The United States Supreme Court has decided not to hear a wrongful termination suit filed against Crete Carrier Corp. The decision could set a legal precedent opening up carrier-mandated sleep apnea testing across the country.
In 2013, driver Robert Parker sued Crete for wrongful termination after he was fired for refusing to take a sleep apnea test. Starting in 2010, Crete instituted a policy that required all new drivers to take an in-lab screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) if they had a body mass index of 35 or greater. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 qualifies a person as overweight, and with any score over 30 a person is considered obese.
Parker brought a note from his personal doctor which said that further testing wasn’t necessary, but Crete told him he’d need to be screened using their lab anyway. When Parker refused, Crete suspended him indefinitely.
According to his attorney, Parker has never had any issues with fatigue and has never been involved in any accidents. He’s even been given a safe driving award by a previous employer.
Parker sued Crete claiming that discriminating against him because of his BMI violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case made it all the way to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals where the ruling went in Crete’s favor. Since sleep apnea is a condition which impacts the safety of the driver and because the medical safety team determined that due to Parker’s higher BMI he was at an increased risk for sleep apnea, Crete’s request for a medical examination was ruled lawful.
While the Supreme Court did not hear the case and therefore did not issue a ruling, just deciding to pass over the case signals that the appellate court decision is upheld. This sets a legal precedent which frees up other carriers to start requiring sleep apnea testing without fear of legal challenges from drivers who aren’t okay with being ordered to take an OSA screening based off of their BMI or neck size.
Currently the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Medical Review Board recommends that the FMCSA impose a federal regulation which would require drivers who meet certain criteria including having a BMI of 33+ to be required to undergo OSA testing. So far, the FMCSA has not issued any regulations regarding sleep apnea.
Many truckers have already spoken out against mandatory OSA testing, sometimes for privacy concerns or because they see spending a night in a testing center a waste of time that could be spent earning money or at home. Still others fear that it will result in expensive treatments and equipment which they will have to pay for.
One reason Parker didn’t want to undergo testing is that all Crete applicants are sent to the same treatment center. If that center finds that a driver suffers from OSA, a CPAP machine is ordered from the same center, the cost of which is then deducted from a driver’s pay. The testing center therefore has a financial interest in diagnosing drivers with OSA.
According to TheTrucker.com, almost 20 percent of Crete drivers are currently using CPAP machines.
Source: truckinginfo, overdrive, thetrucker, todaystrucking
Crete is 100% legally allowed to have a policy like that, it’s THEIR company! It’s it redicoulous YES! But you can’t sue because you don’t like a policy. If this wording is accurate they don’t evern target overweight, only obese. I’m a bigger guy myself but c’mon people.
I agree
I’m curious how they concluded his BMI. My doctor didn’t measure my neck nor did he check to see how much muscle I had he just assumed. My bmi ,yes I have fat on me but I used to lift weights. And my neck was 19 inches because of weights
Then they should be able to discriminate on any basis according to you. Skin color, religion, sex, geographical location, genetic flaws etc.. Don’t start whining when they decide people like you dont deserve the right to work.
if your a big guy trust me you will meet the 30 mark its neck size and height weight ratio a 6 fter is to weight under 200 lbs with a neck size of 15 16 or smaller and the questionnaire is design to add 4pts. which over 3 pts. gets you to the scale then the neck meas. or sleep test which is $1300.00 from the start then you pick machine and monthly addons. it is a racket and Concentra will fail you.. with trick questions like do you or has anyone said you snore, have you ever heard your self snore? does your kids or partner ever said it? if yes to any =s 4 to 6 pt. and at the bottom in small print explains their math. No test No Certificate period
What if that policy is not disclosed to you before you sign a contract and they don’t give you a copy of their policies in writing to begin with ????
The solution is simple…more drivers should just walk away from driving and change careers. I just did. I can finish my BA in math and make 50 to 70K a year and only work 40 to maybe 50 hrs a week and be home everyday. Much better ROI. Screw long haul. REMEMBER THE LINE FROM THE ORIGINAL MOVIE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER QWEI…. WHERE COLONEL SEITOSAID HE “COULD HAVE YOU ALL…” well you know the rest. And Major Clipton answered ” Then who will build your bridge?”
So just walk away..if they keep wanting more nonsense.. then who will drive their trucks?….
bmi is so outdated and a skewed way to judge obesity. based on bmi every single competitive body builder who ever lived would be deemed obese. under the same guidelines i am supposed to weigh 185, i had a hydrostatic bodyfat test done and my lean mass was 228, basically my weight if i was fat free.
