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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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I use prescription oxygen when not at rest. When at rest, includes while driving I am able to maintain 92%-97%SpO2. I keep a generator with me so during hook up and stops at rest areas or any other non driving duties I am able to keep my SpO2 % in the 90’s.
So if I do not use supplemental O2 while driving am I legal. Class B pulling vacation trailers.
@ John
As an interstate driver you would have to explain to the examiner what your job entails and the amount of hours that you drive. You are class B, but hauling interstate, so make sure you have a medical release form from your doctor explaining your situation and have that in hand when you go for your DOT examination. The information helps the examiner make a more informed decision.
My significant other uses a CPAP machine regularly for sleep Apnea. When he needs the card read for his DOT physical in Wisconsin. I was wondering does it have to be read by someone official or can I print off the reports using the sleepyhead website, which are the same reports that gets printed off when we take the card into someone?
@ Heather
As long as the report is less than 30 days old, then you should be able to simply pull the report and print it for him to take into the examiners office.
I’ve had both a traumatic and a spontaneous Pneumothorax that required surgery. I’d like to obtain my Class A CDL as a plan B career plan. Is the history of a spontaneous lung collapse a problem?
@Mark
It will raise questions by the medical examiner so make sure you have a medical release form from your primary physician and your pulmonary specialist. The medical examiner may request a recent pulmonary test.
pulmonary dr. says i have emphysema short of breath, cpap machine at night with oxygen 2.5
can i drive a truck while on oxygen
@Eddie
What kind of truck driving? Intrastate?
You would not qualify as a Class A interstate driver.
I fell out of my truck back in January had several broken ribs and pneumothorax . My lung has been collapsed for the last 6 months and the current diagnosis from the last Ct scan Is:
No significant change from March exam. Patient continues to have elevation of left hemidiaphram and chronic ateletasis of the left lower line and sub segment of the left upper lobe
Workers comp doctors say it’s ok to go back to work…..
I’m still having trouble breathing It is very laboredvery … can I drive a commercial vehicle with a collapsed lung? I am an OTR Driver
@Rene
No you will not pass a DOT physical with a collapsed lung and labored breathing.
Hi there! I had a tracheotomy done in 2010 due to having fluid in my lungs and problems intubating me. I’m wanting to try and get back into driving and getting my CDL and I would need to get my DOT physical done. Would having the trach disqualify me from passing the physical, my pulmonary doctor is running tests now to make sure everything is fine and she sees no problem with me going back to work driving. I don’t see anything that says that it’s a disqualifier.
@Israel
With proper documentation and recent testing results you may be able to drive intra-state, but suspect that you would not be qualified as an over the road interstate drivers. Make sure that you have as much available information and documentation as possible.
Are there new regulations regarding oxygen use in a truck? I am being treated for copd and require oxygen in the truck. My question is if it is provided by an oxigenator is that ok? Keep in mind oxygen tanks will not be used.
@William
COPD will be an issue that will need to be addressed by your primary care doctor. Have your pcp fill out a medical release form explaining your condition and the need for the oxygenator. The CME will make a final decision based on all medical documentation.
I have been on a Oxygen Concentrator for the last 5 yrs. I carry both a Portable (Inogen One G4 and a home untit) you can’t use tanks. I have contacted both my State and the Feds to ask. I run team with my Brother and we run a Dedicated Expedited Run we do twice a week and have been on for the last 10yrs. I do 75% of the driving and my Brother does all the physical stuff. I don’t have any problems while I’m driving. I just can’t do any physical stuff quickly anymore or walk very far. I have a Handicap Placard in the truck for parking.
I have asthma and have had it under control for 16 years. Yet, each year I am told that I have to have a PFT preformed in order to issued a one certification. I am in Mississippi. I can not find anywhere were it states the requirements for asthma, please advise.
@John
The CME is looking at the potential risk of an attack and so he is ordering the test. It is not a standard requirement, but the CME’s call, if he wants it. You could try a medical release form from your doctor explaining your condition and that you have it fully under control. Documentation is what he wants to cover his decision making process.