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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 had a seizure over 13 years ago for no reason. Went to see a neurologist who did all sorts of tests and found nothing as a cause. He said that some people will have one seizure for no reason and never have one again. He put me in that category and as a precaution put me on an anti-convulsant. After a few years I was weaned off and was seizure free until about 9 1/2 years ago. I had a seizure while I was sleeping. I went back to the neurologist who again did tests and found nothing, no cause, said I was not an epileptic. I asked at that time about filing a convulsive driving for with my state and he said he did not have to as it was a nocturnal seizure and some people that do have seizures will have nocturnal seizures and that you couldn’t be driving while sleeping and therefore didn’t have to be reported. Anyhow, I am going for a job at ups and I know I will need my dot card. I have been seizure free for 9 1/2 years, but on medication. Am I automatically disqualified or can I get a waiver or exemption based on my neurologist diagnosis?
@Matt
If you are taking an anti seizure medication then you will not qualify as fit for duty to operate a commercial motor vehicle. You will need to go through the FMCSA and acquire a seizure waiver. You will also need a medical release form from you neurologist before you even begin this process.
So I’m still a bit confused. Am I absolutely disqualified because of the medication I take, or is there a possibility that I can still get my card if my neurologist states that I am physically capable and get a waiver?
@Matt
If the medications that you are presently taking are anti-seizure meds, then you need a note from your neurologist and you will need to start the process for the waiver with the FMCSA.
I take a medication for mood swings and one for arthritic pain. Both of the prescriptions are also used to treat seizures which I have never had a seizure. The doctor giving the DOT physical said he wanted my medical records released from my physiatrist. Do I need to release the medical records to the chiropractor or just get the medication changed to another type along with a letter from my doctor. The medication taken for my arthritic pain is also used to treat seizures. Would I need to go to my family doctor and get the same type of Medical Opinion letter stating what is going on and why? The chiropractor states that he will not pass me on the DOT physical as long as I take any type of medicine used for seizures or elliptic disorders. As I tried to explain to him what I took them for he didn’t want to listen, just told me I was arguing with him. What would you suggest I do?
@PJ
Medical release forms from your primary doctors explaining your conditions, medications and purpose for those specific medications. Then take that information to a different CME and get your examination done. As long as you have proper documentation, your medical records are not required by the FMCSA or a CME, but the information provided by your doctors help the CME make his final decision.
I currently in pa hold a class B Cdl and my job is driving a school bus, I had a first time seizure about a month ago and had an test result of a normal eeg and mri my neurologist wants to put me on seizure medicine keppra. I was wondering if I would be able to go back to driving a school bus after my 6 month waiting period after having a seizure and put on seizure medicine. When I asked the neurologist he didn’t give a answer
@George
You really need to be asking this question at the local level. Our advice on this website focuses at the federal level, and as a class A driver you would not be able to return to driving for quite some time.
Check with your local drivers license department. Each state is a little different. Here is some information for PA Medical Card Requirements.
hi i had a head injury at work i had bleeding on the brain an the doctor said i cant pass my medical card examation for a year
Had a TBI on my job and was unconscious for a little less than 6 minutes 07/30/2015
Still having periodic issues with vertigo,headaches and fatigue. Employer doctor says I have to be symptom free for Two weeks before attempting new DOT exam. He seemed a little confused about the amount of time. My own doctor does not know either. I am in Michigan. Any idea?
Thanks
@Todd
First and foremost you will need to be symptom free and then get a neurologist release to return to work. With the neurologist release you can re-test for your DOT certificate once you are fully healed and symptom free. It will also depend on the extent of the TBI (mild, moderate, severe) that information is not presented with your question, but the release from your neurologist should answer most CME questions.
On August 15th. I had a TIA. Was hospitalized over night for observation; Within 1 hour of the TIA, I was back to normal. Had a Occupation Therapy study, neurological exam, preformed before leaving hospital, MRI, CT, Ultrasound, check of carotid arteries, check of heart valves and functions. All came back normal;
Dr. put me on a prescription of Plavix for 21 days . I am guessing as a precautionary measure. I was scheduled for a medical for DOT and School bus here in Illinois; The medical place disqualified me due to the TIA. I have researched this extensively and can find no ruling about TIA being a disqualifier. I went to Federal DOT office in Springfield, Il, They did not even know what a TIA is. Second question is the Prescription of Plavix a cause for disqualification?
Thank you in advance
Regards
Larry R
@Larry
The TIA will cause a class A driver to be on a waiting list for at least a year, possibly more.
If you are not a class A driver, then you should check with your local drivers license department and ask them the question. The primary concern now is the possibility of unprovoked seizures and as a school bus driver, safety is going to be everybodys concern.
My husband had a subarachnoid bleed in May 2015. After 3 angiograms over a two week hospital stay it was determined to be nonanuerysmal or non AVM in nature and attributed to spontaneous venous rupture. There was no loss of cognitive or physical function and never any seizure activity and consciousness was never lost. He was cleared by the neurosurgeon to go back to work after 3 months at home. A Occupational driver review was conducted and he was cleared without any issue. When he went to the DOT for clearance he was told no he could not drive for at least over 6 months and then must have another aqngiogram for clearance. This was never a recommendation by the neurosurgeon and it is not a recommendation for the future for follow up. Why would the DOT ask for such an invasive procedure that is not within the recommendtions of the neurosurgeon and place a restriction on back to work for 6 months to a year when there was never an actual loss? This was not an aneursym or AVM but venous in nature.