I had a male friend that was a body builder and he received a letter from his insurance company declaring him obese even tho they had never seen him and he had not 1 ounce of body fat on him. All they saw were numbers and determined this decision solely on the numbers without any further information.
It’s ridiculous to determine someones size by using an outdated bmi test.
I agree. It should be your dr and your decision. We have to get a physical every two years it should not be allowed to make you go to their dr for a diagnosis But then again just don’t work for Crete if you don’t like their rules.
Well this paragraph from above; “One reason Parker didn’t want to undergo testing is that all Crete applicants are sent to the same treatment center. If that center finds that a driver suffers from OSA, a CPAP machine is ordered from the same center, the cost of which is then deducted from a driver’s pay. The testing center therefore has a financial interest in diagnosing drivers with OSA.”
doesn’t speak well of Crete. Let them by the machine wherever they can if they have to pay for it.
I know someone who just got a machine last month. He says that he has to use it every day because it sends a wifi message to someone and they can determine if he did not use it simply by not sending a message. And you just can’t leave it ‘on’ as it actually measure your breathing rate etcetera when you use it so there’s no fooling them.
Compliance is at 70% with min 4hr. You can miss 3 of 10 days. When I 1st started, I used a count down timer to ensure the 4 hr.
5 yrs later, My sinus problems have Not gone away.
And any Head colds get pushed into my lungs making recovery much longer. I have 99% compliance.
Prime has same policy but theirs is Where you must agree to take a pre employee apnea test while on the phone talking to the recruiter as they are going over things with you as a condition for employment with them. if say no, they tell you no job. I got a friend that is skinny and has sleep apnea and didn’t know It until he went to Prime and he is glad he did agree to take the sleep apnea test. I’m a bigger guy and I took one and I don’t have sleep apnea but doesn’t mean later on down the road that I could end up with the problem. I know several people who have died due to sleep apnea and they refused to using the machine
Funny thing…..my husband works for Prime and he has never been told he has to have a sleep apnea test. Before or after his hiring.
Well. I guess my comment got ‘screened’ and deleted? Hmmmm…..
As a former Crete driver I can testify under oath that when they started the sleep apnea check that it was a scam. I was already diagnosed with mild sleep apena that didn’t require a CPAP. I was forced to go home and pay for another sleep study. The whole process took 3 months. Getting an appointment, doing the one night test, waiting for results. Even though once again determined mild sleep apena with no requirement for a CPAP, Crete demanded I use one. So I got one and went back to work. Afterwards, Crete then instituted their written policy regarding sleep apena, BMI, etc. and demanded I turn in the CPAP machine that I got through the insurance I had through Crete and purchase another one through the company they were now contracting with. It was the same exact machine. I totally support drivers being medically capable of driving a big rig, but Crete went way beyond that and what they did (and maybe still doing) that if not illegal – should be and at the very least, it’s unethical and greedy behavior. By the way, I never turned in my CPAP. And guess what, it doesn’t record whether you’re actually asleep or not, only records your breathing. So I’d put it on as soon as I was done for the day and wore it for the minimum amount of time required. Took it off and went to sleep.
I told the doctor who does my CPAP checks that I don’t feel the machine helps me at all, in fact, it makes sleep more difficult with the dreams I have when using it. He suggested I use it when sitting around the house watching TV or just relaxing. The machine still registers use and doesn’t know if I’m actually sleeping or not.
I’ve been on a CPAP machine now for almost 3 years. 2 million safe driving award been trucking for almost 33 years. They like to believe that this machine is a wonderful thing that it will help you sleep better, what a croc! I feel no different today than I did before I was MADE to use this machine. Granted I could stop wearing it but that means I can’t drive anymore,ridiculous. As far as the ruling in Cretes favor, it’s their company and they can set any pre-employment guidelines they want. Bottom line is if you don’t like the policy find another company to work for.
I have retired with over 2 million safe driving miles on paper logs and NO cpap BS. Crete and other carriers are simply cutting their own throats as most applicants will refuse the expense and invasion of this useless rule! I hope they choke on it!
Let’s look at the political climate today. Watch, one of the snowflakes is going to get behind a wheel, have to take an apnea test, and scream fat-shaming. The day is coming.
Take your Bill OReilly kneepads off and lose the snowflake crap Danny boy. A driver not wanting to take the test at a clinic that has a financial interest in finding that you “need” to buy their equipment doesn’t make him any less of a person than you are. In fact, based on your post, the are probably much smarter than you can ever hope to be. People like you make the “political climate today” what it is.
Lol Great reply Mark!
