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Cover story: Medically Certified
June 14, 2011
| by: Todd Dills
While federal regs to cover training and registration of doctors performing physicals approach, carriers and some states are taking the lead to address specific medical conditions such as sleep apnea
In terms of the basics of driver medical certification, says Dr. Ronald Rush of Highway Health Care in Texarkana, Texas, “I really have not seen a lot of activity in the last few years to suggest that drivers are having a lot of problems with certification. The basic exam and qualifications are stable and we have not had to change much of anything.”
Diabetes and blood pressure rules remain stable — get a BP reading over 140/90 and you will get a one-time three-month certification to get it under control. If you’re an insulin-treated diabetic you must go through the rigorous Diabetes Exemption Program process to get certified.
“I think there are two or three states that do what Indiana does with medical certification. If an Illinois carrier can get away without doing as much as is required in Indiana, then there’s some resistance by Indiana carriers.”
– Kenneth Strickland, Administrator, FMCSA Indiana Division
“The exception,” Rush adds, “does seem to be in the area of sleep medicine.” As the science behind diagnosis of sleep apnea has become more well developed over the last two decades, the attention to sleep disorders’ affect on fatigue and thus driver safety has increased. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it does not plan to institute mandatory screening criteria for sleep apnea as a part of the Department of Transportation examination requirements, many carriers require it of drivers with various risk factors. “Many are being told by their companies that apnea testing is coming or their companies are instituting screening and testing programs,” says Rush, adding that most individual companies his facility works with “have some type of screen and only ask some [drivers] to be tested.”
A former commercial airline pilot, Mike Bartruff turned to trucking after an unsuccessful business venture with his son. He signed on with Prime Inc. in Missouri, whose Orion Healthcare clinic on-site at the main Springfield terminal oversees its medical program. The carrier required a sleep test after an initial screening showed Bartruff had a Body Mass Index measurement above 39. Orion’s Dr. John Abraham says, “We look at neck size, at their airway and how open that is. If it’s really closed off, they’ll be at risk as well.”
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We are an AASM accredited Seep Disorder Center located just off I-40 in Maumelle Arkansas and have put together a transportation sleep safety program. We offer, testing(can be diagnosed in cab without lost time on the road), treatment and compliance management to meet DOT/FMCSA recommendations all at a discounted cost to drivers and/or companies.
Contact: Jennica Fulton
http://www.maumellesleepsolutions.com
(501)235-8242
[...] was featured in the June, 2011 issue of Truckers News Magazine cover story, Medically Certified, and senior editors Max Kvidera and Todd Dills will also be our guests to discuss their examination [...]
[...] Donna Smith as well as my colleague Max Kvidera for a special show probing the issues raised by the current, June Truckers News cover story Kvidera and I penned about state and federal regs for driver medical certification. Joining us will [...]
the FMCSA is the authority for the trucking industry is federal — ICE is the authority for immigration…
Justice Department lawyers said that the Constitution did not permit the “development of patchwork of state and local immigration policies throughout the country.”
so what Indiana is doing is no different than what Arizona is doing with immigration thereby violating the Constitution and this practice should immediately stop!
I take offense to a lot of these new regulations.
1- my genetic makeup is all from larger people. I was 12 lbs at birth. My dad was 13 lbs. My grand dad was 6’7″ and about 350 lbs. My dad was a big man. Both of them follow our families genetic plan of living to 75-80 yrs old. I plan on that too.
2- yes there are abuse of the certification process. Show me one certification process that is not. I see the big guys that can’t walk -can’t breathe-eat 3-4 plates on the buffet slop bar. They’re legs black and blue from poor circulation and I can’t help but wonder where did they get a physical and pass it!!
3- sleep apnea untill a few yrs ago I thought was a crock of crap!! But I gave in and did the test and got a cpap machine-they do work!! I don’t care what anyone says I believe in them now. But I do not believe any police officer has the right to require me to have a machine that will give him/her the right to prosecute me by monitoring my sleep habits. Sorry it’s just a plain ol outright invasion of privacy. 4- if we are so concerned about public safety let’s just require anyone with a drivers license or operates any type of machinery to get a sleep test and let’s test them too. Shouldn’t that officer be alert and well rested before he cites you for something he/herself might be guilty of?? What about these Dr’s?? We all know about the hrs they put in I think they should be tested too! Let’s monitor them. And god knows our politicans need they’re rest!! They’re so busy collecting under the table money and selling votes we really need to implement this on them first!!
Look I have sleep apnea-and own 2 cpap machines. They work and I use them daily-one at home and one in the truck. But recently I was turned down for a local daytime job because I refused another test and buy a machine with a card in it. I refuse to ever do that! I was told that I had 90 days to get a new machine or else. I already have two working machines and have no need for another.
5- who knows me and my health better than a Dr I’ve used for yrs?? When I have to submit to a stanger to determine my livelihood I’ll just sign up for disability. It is a 50 percent disability I’m told for our military people to have sleep apnea so why not me??
I love what I do for a living and I know the world is changing-for the worse! I’ll take care of myself and I suggest everyone does the same.
Tony Calvert
your doctor or hatoispl should provide you with one! my husband has sleep apnea too and has to wear an oxygen mask to sleep. have they actually diagnosed the apnea or are you just assuming thats what it is because a 4 day old should still be in hatoispl if she/he is having breathing problems!