@Michelle
The CME has to follow the FMCSA guidelines, so that is where he is getting his information from. The federal DOT is the department that has control over the FMCSA, and both of these departments are looking at medical studies to base their decision making process on.
So the CME is not going to risk his license by overwriting the guidelines. The CME is not a neurosurgeon, so he has to try to take all of the available information and plug it into the FMCSA guidelines. Sometimes that means that all he has is the guidelines and the neurosurgeons information to try to make the best decision he can base on that information and to try to keep the driver and the public at large safe.
Your question is a good one, but you would have to ask the FMCSA why they would request so much before allowing a driver to return to work.
Hi Michelle, Were you ever able to get a clear answer to this from the DOT.? My husband is in the exact same situation and has been cleared by several doctors including a neurosurgeon. Please let me know of any steps you took. Maybe we can help each other. Lisa
Does a person driving a school bus need a psychological after age. 65
@Richard
I think you will have to check with your local drivers license department for that answer.
Hello, I have had 2 back surgeries for bulging discs and have been diagnosed with DDD, (Degenerative Disc Disease) or basically arthritis, I also periodically take prescription pain killers, will any of these disqualify me from attaining my DOT medical card, I live in South Carolina, Thank you
@Rod
As long as you can perform the duties of a commercial motor vehicle operator, then you should be alright.
You will need a medical release form from your doctor explaining your situation and limitations, if any.
Also you will want to have a ready prescription from your doctor. You will be drug tested and the medical review officer will want to see a valid copy of your prescription.
Driving is going to be a challenge due to the prolonged periods of sitting and inactivity, so take all of these factors into consideration before hand. Good Luck
My roommate hit his head after slipping on ice about 6 years ago and was put on anti-seizure meds as a precaution (they were concerned about possible seizures, but none were recorded). He has not been on the meds for 5 years and has had no seizures. What does he need to do to keep this from interfering with getting a medical card again? He tried about 3 years ago and was unable to get a card because of this history.
@Amethyst
Get a medical release form from his neurologist stating that he has had no problems and has not been on any anti-seizure medication for over five years. That gives the CME most of the information that he needs to make an informed decision.
I was hit by a car 22 years ago. I was unconscious for several days and had to undergo surgery to remove an epidermal hematoma from the left side of my skull. I never had a seizure nor was I ever on seizure medicine. I have had my class A CDL since 1998. After getting a three month med card I was told i need to see a neurologist. ( I also took a letter from my primary physician ) so what could a neurologist tell them that my doctor of 5 years couldn’t?
@J Allen
No idea what your doctor can say that your neurologist can say.
If your medical release form from your doctor explained your situation and circumstances, then your best bet is to take your business to another certified medical examiner when your three month card is about to run out. And take a medical release form from your doctor stating your facts and his findings.
I have a class a cdl to drive a bucket truck for a utility company and my dot physical is going to expire. I went for some sleep studies and the dr. Said I had restless leg and daytime sleepiness. He prescribed me with requip and nuvigil. I went to get my physical and the med. examiner said he would not sign off on me for my med card. Am I totally disqualified from DOT? I make my living as a lineman and I don’t want to lose my job. Thank you in advance for your response.
@Whit
What class driver are you? Do you travel interstate or intra-state? These are the questions any good CME needs to ask in order to have all of the information to make a final call on your license.
The medications will cause some questions, but can be worked out with the correct information at the time of the examination. You’re not disqualified as a driver, you just need to get all the information together before you go for another DOT examination. Also get a medical release form from your doctor explaining your condition and medication usage. Good Luck
Thank you very much that’s what I have done and I think I’m gonna get it worked out. Again thank you for your response it was very helpful.
I have had my CDL for 25 plus years..I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Diease (4 months).occasional shake tremor left side.I have neurologist (movement specialist).taking carbdopa/levodopa .and Rytary twice a day..with good results..no shakes not drowsy…I’m 54 and not ready to quit driving…I cannot find info on onset Parkinson’s..and commercial driving..my d.o.t.med card expires Feb 2016. Thx Rob
@Robert
This is a progressive condition so you will need to get a medical release form from your neurologist. It will answer some of the questions that the CME will have, but the examiner is going to have to make the final decision. Just have as much information as possible on hand at the time of your medical examination. Include a list of your medications and have your primary doctor explain the need and usage of these medications.
i had 3 subdural hematomas between nov 26,2014 and febuary8,2015. i never had any seizures or any other problems. i was just released to go back and perform regular work duties. can i still get my medical card and go back to truck driving?
@rafael
Make sure you have a medical release form completed by your neurologist. He will need to explain your situation and present condition, along with any risk factors. With the release in hand, you answer most of the CME’s questions before they can arise. The release helps the CME make a better and more informed decision about your condition and the operation of a CMV.
