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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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My friend has COPD and is on medication and inhaler to help sometimes, the examiner made him take respiratory test and he didn’t have good enough score. His primary who is DOT examiner In another state says he is fine and he would pass him.. He is totally healthy otherwise.. What can he do to pass?
@ Lisa
Go to the primary doctor that is DOT qualified and take the test.
My husband has copd, just had a flare and had a medication round he has completed and been released by his doctor. What are the minimum requirements with a lung test to continue to drive if his company requests further testing?
@ Tina
If your hubby had a flair up and was placed on medications and then had to be released to return to work duty, he will most likely, need a new medical certificate to determine a fit for duty status. Just make sure he has a medical release form from the doctor with a copy of his last pulmonary testing results. That should be all you need.
So a codriver went into the hospital for over a week and now has lung problems and put on a transplant list was a heavy smoker and in secret is still smoking ,his specialist says he must be on oxygen 24-7 now his regular doctor says he’s fine doesn’t need oxygen and cleared him yo work ,and since his return has missed many days of work I know he’s not supposed to have oxygen in his semi but does it anyway – since his specialist said no work was hospitalized even if his dot med card is current ,does he have to recertification
@Chuck
Yes. Any situation that takes a driver from behind the wheel has to be re-certified as fit for duty.
With all of the new restrictions that are disqualifying CDL drivers, are they able to go on disability? It seems like a lot of people are losing their ability to work. I’ve been a SC school bus driver for 8 yrs now and had Lung reduction surgery 9 years ago and now have begun using oxygen at night, but with the new regulations I probably won’t be allowed to continue because of my pft’s. I’m wondering what my options will be.
@Cathy D
You really need to check with your state drivers license department on this one. You are asking a question about over-the-road long haul drivers medical certificates and you drive a school bus locally. Not the same thing.
DLD should be able to answer your questions the best.
I only drive the school bus so you’re probably right in contacting the state. Thanks for the information.
If you fail dot physical for cdl liscens would it effect youre normal drivers liscens
@gerry
Check with your state drivers license department, this is a state related question, not fed. question. Some states will just downgrade your license and some states cancel your entire drivers license, so you need to confirm which is true in your state.
I was a plumber for many years and i got pulmonary fibrosis from the concrete dust the glues and clearers. Well any way i got a lung transplant just one lung this been three years now, the first year tough will rejections the second year with only two rejections now zero this last year.So every year i have a breathing test score a 52 first year, 54 second year, 57 this year. Can i get a doctor release or will i never be able to get a fereral dot license
@Bill
Get a medical release form from your lung doctor along with an explanation of your situation. That will be the best thing you can do right up front. The more information that the CME has to make a decision, the better your chances are.
I’ve was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2011. I worked as a automotive tech. In Nov 2015 I got my cdl’s. I went to training with a company and had to take a physical and indicated on the long form that I had sleep apnea. They said I need a complaince letter. What is the complaince letter and where do I get it from.
@Terrence
Your cpap machine should give you a readout indicating how often you use the unit. FMCSA want to see 70% compliance at four hours a day for at least 30 + days. Talk with your sleep doctor and have him do a print out for you.
I recently failed my IDT physical because I use Albuterol more than twice a week because of allergies and asthma. I take Asmanex at night, both of which have been prescribed by VA. Is asthma really considered “out-of-control” if used over twice a month?
@David
If your condition is under control with your medications and an emergency inhaler, then you should be fine. The safety issue would be that you would go into a coughing spell and not be able to maintain control of the vehicle. Try getting a medical release form from your doctor at the VA explaining your condition and your medications with the use of the inhaler and you should not have any major issues.