DOT Med Card Disqualified - Question
Posted by Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Well apparently I was stupid. In January I was extremely depressed and took leave because I nearly >!committed suicide!<. I took 4-5 months off and tried to come back to work. I was asked to renew my DOT med card early and I was honest.
So I was disqualified for a year. Which made me laugh non stop because I had just spent $5k getting my CDL A. Also it’s like “you thought you >!wanted to kill yourself before? How about now asshole?”!<
I had a new tow truck job lined up. My current job says my currently valid card is invalid now and that the doctor that disqualified me MUST qualify me in the future.
I’m getting really mixed reads online. Am I able to simply get a second opinion and omit the >!suicide!< part and say I took time off for my mental health or something? Or does the FMCA now have a file that says why I was disqualified and I REALLY MUST get qualified by the first doctor.
No-Damage-9737@reddit
When you fill out the questionnaire before your physical dont disclose anything, they ask if you drink alcohol or smoke or depressed, say NO. Share that with your primary doctor if you want but during a DOT physical you just want to get in and out
Mental_Chef1617@reddit
It's now on file with the federal database. You can get a new card in a year, but it doesn't have to be the same doctor.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Right but this feels like mixed messages.
I’m reading FMCA has the disqualification but not the reason. The 1 year is a recommendation, not a hard rule/law
Mental_Chef1617@reddit
You can try another doctor, but your current employer doesn't have to accept it since you already disqualified you.
OminousSC@reddit
“… since you already disqualified you.” Is my vote for burn of the day. Bravo
daemonescanem@reddit
Even IF you found a Dr to get a card, if your company or their insurance ever finds out you lied, you will never work again in the field.
Best course is to wait a year and try again, and not put that on a form.
Just_A_Random_Crow@reddit
I have chronic depression and lied my butt off. Not going to give them a reason to disqualify me for some BS reason when I'm not a harm to myself or others.
Top-Confidence4496@reddit
I think the doctor is right and you shouldn't drive a truck
Redsoxdragon@reddit
Feds know. Only way to get around it is to get your doctor to sign off, and then get whoever is giving you the new card to sign off.
Fyi, they don't have to sign off on your renewal if they don't feel like you're good to lift the 1 year restriction so you might have to doctor shop
Kelsey1970@reddit
I don’t have an answer for you. However, I just want to say I’m so proud of you for seeking help! I’m so glad you’re still with us!
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much really.
I was / am going through a divorce (not my choice) and when my “wife” found out she didn’t say anything like this. Brutal
Kelsey1970@reddit
Ooof. That truly sucks. I am sorry that happened to you. You deserve better.
Dezzolve@reddit
The industry is very unkind to any sort of mental health issues, with good reason of course. Nobody wants to be liable for putting someone who may possibly be unstable behind the wheel of a 40 ton death machine.
Having said that, never never never never admit to having any sort of active or recent mental health issues. The less the DOT Examiner knows, the better. Don’t ever offer up any information voluntarily, it only serves to hurt you.
Unfortunately since it was disqualified and everyone has switched to the federal registry you’re out of luck for a year.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Yeah wow I should’ve never been honest because I’m doing much better.
I voluntarily went to a hospital to prevent myself from harm. So I guess that counts?
JoyKil01@reddit
It was good of you to go to the hospital and I’m proud of you for getting the help you need! The only person to always lie to is the med card doctor. You “don’t snore, you always feel rested, you have zero issues and your hearing is perfect” ;)
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Yeah it really feels tragically ironic that they’re like “oh you survived a dark period? Guess what? Your career is being stripped from you now, good luck with that.” Lol
Waisted-Desert@reddit
But with some illnesses, physical as well as mental, the initial survival is just the beginning. You need a track record of continuing wellness. Some seizure disorders are disqualifying for life, while others require a certain time period of being seizure free before you can drive again. Sleep apnea requires several months of cpap compliance.
daemonescanem@reddit
IK a guy who had gone thru a divorce and was super depressed. Well one night he picked up some hookers and had a little party. Well he got black out drunk, and the hookers got his info & debit card and wiped out his checking and savings accounts. Well he freaked and tried to kill himself and ended his career.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Oof brutal
Ok-Combination7287@reddit
I'm really sorry you are going through this. You did the right thing going to hospital. You should be proud of yourself.
Never trust any government agency for anything ever.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Thanks.
I should’ve learned my lesson back in college. I applied for peace corps and answered honestly that I go to therapy weekly to be a well rounded adult. It turned into a whole thing and was rejected despite being accepted.
refrained@reddit
They are correct in saying that your previously-issued card is not invalid. Once a new card is issued and given a determination of some sort (qualified or not), that supersedes any previous card, whether or not it was expired.
As for your company saying that the doctor who disqualified you must qualify you in the future, this is mostly correct. This is the same policy my company follows in order to prevent 'doctor shopping'. FMCSA basically says its the carrier's responsibility to monitor these sorts of things. Turning a blind eye to drivers going to another doctor in hopes of getting a different determination makes it look as though the carrier is trying to pretend to be ignorant about a known issue. Once they know, they're obligated to follow that through.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
Gotcha. Thanks. I’m trying to leave this job ironically for a better job. I was only returning to get paid until I did temporarily.
No-Neighborhood381@reddit
While you license is suspended mine as well due the program (SAp) . It’s already on your DOT clearing house.
mvamv@reddit
That's for drug and alcohol testing refusal or positive for substance use test results. I don't think it applies to disqualifications for medical examiner certificates.
I could be wrong though, I've never had to go through the SAP process so someone who has would have better insight.
daemonescanem@reddit
Never use employer provided SAP. While its meant to be a good thing, companies will use info against employee every time.
daemonescanem@reddit
Nope, your fucked. Anyone admitting to thinking of suicide or actaully attempts suicide, is medically disqualified for a year.
mr-doctor2u@reddit
Yeah well never tell the truth about anything to the examiner doing your med cert unless its something you physically can't hide.
Id call your dot and ask what they have on record or request your MVR and go from there. If you go to get recertified def go to a different doc. If they tell you no then it is what it is.
mike-2129@reddit
So im not too sure who disqualified you for a year. But I would get my mvr and see if it says medical invalid. If it does go to another clinic get it done. If you arent having mental issues now dont mention it. And if you're cleared you should be good to go. Ive had my physical given only 3 months. Went to a different dr and got my 2 years. And didn't have an issue. And next time. Never say you wanna blow your brains off. Just say you need to resign and deal with your shit. No one wants to hire or keep an employee that cant keep their shit together.
Pitiful_Yogurt_5276@reddit (OP)
I think I’m going to just go along with this tow truck job, go to their physical, and if it even comes up just give half the truth which is I was being harassed at work without support from my boss and took time off
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
If you go to another doctor, you're going to have to disclose it now that it's on record. Not doing so could really in permanent disqualification. As someone who's battled menstrual health while trucking, I've learned that it's not a disqualifier of you weren't hospitalized and your doctor will give you something in writing that you're stable enough to drive a CMV. They'll also want a list of your meds, as some meds are a no no. Whatever you do though, do not leave it off your next physical. That will only add to your problems.
threeglude@reddit
While I'm not certain on the answer, what I can tell you, is that EVERYTHING is filed electronically nowadays. So by that logic, yup, you're sol.
Ok_Bug_6470@reddit
Nobody will touch you wout doctors approval bc they wil be liable for you if anything happens. He had no choice if you answered a certain way. Maybe a therapist could figure this out for you.