APPLAUSE
What was not said is that from 2010-2012 perhaps longer, the company did not have a board certified doctor reading and interpreting the sleep test given to a driver. It was being done by tech and a doctor might receive the report later to sign off on as had been the case by many. They had an assembly line process and it did not matter if a driver used objective medical facilities etc who did not agree with findings or who had been advised by other physicians that other treatments was proven to work for a driver. The company seemed to always find an excuse to terminate drivers who had been on CPAP and who had been meeting all medical criteria for safety.
The machine was $600. about two years ago and you need a prescription to get one. I like how we make laws that make medical companies wealthy.
I use a cpap and I have noticed a difference like I don’t wake up with headaches anymore. I’m not tired while driving but when I have a small cold it always develop into a chest cold because the air is blowing everything down.
I think everyone is going to be put on one in due time so go ahead and get it. By the way 70% of the time is true but they have no way of knowing who is using it that 70%. My son has used mine and he’s 6 ft tall and 130lbs but says it makes him sleep better. So overweight should not be what determines if you need it or not skinny people have blockage to
Yes, there is no denial that in some cases that it may be helpful. But it’s a matter of choice, and choice of treatment
This sleep apnea CRAP…….it’s not a precise science. It’s more of a beurocratic solution to a very small problem. They push the device onto the drivers at a high cost. Big people who are in realative good physical shape are being forced to use the CP(CR)AP machine. There are suitable, effective alternatives and devices that are MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE and comfortable that achieve the same goal. But the FEDERAL GOVT and the medical device lobbiests wont acknowledge that fact!!! What a racket!!!! Money, lies and deciet is what this is all about……like a great deal of other BS that is getting shoved down our throats!!!! PURELY DISGUSTED!!!!
I’ve bin on a cpap for 6 years and it hasn’t helped one bit every thing it is supposed to help has got worse .I was put on because of a heart attack so with the 50 lbs I’ve gained .the lack off sleep and so on that’s bad enough.let talk the cost after the first time …which is the only time you will get a sleep test …you have to have what they call a wakefulness test that $600 for me an the insurance company will not pay for it .
Another victory for the American sleep apnea association (ASA)
Sure they will test you and they will make sure your tests have the numbers they want so they can have you buy the expensive mask when you don’t really have sleep apnea. I went to a DOT physical and they lied to me and told me DOT is requiring a sleep test for people over a certain weight and neck size combo with being a man. I found out this was bogus and a scam and it appears the ASA is behind it. I am 6’3″ 285lbs and solid muscle and I don’t have any sleeping problems.
This past DOT physical the Dr told me to get the sleep test. I have 3 markers that red flagged me. Had the thing done, at $2029 out of pocket, just to be told I snore. DUH, my family could have told them that. I have a long Uvala (the boxing bag at the back of the throat) and that’s why.
The company Crete and others use more than likely used scare tactics to get those companies to do business. Way too many unethical salespeople convince simple-minded muckity mucks that their insurance will go down along with accidents and drowsy driving.
To sum it up, ?????!
If there is any risk of sleep apnea testing and being “married” to a CPAP machine then they can take my CDL and shove it. Last company I drove for, over 25% of the drivers were required to use CPAP. They weren’t allowed any other treatment even though the FDA currently endorsed to other types.
I have done a lot of investigation into this issue and the consequences to even include that the only reason why they like the CPAP machine is because of “compliance” which also means, that if you are on vacation in the woods where there is no power, there’s a possibility you can lose your job not being in “compliance” with your “treatment”.
I can tell you a lot of stories that all I know is that my medical card comes up for renewal in July and if they want me to go for a “test” then I will surrender my CDL.
That is the correct attitude. No one has to put up with any imposition, that they feel is in their best interest. That being said, I have been on Cpap for 6 yrs. when I was diagnosed my heart stopped beating 3 times, with an average lapse time of 18 seconds. Two of those woke me up, which the norm for me was 4 times a nite waking episode. The reference that the Company has some monetary involvement with the either the Doctors or the Equipment provider, IS a concern. Possibly collusion or embezzlement by fraud. If any one tells you, you can take a test while on the phone, is a liar ~ It takes at least 5 hours.
Bill, your HEART stopped for 18 seconds? What good does a CPAP machine do for a HEART that stops beating? Does your include a defibrillator?
I think for alot of people who do have osa its not just to keep your cdl its to keep on breathing. Osa is a very dangerous condition that alot of people die from every year. I have it for over 10 years and I use my machine every night. I dont like wearing it but I would like to stay alive. The heart is a muscle and when it has to work hard every night its gonna get bigger and thats not good according to my dr. Reggie white from the packers died from osa cause he did not use a machine. So to sum it up I could care less about my job or my cdl. I would like to be around to walk my daughter down the aisle.
