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Q&A
What if I’ve have a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
What if I’ve have coronary artery bypass surgery?
What if I’ve have angioplasty surgery or stents?
What if I’ve have ventricular tachycardia?
Can I get a DOT medical card if I have a defibrillator?
What if I take nitroglycerine for angina?
My medical certificate only expires in nine months. What if I recently developed a medical condition that I couldn’t drive. Can I drive truck again now?
Even if you currently have a ‘current’ medical certificate, you are prohibited from driving a CMV with any medical condition that would be disqualifying or may interfere with the safe operation of a CMV. Once a disqualifying medical condition is resolved, and before resuming operation of CMVs, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
You will need to be off work for at least two months. You will need to get an Ejection Fraction and Exercise Tolerance Test, and be cleared by your cardiologist before returning to work. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have coronary artery bypass surgery?
You will need to be off work for at least three months. You will need to get an Ejection Fraction and Exercise Tolerance Test, and be cleared by your cardiologist before returning to work. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have angioplasty surgery or stents?
You may return to work once you’ve been cleared by your cardiologist, which may be as soon as one week after the procedure. You will need to get an Exercise Tolerance Test three to six months after the procedure, and again at least every other year. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have ventricular tachycardia?
If you have recurring episodes you should be evaluated by a cardiologist to see if the underlying cause of the ventricular tachycardia is disqualifying.
Can I get a DOT medical card if I have a defibrillator?
The defibrillator is a disqualifier for inter-state driving. The defibrillator is designed to correct problems when they occur, but it still leaves a safety risk.
You may be able to drive inter-state, based on your state’s regulations.
What if I take nitroglycerine for angina?
Taking nitroglycerine is, of itself, not a disqualifier. The medical examiner may require an evaluation by your treating physician to make sure that your angina is stable.
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If a cdl licensed driver, who was making a living as a driver and had bypass heart surgery, need to have with him to get his dot health card up to date. It is not expired, he has been told he needs to get his health card updated before he can return to work. What test or forms need ?completed and who does he get them from
@ Jacqulin S
For a class A cdl holder. He will need a full medical release to return to work from his treating physicians. Any supporting medical documentation, such as a stress test or other information that the CME (medical examiner) requires to help aid in his decision making process. His medical card will be good for one year at a time.
What options are there if I can’t get a doctor to sign off for 3 months after on medical card expires? Cardiologist needs a little time after a stent was placed.
@ Glenn
Let your local drivers license department know what the situation is and they should be able to guide you through their process.
I have a CDL-A in Texas. I had a case of Angina in April 2022 and had a stent put in. I was released the next day without any restrictions to go back to work. The only thing that changed is that it’s only good for 1 year instead of 2. I have received my medical card for the last 2 years with no problem. Now I am being told that I need clearance from a Cardiologist every year and that whoever approved my medical card was wrong. I have lost weight, eat better, not on prescription meds and have had zero issues with my health. No high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Is a yearly visit to the cardiologist mandatory?
@ Dwayne R
DOT/FMCSA has it as a ‘recommendation’ for a cardiologist evaluation. Best if done every 2 years for the CME to note that you are doing follow-up on the condition.