I had to go in to the clinic today to get fingered lol. Dr. didn't even kiss me or nothing. Anyway, started asking why the clinic in my small town of 1000 no longer does DOT physicals. Last time I asked I got the runaround. Today I got the truth!!! Come to find out that with the recent more strict rules that our beloved Feds have implemented, small town PAs and Dr.s have dropped out. Why? Not because they can't pass the test, or don't have the equipment, but because my PA is a small town girl that grew up here and she doesn't want to fail the drivers, or force them to get a $10,000 sleep study!
From sleep healthier.com :
"The current DOT regulations include BMI and neck size as key indicators for sleep apnea that medical examiners will be looking for during recertification physical exams. The DOT currently wants anyone with a BMI of 35 or greater to have a sleep study performed as well as anyone with a neck size of 17 inches or greater (for males) and 16 inches or greater (for females) to have a sleep study done. Drivers whose sleep study results are positive for sleep apnea and who have been set up on CPAP treatment, will have to meet certain compliance requirements when using their CPAP machines. To meet current DOT regulations, CDL holders must use their machines for 70% of the week which roughly equates to 4 hours a night for 5 nights a week."
How many skinny truck drivers do you see, or truck drivers with a 16" neck?
So she went on to tell me that of the 18 small town PAs that went down to Pierre (SD Capital) only 2 took the test because they are in the same boat. Her exact words were "I'm not going to tell a driver with a family of 4 he can't drive anymore. That would ruin me in a small town."
So now I and many others have to take an entire afternoon off and drive an hour to "the big city" to get a physical. Just more unintended consequences from the morons trying to protect us from ourselves.
Sorry for the long rant. Thanks for reading.
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