financially, time wise, and health wise) for you.
Step 3: You Can Manage Sleep Apnea and Maintain Your CDL.
Obstructive sleep apnea does not necessarily disqualify you for CDL medical certification.
Treatment with a prescribed CPAP or Bi-PAP machine, and some manageable lifestyle changes, can help you take back control of your health, and maintain your commercial drivers license.
If You Feel You Are HONESTLY NOT AT RISK And Screening Seems To Be Overly-Cautious Or A Conflict of Interest…
If a medical examiner is picking single strikes e.g. neck size or BMI to send you for a sleep study, you should question the motive.
The examiner may be being overly-cautious, or work for an organization that has laid down a list of screening factors and is not considering the bigger picture. Or, the examiner may have ties with a sleep clinic, and have a conflict of interest.
Be aware that there are no FMCSA rules at this time regarding sleep apnea screening i.e. prescribing who should be tested. This does not mean you have a “get out of jail free” card to avoid the issue if you are at risk.
If, after understanding the indications of risk for sleep apnea, you feel that you are honestly not at risk, then you now have the information to stand your position if a medical examiner tries to assert screening guidelines rather than assessing your overall health situation.
Put In A Nutshell
You may be reading this article because you’re concerned about your livelihood – how sleep apnea could affect your DOT medical certification and that your CDL is at risk. If that’s the case, then you should be concerned about your health too – that this issue could become life-threatening.
Who Has Their Hand On The Steering Wheel Of Your Life?
If you don’t have your hand firmly on the steering wheel of your life, you can be sure someone else is going to be putting their hands on it. 
Commercial driving is an extremely challenging lifestyle. Will you let its constraints – health challenges, rules and regulations – control the way you live? Or will you take back the steering wheel of your life and manage your life and your livelihood, despite its challenges?
By knowing what the problems are, you can take action to make the outcome different, and maintain your CDL without hassles.
Thanks to Trucker Docs expert panel doctor, Dr. Kenn Seals, for contributing to this article.You can find Dr. Seals at Chiro Stop in Salt Lake City, UT.
My husband did sleep apnea test 6 yeas ago. His dot doctor told us nothing about any results and my husband kept his medical CDL. Now he has gotten another Dot doctor who said my husband was diagnosed with sleep apnea 6 years ago. So, now Dot dr gave him a 3 month renewal and said he had to get a sleep study done. My husband has been driving more than 40 yeas and he is almost 60 yeas old. He never has had any bad driver records. So we don’t understand why it didn’t matter for 6 years that he has sleep apnea but now all of a sudden our doctor is concerned, and if he does have the disease is there anything he can do in order not to lost the CDL license?
@Olga
Some questions first.
When he was diagnosed with sleep apnea was he treated in any way, like a CPAP or mouth guard?
If he was not diagnosed with the condition and there was no treatment, then where is the last sleep study? With out more information we would be at a loss to try and answer any questions.
What is the percentage Allowed in 90 days for a dot physical with a cpap
@Steve
70%. See article Sleep Apnea Maintain CDL.
My personal story. d.o.t. dr. gave me a three month extension, sent me to get sleep study done,. then my card expired and got laid off for three weeks. i am still temporarily laid off from my company. This has been a waste of time and borrowed money. To me its another money grab.!. now i am in debt. Do not allow these d.o.t. doctors to assume you have sleep apnea,when you know you do not. The doctors are getting paid and truck drivers are going in debt. after talking with fellow drivers they all agree this is another racket.
i just went for new dot recert. dr. says new gudlines require sleep study because of bmi and neck size. only got three month recert. got into screaming match with dr, because i had just read there was no fmca guidelinse. he says he just recieved them from his co. do i neep to apollogise or keep telling him to pound sand.
@Tom
No you do not need to apologize, because there are no new rules regarding bmi or neck size. The rules and regulations regarding sleep apnea are vague at best.
So unless there are other signs and symptoms indicating the possibility of excessive daytime sleepiness, just go for another physical some where else, before your three month card is up.
well just went for recert again since three month card is ready toexpire. because i am fat, ave a large bmi, high blood pressure[had this before i even started driving 27 years ago]now over the age of 50 dr. says i have 4 points against me that says i must have sleep apenea test before i can get physicaly cleared.???? she says that is new guidelines. i looked at symptons they look for and i dont have any but these four symptons. am i gonna have to give in and have to have sleep test which i cant afford?
I have sleep Apnea and have a CPAP machine…I also have a Dental Device from my Doctor and i like it best and use it all the time and it works..I can tolerate it better than the CPAP machine. Will my Dental Device be acceptable for my DOT card?
@Robert
Just make sure you take a medical release form, completed by your doctors and the last readout from your CPAP unit to show compliance. With an explanation from the doctors regarding your CPAP and dental device. It will help the CME to make a more logical decision in your case.
My husband got his 3 month medical card which expires 10/1 he just had his first sleep study that says he has sleep apnea….he currently drives a school bus….but I was wondering what happens now? Will he have to take time off from work or can he still drive with his temp medical card?
@Jennifer
Once he has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, he will need a machine. Then there is a short waiting period to stablize his new sleep pattern.
Your husband is not driving long-haul or OTR, so there should be no problems getting a new short term medical card to drive a school bus.
Driver has current DOT medical card from previous employer which is vaid until 7/2015. He was sent for a new exam by new employer and given a 3mos card due to neck size and BMI and told a sleep study was necessary before they would issue a new card.
Since this Driver does not have a “diagnosed”” condition that would prevent him from driving, can/is his current DOT med card that is valid thru 7/15 suffecient after the newer 3mos card expires? Driver can not afford sleep study at this time but will persue in 2 months.
@Donna
The whole BMI and neck size issue is a major misunderstanding by some medical examiners. If you ask them to show you the regulation that makes this a requirement, they can’t, because it does not exist.
The employer is allowed to have stricter requirements and impose their own screening criteria.
So you need to find out if this issue is coming from the employer, or from the medical examiner.
You may be able to use the present valid medical card, and when it’s time for a new DOT examination, go somewhere else. Good Luck
Dot dr gave me a 3 month renewal and said I had to get a sleep study done. I did that and am going to get results tomorrow. What do do with the results? How often do I need to see a dr and will I have to get a test every year? Can’t afford that at all.
@JeffP
Well once you get your results, then I may be able to answer your questions. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea it’s one answer, if you don’t have sleep apnea it’s another.