Day Studies/Commercial Truck Drivers

[chunkyfrog]

At some point, it will become SOP for trainees to have a sleep study early on, so that no one will
invest themselves in a career that is not appropriate for their medical condition.
The regulations are relatively new, so a lot of career drivers will be stuck between a rock and a hard place;
but public safety outweighs any personal considerations of drivers not yet deemed fit by medical judgment.
It's a great disservice to the drivers that there seems to be no program to keep dedicated drivers working--but off the road.
Cutting them loose is deplorable--and it discourages self-reporting of problems.

[houndlover]

You're right. The folks most affected are drivers that have been in the road and chose it as a life career. They have good driving records but a life on the road is hard and they tend to have multiple health issues. Now they are an age where they can't retire yet but are being told they can't do the job they have known.

Most as far as PAP therapy goes would be fine once on therapy but employers take the hard line and fire them rather than give them the time needed to get the OSA treated so they can get back on the road.

[jencat824]

My hubby is a driver who was treated & no one told him about the month off the road, he had symptoms, went to my sleep Dr & was effectively treated with CPAP, all while continuing to drive. When time for his medical exam came, he obtained a letter from his sleep Dr stating he was CPAP compliant. Well the CPAP part was OK, but he had to stop using all sleeping pills for familial insomnia, which he honestly told the med examiner he used.

He had to stop using the sleeping pills, get a letter from his Dr saying they would no longer be prescribed. He received his medical card, but still suffers the insomnia & feel like crap. Seems to me he could file for an exemption, since the med was out of his system, he has passed several random drug screens while on his sleep med over the last 5 yrs, but because he was very honest at the exam, must now suffer. He is looking for another job, but it hard to find something making his current income level. In the meantime he is on the road, tired but not sleepy. When he took the temezepan he was well rested, not sleepy & the drug was out of his system by the time he reported to work. He took his pill around 6 pm, goes to bed at 8pm, up at 5pm to report to work at 6am, a full 12 hrs later.

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack the OP's post, but I think the more info the CDL drivers have, the better prepared they are, such as the OP's hubby didn't know he could be forced to undergo a new PSG and the MSLT. Knowledge is a good thing, especially where one's paycheck is concerned. Thanks for posting that manual I find it very helpful, as I am sure the OP will.

[avi123]

The DMV in my state of NC requires medical evaluation of those who are medically impaired to drive.
It's the duty of family members of those with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc. to notify the DMV about it.
If it's not done and the patient causes an accident then the auto insurer is not obligated to cover it.


http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/medical/

see also my post here:

Re: Deemed untreatable

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=97515&p=903697#p903697

[Beachmeezer]

We have an update. We did consult with another sleep specialist. Because hubby recently had a night study and is CPAP compliant the doctor at this new practice is only going to make him take the day test. His current sleep doc was going to have him repeat the night study immediately followed by a day study and they could not fit him in for a month. DOT has confirmed that they will accept documentation from the new sleep doctor if he passes the day study and then he is back on the road. He should have no problem passing since he can sleep at home on his cpap and get a good night's sleep.

Obviously, we are switching doctors. And they will rush schedule the day study.

Along with the other poster, the loss of income and trying to find a new job (in case he couldn't drive again) that would come close to the income loss was proving difficult. To suddenly be without income is a hardship. Luckily, things like health insurance are with my employer otherwise not sure how we'd afford all the extra medical bills trying to figure this out.
Kim

[jencat824]

Kim,

Glad to hear you are working with a more reasonable Dr. ANY loss of income is hard, but having read the manual that was kindly posted, I am now prepared for what my hubby could face, because previously to your post I was just as unaware of the rules as you were. Hopefully your hubby will pass & be back to work ASAP. I guess a lot of us (drivers & spouses) are learning more about the DOT regs. are & what could be asked of the driver to comply to maintain med cards.

Good luck & let us know when he is back on the road,

Jen

[houndlover]

Very good news!!

There is some wiggle room as to what providers "can" require...like I said the company I know requires compliance and an overnight on CPAP to prove it's working. I see others want the day time test. The DOT allows for both.

If other commercial drivers find this thread: the key is to find a doctor that will be reasonable. Start the process well before your current medical card or license is up for renewal.

Seriously, we get guys who medical card expires in less than 24 hours coming in for their physical. It leaves NO wiggle room for either of us if any type of issue is discovered.