Unqualified Federal DOT Exams with State (Colorado) Waiver - vision, Insulin Diabetes, loss of limb

[Guest guest]

Regarding

past discussions on Federal DOT/CDL exams and absolute contraindications to

passing the Federal DOT – ie insulin requiring diabetes, monocular vision, etc.

Monocular

patient did some footwork after I denied his DOT due to vision requirements.

Section 3 of Page 2 of the standard DOT Form says “Monocular

drivers are not qualified.â€

This

will vary by state, but Colorado allows exemptions for vision, insulin, loss of

limb – for INTRAstate driving – which my patient is doing.

See

attachments.

Your

state may have these waiver options, too.

For

those patients not meeting Federal Guidelines, but just driving a truck locally

or within a confined area (ie mechanics driving the bus across the lot to

another part of the bus barn), this may be a reasonable approach to allow them

to perform their duties despite not meeting the actual Federal requirements.

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Patient

found this on the Colorado Website…

http://www.csp.state.co.us/mcsap.html

http://www.csp.state.co.us/downloads/mcsap_medwaiverguide06.pdf

http://www.csp.state.co.us/downloads/WaiverApplication2008.pdf

=======================================================================================================

Waivers are issued to individuals who have failed to meet the

requirements of 49 CFR 391.41 for the following conditions:

391.41((1)and((2)-Loss of limb;

391.41((3)-Clinical diagnosis of

diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control;

391.41((10)-Vision requirements;

and

Requirements:

In addition to a completed waiver application, interested

parties must also submit the following:

???? A copy of the applicant's official driving

record from the Department of Revenue, listing accidents, driving arrests,

license suspensions, revocations or denials, and all traffic convictions,

except parking violations, within the last five years.

???? The original medical examination form (DOT

physical form) completed pursuant to 391.43, indicating that the applicant is

medically unqualified.

???? Copies of all valid

medical waivers issued to the applicant by any local, state or federal agency.

???? A letter from the

employing motor carrier stating the carrier understands, and is aware of the

applicant's medical condition, and wants the applicant to continue his or her

employment with the carrier.

===============================================================================================================

From

what I gather – I have to fill out the attached form – CSP 36C – which doesn’t

look too complicated, but does require some extra work beyond the basic DOT

exam.

Also,

it appears that the physician still signifies they are non-qualified on the

federal DOT form, but then fills out the secondary Colorado Waiver form and

then this is mailed into the State Patrol’s Medical Waiver Division.

For

my monocular patient, there is a ½ page section to fill out on vision.

===========================================================

I. VISION AND EYES

A. What is the patient=s best

corrected distant visual acuity? Right 20/ Left 20/ Both 20/

B. What is the patient=s horizontal

field of vision? Right Left

C.

Is there evidence of disease or injury to either eye? ???? No ???? Yes

If yes, please

explain:

D. Can the patient recognize the

standard signal colors of red, yellow, and green? ???? No ???? Yes

E.

Please describe how this condition may affect the patient=s ability to safely

drive a commercial motor vehicle.

F. Do you recommend any driving restrictions? ????

No ???? Yes If yes, please explain:

Locke, MD

2 of 2 File(s)

B908A1B6d01.pdf

B808813Bd01.pdf