I told the cme that i had the release form at home and that i would return with it, but he said even if i did i still had to wait 1 year regardless if not more than that from the date of the last surgery. He said that was dot regulations. I just want to know if that is true, is that what the law says?
@Rafael
It’s in the guidelines and the second CME is not willing to take the risk factor regarding your situation. Yet the first examiner was willing to take the risk.
But it’s a guideline not a regulation, which is read as a law.
I was denied a dot medical card today because I had a brain tumor removed and treated a year ago. I never had a seizure or any negative side affects. Am I able to appeal the denial or aquire a form from my neurologist stating that I am safe to drive?
@Mitch
A medical release form from your neurologist explaining your condition and situation will go far in getting your DOT medical card. The release answers many questions that any CME is going to have about putting you on the road.
Also have your primary doctor explain your non-seizure activities. If you are not on any medications, then there should not be any real issues, once everyone understands the full extent of your situation and condition.
Come on dot docs. It’s in the book. If the tumor was in the back of the head then it’s a one year wait. If it was in the frontal portion of the brain then a two year wait person
Dot docs. …. I am in the same situation. If the tumor was on the back or your brain then it is a one year wait. If it was on the front of your brain then it is a two year waiting period. Would have thought DOT docs would have known that info rather than giving a half baked answer.
iwas recently diagnosed with a neurological disease called Cerebral Ataxia. I have had numerous blood tests, a
MRI, a sleep study and a spinal tap. My symptoms are mild at this time but there are no cures for this disease and it is a progressive disorder. Will this disqualify me for renewing my CDL that I have had for 24 years and also drive a one ton truck for work
@ Mark
This condition is progressive and can cause loss of motor control, which would make it highly unlikely that you will be able to pass the DOT examination. If you can downgrade to a standard drivers license or to intra-state only, you may be able to continue to drive until you know you are truly unsafe. But for DOT interstate, I don’t believe you will pass. Check with your state DLD and see what they have to say about driving with the downgrade.
A little over a year ago I had 3 seizures due to being on two medications at once. My Neurologist released me to drive again , but the DOT doctor in texas said it has to be reported and cleared by my state of Arkansas. My doctor never reported it to begin with. What do I do?
@ Robert
Just having the seizures puts you into a waiting period, and you doctor needs to know that. Once you have gone through the waiting period and you are not on any anti-seizure medications, then you may be able to return to driving. But as it is right now your medical card is invalid and you will need a medical release from your neurologist explaining your seizures and your treatment.
I had a stroke two months ago, It affected my phiriforal vision,my vision to the front is good. My primary doctor sent me to an opthamoligist and he’s told me I may not be able to ever drive again. I haven’t seen my neurologist for a while but have an appointment on June the 30th. I’ve done some research on the internet that there is a one year waiting period after astroke for reaccurences. Is this true? Just wanting to get back to work as soon as possible and need to know what my next step is. I’ve been a CDL driver for over 30 years and must admit have some anxiety over starting a new career at this time. I believe I could pass the dot physical but not sure about the requirements after a stroke. Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!!
@Mark
A one to five year waiting period, depending on where the stroke was. Vision must be at least 70 degrees from straight ahead or better in each eye, to pass the DOT medical examination. You might check with your local state drivers license department and see what the requirements are for an intra-state only driver.
In 2010 I was seeing a therapist and referred me to a psychiatrist who had prescribed me anti depressants up until mid 2012 I was taking anti depressants. I have not taken any medications or seen this doctor since 2012. Do I need to bring this up at a dot physical exam?
@Nick
Bring it up and have a medical release form from your primary doctor in hand when you go for the DOT examination. That should answer any questions that the CME will have and you shouldn’t have any problems.
ive been diagnosed with CFS/ME, i dont have the brain fog, but i have sever pain, headaches (when not on my meds). ive alreayd been an otr dirver for 5.5 months last year. i want to know if just having it will disqualify me, i want to get back on the road so bad.
@Justin
You are going to need a medical release form from your primary doctor explaining your situation and your condition. That will answer most of the questions for the CME. If you go in without the basic information you are going to be sent out to get it, so start with the info in hand. This condition is going to need some explanation and discussion to see if you will qualify. Good Luck
I am a 20 year delivery driver I do not have or need a CDL.I only need a class C license for the truck I drive I have had epilepsy since age 10 I have been taking dilantin ever since. My primary doctor has passed me on all physicals I’ve needed. I have been seizure free for almost 30 years . What are my options.
@Jeff
I’m not sure what the question is here.
Sorry I have been driving a delivery truck for 21 plus years I do not have or need a CDL and drive locally.. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 10 I am over 50 now I take 300 mg dilantin a day and have not had a seizure since 10/08/1986 My primary doctor has given me a medical card until this next physical because he is not certified Question I know it is up to certified doctor but will a medical release form help me ?
@Jeff
As long as your state allows you to drive within the state with your condition, then you would want to get a medical release form completed by your doctor. It will be a huge help in answering most of the CME’s questions before you get started.
Check with your state in their intrastate regulations.