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Q&A
Can a driver with lung disease get a DOT medical card?
Is the use of oxygen therapy a disqualifier?
Can I still drive if I have a blood clot in the lung?
I had lung surgery and a lobectomy a few years ago . Will this fail me on a DOT physical?
What does neck size, weight, and BMI have to do with the DOT physical exam?
What does snoring have to do with the DOT physical exam?
Can a driver with lung disease get a DOT medical card?
The medical examiner will evaluate your condition to determine how the lung disease may affect your ability to safely drive and perform other duties of a commercial driver. If you don’t have a medical opinion letter from a treating physician, you may need to go for a chest x-ray or pulmonary function tests before the medical examiner can consider certification.
Is the use of oxygen therapy a disqualifier?
Most likely, yes, oxygen therapy while driving is a disqualifier. The reasons are twofold: 1. Malfunction of the oxygen equipment. 2. Progression of the disease may be debilitating. You may be considered if you can pass a pulmonary function test.
I was recently diagnosed with COPD from exhaust leak in my semi. Can I lose my CDL because of this diagnosis?
The diagnosis of COPD is not, by itself a disqualifier for your cdl. It will/may have an effect while doing your medical examination and certification. Your best bet is to take any and all notation from your primary lung doctor with you when you re-do your medical exam and certificate. The examiner just needs to make sure your are fit to return to work without being a risk to yourself or the public at large.
Can I still drive if I have a blood clot in the lung?
With the blood clot in the lung, you want to make sure you bring a note from you pulmonary specialist stating you are good to go. The medical examiner will need a copy for your file when he does the exam.
I had lung surgery and a lobectomy a few years ago . Will this fail me on a DOT physical?
In and of itself, the lobectomy should not be an issue. But what was the reasoning behind the surgery? Your examiner will have other questions regarding the surgery and what its long term effects are, as well as, how it affects your ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
What does neck size, weight, and BMI have to do with the DOT physical exam?
Neck size, weight, and BMI are all just indicators that the medical examiner looks at to determine if you may have a condition that would impact your ability to safely drive a commercial vehicle now or for the period for which the medical card may be issued. There are currently no set specifics on these measurements in the DOT regulations. However, companies may set their own policies and have their own standards for these indicators, which may disqualify you to drive for that particular company.
What does snoring have to do with the DOT physical exam?
Snoring, in combination with obesity, can be highly predictive of obstructive sleep apnea risk. That said, even the loudest of snorers may not have a breathing obstruction. The sign that is most suggestive of sleep apnea occurs when snoring stops. If both snoring and breathing stop while the person’s chest and body try to breathe, that is literally a description of an event called an ‘apnea’. When breathing starts again, there is typically a deep gasp and then the resumption of snoring.
For the DOT physical exam the medical examiner evaluates your overall physical condition and health history to determine if there are signs of a medical condition that may affect your ability to safely drive a CMV. If the medical examiner has reasonable suspicion that you have sleep apnea you may have to go for an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram before you can be further considered for certification.
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Can asthma disqualify me from getting my cdl
@Jeremiah
No. You will need to have an emergency inhaler handy at all times, just in case.
But asthma is not an outright disqualifier.
Thank you I start school the 18th an have the dot physical the 15th I was nervous
What is the state of Kansas’s stand on defibrillators?
@John
I don’t have an answer, as we focus at a Federal level and each state has different regulations at the state level.
Check with the Kansas DMV on this issue.
Does pectus excavatum disqualify you? I’m getting the ravitch procesure done next month so I’ll be back to normal
@Shawn
In and of itself, this condition is not a disqualifier. If you are going to have it repaired, please be aware that you will need to be fully recovered before returning to driving. Good Luck.
Yea I’m going to wait around 6 months to go to school
Does having asthma disqualify you?
@Ernie
Not as long as you have an emergency inhaler at hand at all times, while driving.
The condition isn’t the problem, it’s the potential to be a safety hazard if you can’t breath correctly. So the condition isn’t the issue, it’s the operation of a CMV being interfered with due to an asthma attack.
