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Q&A
Is Meniere’s disease a disqualifier?
What if I’ve had surgery for Meniere’s disease?
Does vertigo disqualify me from getting a medical card?
What if I take anti-seisure medication?
Can I pass a DOT physical after having a stroke?
If a driver is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder will they fail the DOT physical?
If I take antidepressants can I still get a DOT medical card?
Is Meniere’s disease a disqualifier?
Yes. Meniere’s disease is disqualifying because it may bring about a severe condition of vertigo and is unpredictable. The risk here is sudden incapacitation.
What if I’ve had surgery for Meniere’s disease?
Still is a disqualifier. The FMCSA is reviewing this in terms of certification.
Does vertigo disqualify me from getting a medical card?
It could. When the medical examiner does his examination, one of the things he is looking for is things that would be unsafe for you as a driver and how it effects your ability to maintain control of a commercial motor vehicle. Part of that examination is to test for virtigo. If he feels the condition is unsafe then he will not pass you. If he feels there is something that can help you maintain, he may make a suggestion for you to follow-up with a specialist.
Drivers who have had one unprovoked seizure by definition do not have epilepsy (2 or more unprovoked seizures). Drivers who are seizure-free and off anticonvulsant medication(s) for at least 5 years after a single unprovoked seizure can be certified. Earlier return to work may be considered for drivers with a normal EEG who have no epileptic-form activity and normal examination by a neurologist specializing in epilepsy. (This answer from the FMCSA website)
What if I take anti-seizure medication?
Right off the bat you would be disqualified as a CMV driver. There is a new federal exemption for seizure and related medications. You will need to check with the FMCSA regarding that particular paperwork.
Medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy is disqualifying. Where a driver can demonstrate that safety would not be diminished by the condition, it is possible to apply for an exemption.
Can I pass a DOT physical after having a stroke?
It depends on many things, including the likelihood of having another stroke. Your best bet is to first go back to your neurologist and have him/her write a medical opinion letter stating:
- When you had the stroke.
- What was the treatment, and how successful was the outcome.
- What is the treatment you are receiving now.
- The doctor’s medical opinion about your readiness to return to work as a driver. Make sure that he/she knows all of your physical daily activities as a commerial driver.
With that information in hand when you go to do your DOT medical examination, then the DOT examiner has all the appropriate information to determine your physical state of fitness to perform the duties of a commercial driver.
If a driver is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder will they fail the DOT physical?
Well, it isn’t that you fail outright, but you will be asked questions regarding the condition:
- What treatment routine has been established.
- How long you’ve been on that routine.
- How are you responding to treatment/medication, etc.
So just prepare for the question line in advance, bring documentation from your treating doctor with you, and you could do just fine.
If I take antidepressants can I still get a DOT medical card?
Well it’s not impossible, but what you will need to do is get a medical opinion letter from your treating physician that states:
- When you were diagnosed with the condition?
- What treatment program does he/she have you on?
- Is the condition stable?
- Does your physician feel you could do the duties of a commercial driver and be safe for yourself and the people/public around you?
Then take that information the DOT physical appointment. It will still be the DOT medical examiner’s decision whether or not to certify you.
I have an anxiety disorder on and off. This raises my BP readings. Can I still pass the DOT physical if I take beta-blockers?
You should talk with your primary healthcare provider to determine whether or not this would interfere with the responsibilities and stress of being a commercial motor vehicle operator. If your doctor feels OK about your driving and understands the role of a commercial motor vehicle operator, then he should write a medical opinion letter for you to take to the DOT examination, explaining your condition, treatment and safe usage of the medications you are taking and whether your specific condition is stable. That way there is no surprises for you or the DOT examiner.
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I fainted @ work 8 months ago. I frequently have to bend up and down, got a little dizzy and pass out. That’s the only time that ever happened to me. It was extremely hot that day also. doctor put syncope which he thought was do to anxiety and fear being it was my 2nd day on the job. Does this disqualify me from getting my cdl?
@Brandi
With proper documentation from your doctor explaining your situation and it being a one time incident, you should be OK, if all else is with in normal limits.
This may be a little lengthy. My son had a motorcycle accident 6 years ago and was 13 minutes without oxygen to his brain. With that being said he has minimal myclonic tremors. He is on medication to slow down these tremors and they are anti seizure meds even though he does not have seizures. He has never had seizures from the get go. Only small tremors. He has been on this medication since the accident happened in 2012. He also takes 1 mg of clonazapam in the evening. Will he be disqualified in trying to get his CDC license? He would like to drive concrete or rock trucks for an aggregate company in the area. Will he be turned away from getting a license?
@Robyn
He will need a medical release form from his doctor explaining his situation. Then, based on the class drivers license he would be required to have to perform the duties of the job he wants, he would need to check with his local drivers license department. He may be restricted to intra-state only, based on his medications alone, but he would then fall under his states variances and not FMCSA. Good luck.
My husband had bariatric sleeve surgery a month ago. Is he able to get his re-certification to return to work if his Dr has cleared him? Thank you
@N D
Once he has been released and has a medical release form in hand from his doctor explaining his situation, he should be fine.
I’ve been a suffer of migraines for years and just recently 2/1/17 had a Carotid Artery Dissection and had 3 stents in my interior carotid artery. I’ve since been on Plavix for blood thinning and aspirin. I’m on Butalbital/Acetaminophen/Caffeine for migraine pain and Nortriptyline for the migraine. I take Prochlorperazine for nausea, shaky feeling and to help get to sleep at night. I am currently taking Atorvastatin for colesterol management and Lisinopril-HCTZ for blood pressure. Will any of these medications affect my ability to pass my DOT physical If so which ones.
@Scott
Your medications are going to raise questions, but your over all physical conditions are going to stand in your way of passing a FMCSA guidelines physical examination. It’s going to be a safety issue, in your case.
My neurologist believes I might be hdrocephalic. Will this cause me to fail my next physical
@Kevin
First you want a confirming diagnosis and determine if it will effect your overall abilities. Then based on those findings would this question have relevance. At present there is not enough information to give you an answer.
Does a VP Shunt automatically decline you for DOT medical card for Intrastate driving. I have no seizures and have never been on seizure medication. My surgery was in January 2017 and my neurosurgeon has cleared me to return to complete duties that include driving. The DOT Dr said no because I have a shunt and did not say I could bring back a form from my dr to give him more information.
@Jim
If you are an intra-state only driver then you fall under the state’s variances and not FMCSA interstate guidelines. So check with your local drivers license department and ask them if there are restrictions. If not, then take a medical release form from your doctor to your next medical certification examination and make sure you explain to the examiner that you are intra-state driving, not an OTR driver.
Diagnosed with a chronic subdural hematoma after a fall. Had a craniotomy to remove it. No seizures before, during or after procedure. Was told that I would have to wait 3 years and then take a drivers test due to it being a moderate head injury. What can I do?
@Tim
You could try getting a medical release form from your doctor explaining your condition and his working prognosis. The CME is just following the FMCSA guidelines and can use his own personal judgement to make modifications, but he will need as much supporting documentation as possible before he will vary from the guidelines.
My son is going thru cdl class and getting his hazmat endorsement. At age 16 he was taken to the hospital and they say was an involuntary commitment, but was later transferred that day to a mental
health facility, and he was told he had to the next day to change it to a voluntary commitment to which he did make the change, with no problems since then. Will this effect his hazmat endorsement, and if so what course of action do we need to do to get the change?
@Dave
How long ago was this an issue? Medical release form from your doctor explaining your situation today should be sufficient, if there has been a lengthy lag time. If recent, then a release form from the neurologist will be needed.