Hammer down
One other quick story… When this issue came up at the company that I drove for, I asked the Oregon Department of Labor through an email conversation if they can force me to do something on my own time. The answer was, “yes.” Then I asked the question, “if the company required me to have a company logo tattooed on my left arm and I refuse, can I be fired for that?” The answer was, “yes.”
That’s the result of “at will” employment Robin. A company can fire you for whatever they want…as long as it’s not a prohibited discriminatory reason. It sucks, but it is what it is.
Why does it suck. You can quit anytime you want. Sounds like it is an even playing field in that regard.
Just take the damn test
Areflow healthcare does the test for $100 they send u the testing equipment you use it they cover expedited shippin back to them
If u need machine $100 per month till its paid an they will continue to file compliance reports for dot physical an company policy compliance i use one without issue
one size policy’s does not fit ever one and why should you have to pay cretes doctors center for it. they is a law that says no one can force you to buy anything ! buy it werou need it !
e you want to ! if you need it !
Have you asked Crete that question?
Ask Crete a question and they give you a answer that is either you do this or we end your contract is kind of like working for a communist dictatorship
I tried to do the “at home” study. Place told me DOT wouldn’t accept it because there was no proof that it was actually ME doing the test. I was also told that they are not very accurate, especially if you move a lot in your sleep. I have been on a CPAP for 2 years. I did mine all through insurance(let them pay for it). I use it for compliance purposes only. It is a hassle to use because it does nothing for me and I constantly wake up tangled in the hose, or its wrapped around my neck. When I do wake up during the night, as long as I have had it on for 4 hours or more, I take it off. Personally I feel that if a company is going to MAKE you do something like this, they should have to pay for everything….for as long as you stay with the company. Unfortunately, they all have us over a barrel…do what they say, find a different company to work for, or give up your CDL altogether. It sucks, but it is what it is.
I’ve been on the border line of what THEY consoder as obese for years. If someone wants me to take a sleep apnea test, I’ll just go find another job. I understand Creet’s a crappy company to work for anyway.
I have one, I use it. I don’t like it but it’s the law that lobbyist have bribed into existence.
The truth is, the people financially benefitting from this have bribed OUR government into enforcing it so OUR government has another way to track every instance our our existance and where-abouts.
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Thank you Ben Franklin…
Welcome Tyranny.
I’ve got no problem with Crete mandating employees be tested….if they are paid for their time and test costs.
I’ve also got no problem with them mandating the test center, and them getting sent home with the machine…if they foot the bill.
It would be a small price to pay for safety if they are really that concerned that it is a problem.
I’ve used a CPAP for a very long time, but I don’t use it so I can get my needed sleep. I use it so those around me can. It made not difference in my quality of sleep.
Wow all you people need to wake up. The CPAP machine saved my husband life. He took it stopped breathing 193 times in 8 hours . His original reading on his machine was 19.3 that’s bad after using the machine for 4 years his reading is 1.5 which shows it’s working. You have to use the ma home a minimum of 8 hours a night consistently not when you want or how you want it sure won’t work then. There are different masks if your mask isn’t fitting properly or your filters are not changed monthly or you don’t clean out your tubes with antibacterial soap and water every two weeks like your suppose to it won’t work. Every 6 months you are to go to the clinic and get your information downloaded to see your progress untill they tell you yearly. My husband body mass was large he also has large tonsils that blocked his air way but if you actually see a real Dr that deals with this like we were sent to CPAP is for what you don’t realize is going on in your sleep. Major snoring could be a sign that something is blocking your way. I hope you care as much about your life and safety to use the machine take care of it as my husband does because if he didn’t get the machine I wouldn’t have home today. Good luck God less.
“Wow all you people need to wake up” and we’re talking about sleep. 🙂
it is really a matter of choice of treatment – they only like the CPAP because it can be monitored – that does not mean that is the best choice for the patient.
sorry your husband is sick ! but that don’t mean we all are , and all don’t need the same treatment .
If your EKG says you stop breathing, and your heart stops long enough to trigger a flight response, you will gladly use it!!
“IF”? Using that “reasoning” we should all wear full safety gear at all times – just in case something happens.
Why do think it saved his life? Because they told you so? How many years did he manage to not die in his sleep before the CPAP?
Bravo answer. If we didn’t get CDLS, If we didn’t make money…..would they care?