Oh and Ernie, this was all new to me until I got to the doctor, go prepared so you won’t have to deal with time issues like I am. YOUR CONDITION IS A FACTOR. If they see smoking, asthma, shortness of breath, or medications listed they WILL BE ASKING NOW. And you will be sent home to get tested. So do it now and get the bad or good news before you have to worry. This is brand new and I was upset and shocked.
Well guess what it can, depends on your spirometry results, and guess what I am dealing with low results right now, new Federal rules have guidelines and yes if this test fails, you can get Blood Gas and Pulmonary function test like I will be doing tomorrow to hope for a better result so I WON’T LOSE MY CDL ENDORSEMENTS. Brand new rules require the doctor to see results now, if have any breathing issues at all BEWARE. And the inhaler isn’t even a part of it like Trucker Doc says, the results must comply with levels dictated in new rules. I KNOW AM DEALING WITH THIS AS WE SPEAK, This is why I am on here. So get tested and get the info so you know what you are up against, you can get treatments to make it better of course. But I cannot afford not to work while this happens.
@deb hi so how did your test go? Is there any helpful tips you can give me before I take my breathing test..
I am going for my pet today. They will not even start my physical until I have my results. This is a new federal requirement. I’ve been driving trucks for 29 yrs and I can not afford to to not work. How someone who is grossly overweight can pass a physical while I have to jump through hoops is ludicrous.
I have a history of getting DVT’s and I am now on Warfarin. I have a greenfield filter for the DVT. Had a heart attack treated with 2 strents. Does this disqualify me for DOT
@Jason
The issues you are dealing with have some limitations as far as the FMCSA is concerned.
You did not give me any information regarding time frames, and that’s OK.
Just operate with these rules and you should be alright.
For both of the conditions you have, you should get a medical release form completed by your primary healthcare provider.
With those forms completed and in hand when you go for your medical card, you should be able to answer any questions that the CME medical examiner has.
A doctor told me I had to blow 65% in a machine to quailfy or pass the test
Is this TRUE
@Ron
If there is some type of lung insufficiency, and he feels that there may be a problem, then he may require a lung capacity test.
That being said, unless he is a certified lung specialist, then you should be referred to your primary healthcare provider.
Yes. Although my Doc said 60%. I blew a 49 and a 59% and failed. This is all new to me. 6 months ago this wasn’t a requirement. I was referred out to another Specialist, and it looks like my driving days may be over. I have COPD btw. I am awaiting a reply
from my potential employer as to how they would like to proceed, or not : (
Good luck I’m dealing with the same thing.. I took a pretest and failed I was at 51 and had to be at 65 doc told me to see a lung specialist I have lung damage due to a house fire that happened in 1978.. I have been driving since 1998.. don’t know what to do but in December my medical card expires and I’m gonna have to fund another job..forced retirement
If a person smokes, is it REQUIRED that the doctor give a pulmonary test or was the doctor out to get an extra $35?
@Andrea
Maybe just doing a through examination. If the examiner felt there was a question about your ability to breathe then he/she was just doing a complete job. It isn’t required, but he/she must confirm any questions he/she may have in this regard.
The same thing happened to my husband today, The Dr. says lungs are clear, and marked on the physical form that all was good. No problems. My husband didn’t know any better and the charge was an additional $42.00. My question is – Is there an updated law that so states that you have to have this Pulmonary function test just because you smoke, and are 45 years old, etc.?
@Paula
It is not a mandatory examination, but if the CME feels that there is a need for the examination, he can request it. But some facilities are taking advantage of a situation that does not exist in the FMCSA guidelines and there is no mandatory test protocol.
I’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer have been treated with chemo and radiation can I still get qualified or be disqualified
@Bill
This question is too broad for a single answer. When the DOT examiner is going through the examination, he is looking for a driver who is medically fit to operate a CMV. If you qualify then away you go. If not, he will discuss what the challenges are and what other avenues you might pursue.