CDL downgrade question- conflicting answers from DMV
Posted by Farthuffer1981@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 37 comments
So I keep failing the blood pressure portion of the physical by like 2 points. I'm working on it, but running out of time.
The letter the Texas DPS sends in the mail states-
"Once downgraded, you will be required to complete all applicable knowledge and driving tests to reinstate your CDL". Verbatim from the TxDPS.
The TxDPS website states-
"A CDL that was downgraded solely for failure to provide a valid medical examiner's certificate may be upgraded to your previous CDL status without taking the skills and knowledge exams providing the following are met-
License is not suspended, disqualified, or revoked.
The DL has not been expired more than two years.
The CDL downgrade occurred within the last 12 months
Your valid medical certificate is submitted to the National Registry" This is straight from the TxDPS website.
Tried calling, but all I get are AI prompts.
So which is it? Why do these assholes use our tax money to make it so convoluted and fuck us any way they can?
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
I don't know about TX. In LA, if you fail your medical (provided is not for a permanent disqualifier) you have one year to get a medical card without having to retest for your CDL. You will be downgraded, but if you re-qualify within 364 days of the failed exam, you will be given your CDL back with all endorsements. 365 days or more, you go back to the beginning, including attending an accredited school.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
Hopefully. The company will let me work in the warehouse while I get my blood pressure down. Fucked up part is it's always within the passing range at home, but as soon as I get corralled in the clinic like an animal by blood pressure goes up. All to try and earn an honest living.
tonythebutcher13@reddit
Soak a tampon in some vodka and shove it up your ass just before you go in, the buzz should keep you calm enough to get that BP under the limit and they won't be able to smell it on your breath.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
I like the way you think. Lol. Can you not just drink a beer before you go? I'm off the clock, and drinking beer is legal. Or is that frowned upon?
tonythebutcher13@reddit
Jesus christ don't do that whatever you do, they'll disqualify you for life lmfao
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
Lmao. So a having a beer is off the table, but sticking high volume alcohol up my ass directly in a mucus membrane in an underqualified doctor's office is suave? Does sound like a blast, though.
tonythebutcher13@reddit
Suave and professional sir
FirstBet4328@reddit
A Docter told me ones to loosen my belt and put my right hand across my chest and take deep slow breaths. And when he retest my blood pressure it went way down. I’ve been doing that ever since every time I have to renew. It works.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
Damn, so it could be my tight ass Wranglers causing half this shit? I'll give it a try at home and see.
peffer32@reddit
Have you considered just going on medication?
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
Sometimes medication doesn't help if you're stressed. The things we're telling him are in addition to his meds.
peffer32@reddit
Where does he say he's taking meds?
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
He doesn't. It was assumed. Most people with BP issues are on meds.
peffer32@reddit
If he was on meds, he can get a short term extension. No mention of that.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
I got a 3 month extension. Now the doc says 45 day "hold" pending me passing, or when the current med card expires in 11 days- whichever comes first. I'm not sure they know what they are talking about half the time...
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
Depends on the doctor and their understanding of the regulations. Some will not give less than a one year certification, no matter what. They can often be found at Concentra and other urgent cares where doctors who couldn't cut it in their own practice work.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
Yeah, I got put on BP meds after my last fail a month ago.
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
I have the same problem. My GP says it's "white coat fever". If you haven't, try adding garlic tablets to your meds. It helped me.
gear_jammin_deer@reddit
I have a similar problem. While you're in the waiting room, act like a meditating monk: close your eyes, try to block out as many noises as you can while still listening for your name to be called, and focus entirely on your breathing. If you can relax yourself, your blood pressure should go down.
Sea-Count-5298@reddit
California here. I was out because of WC did not renew my medical card. My license is not necessarily downgraded. I just could not do any commercial driving until I got a new medical on file. New medical license active. Good to go. No tests, no musk. No fuss.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
This is what I'm hoping for, just the letter Texas sends explicitly states that once downgraded, I must retest driving and knowledge tests again.
hotdog11inch@reddit
Why not doing what anyone else would do go to a doctor and get meds high blood pressure it works I been taking them for 16 years now
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
I'm on them, and my blood pressure is normally good. I just don't like being corralled at Concentra like an animal on my day off, and it pisses me off and raises my BP.
Driving_Potato@reddit
Can’t you go exempt class in their system (intrastate/interstate exempt) so it doesn’t require a med card? I did that for mine in ID as I got my medcard in Colorado and they wouldn’t take it in the office here when I transferred states.
I don’t plan on driving but keeping the A class
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
Not sure. I only drive in Texas. I tried to make sense of it, but they make it so fucking complicated. Guess I should just go up the DPS office, but I worried they don't even know half the time.
Driving_Potato@reddit
I think they do it on purpose. It’s supposed to be pretty close to the same at each state but they make it complicated.
Do you have to go to a certain office, or have you tried one of those truck stop doc-in-a-box seem to pass anyone type of places?
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
I got a doc in a box lined up next week. The clinic the company has me use it a total shithole, and they shuffle you through with no fucks given.
Driving_Potato@reddit
I had just gotten a 2 year then went to work for RL who forced me to get another and surprise, it was a 1 year.
If you mention “white coat syndrome” (legit physiological condition where you get nervous at doctor’s offices which can effect things like BP) sometimes they give a little slack.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
I tried. No fucks were given. This doctor is like a female version of Frazier.
tonythebutcher13@reddit
Don't go to Concentra or Urgent Care places if you can help it, their entire business model is selling as many med card tests and sleep studies as possible.
The places are designed to make you stressed out and anxious that way, they can fail you and take the money or give you the shortest card possible and keep turning people over.
It's honestly fuckin ridiculous that a lot of companies don't give you a choice but to go to those places, I just pay 90 bucks and make an appointment as a nice quiet place where the people who work there are actual doctors and kind. Never had a BP issue since and I STRUGGLED with my BP for a LONG TIME just like what you're going through.
Farthuffer1981@reddit (OP)
Yeah, it was Concentra. I got an independent doc lined up next.
Driving_Potato@reddit
Oh. Lilith then. Good luck….
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
Unless things have changed further, you can absolutely go exempt. You become an intrastate only driver then, but you don't need a med card. April 2012 I renewed my CDL in Texas without a med card and that's the route I went to keep my CDL.
tonythebutcher13@reddit
This was years ago but right after they started doing this shit I didn't bother to get my med card and they just put a K restriction on my license.
It was still a CDL and never got downgraded and I never heard a word about it, moved to MT for a couple years and switched to a non CDL license there because they wanted me to do a bunch of stupid bullshit.
Moved back to ME and went to the BMV to switch my license back and they just reinstated my CDL 30$ fee, with the K restriction still.
Got my med card like 8 or 9 years later and they just removed the restriction and that was that, I think it was a 25$ dollar fee this time, this was all in a time frame of about 2012 to 2022.
RealSharpNinja@reddit
Dude, go to a different doctor.
precambiansupereon@reddit
It usually takes about 1.6 - 2 years for Texas to actually downgrade your license for a medical card. There is no formal downgrade period in Texas. I just had a downgraded CDL upgraded right back to a CDL last October 2024 after working in non-cdl oil and gas position for about 2.5 years. Before that another year and a half.
All you do is go to the DMV when you are ready and tell them that you are upgrading your license back. They fees they charge are the fees you pay when you first get your CDL, just a little over $100. You lose your endorsements but you can take them on the spot.
20milliondollarapi@reddit
Seems like the condition “the cdl downgrade occurred within the last 12 months” is the key part here. Meaning you have a year before the downgrade status becomes permanent.