If this is a requirement by the company then you are “on duty” thus you need to be paid for your time to be tested and the cost of the machine needs to be covered by the company. You are being required to preform a task (work), i.e. testing, and wearing the mask and must be paid for your time.
Take that one step further… You are being “ordered” to comply with a company requirement on your off time. Shouldn’t you get paid or compensated for that? I mean if you take time off work and don’t use your CPAP machine you could lose your job.
Big Brother is getting to personal;All this is done in the interest of safety in concept,but it’s all about money:Money to pay both sleep centers & their personnel,money for the equipment should you test positive and money for the DOT testing sites and the DOT personnel.In my humble opinion,the whole testing process at the sleep centers is incriminating:A person may actually test positive when in fact he’s not!
You are , by law, entitled to a second opinion. The thing so many of you do not realize is , this could turn in to a very easy way for companies to eliminate you from the driver pool, with no recourse .Decision you have is, do you like the lifestyle enough to put up with these demands?.
If it is being done “in the interest of safety”, why are 4 wheelers not required to submit to the same physical exam and testing? They use the same roads as trucks.
I know several men who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and they use cpap machines, and swear they could not live without them.
Some are cmv drivers, and some are not. One works for the railroad. And only 2 fit the discriminatory profile set forth by the fmcsa.
I have just now been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and look forward to using the cpap.
There’s no way I could wear a mask when I sleep. I’m glad I’m an o/o (not lease) and I have a great family doc and a good dot doc.
If you are serious about your DOC. have him, or her, show you the EKG tape, Then you decide.
The US Armed forces require you to have a limit to certain BMI index. They also do recognize that neck and chest messurements are not even accurate enough to determine BMI . So if anyone loses their job over an improper BMI then they should be able to file wrongfull termination suit. To have a true BMI reading you need to be suspended in watee on a scale weighig you first out of tbe water then next in the water. Muscle is dense and sinks while fat floats so you weigh less in water. You get a more accurate BMI reading. I would agree with the ruling if drivers were being fairly messured for their BMI. Instead we pass rulings letting trucking companies dictate what a good medical practice is. Are they trucking companies doctors as well now or are we seeing yet another case of the all mighty dollar dictating lives? I know scrawney guys that have a high BMI because although they appear thin they have little to no muscle and I know big guys that are all muscle but they are bigger. The current system is a total load of crap and is categorizing people by appearence. I am over 300lbs and my freinds and I had to carry a dead guy off a mountain trail who had a heart attack, he was a lean 165-180lbs. I am in my 40’s and in recent times had 2 freinds in my age group die of heart attacks I bet not one of the three would have been checked for BMI.
I will just get a dog & train him to wear it.
Americans with disabilities act. This is statute he should have based his claim on. Employers must make reasonable accommodations. I read that to say they should supply the cpap machines.
Robert G, did you read the article? Go back and read it again…ah forget it, I’ll give you a hand just in case you can’t find your glasses. Here is the quote that you have apparently overlooked….”Parker sued Crete claiming that discriminating against him because of his BMI violated the Americans with Disabilities Act”. Next time try to resist the urge to skim over the story and read the whole thing.
you are wrong, it means the cannot dismiss you out of hand
The sleep apnea nonsense is nothing but a scam. Statistically sleep apnea related deaths due to drivers falling asleep behind the wheel is miniscule. Not saying it doesn’t happen but it it is a lot less common than the scammers in Washington DC or these trucking companies wants you to believe. This is going to be a huge mistake if Trucking Companies start following the footsteps of Crete. Not very smart when there’s already a driver shortage. Personally I hope truckers leave the industry in droves forcing these companies to go bankrupt.
Right on ?. The company I work for has over 200 trucks empty. No drivers. And now these companies want to screen out certain drivers? That’s like cutting off a nose to spite a face.
If there was any other way to work someplace else and still make what I get for driving I believe I’d do it, so long as it’s legal. ?
Iam gonna start a medical equip company and get rich of the fat truckers big big fat necks.???
Truckers are too fat. Deal with it.
Hi there Dick martin. I’m 6′ 265 and under 10% body fat. Generalized statements are a sign of ignorance.
i drive for crete and had the same problem with having them do the testing and then having to buy their machine, it benefits this medical company for me to be on the cpap machine as it cost $1100.00, i found out that i could go to the VA hospital as i am a veteran and get the test done and machine for free, si i did. but then had to be offf work and on machine for 30 days for them to monitor the machine b/f i could go back to work, meanwhile if i went to crete for sleep study i could take test get the machine and be back to work in 3 days, i decided to go with saving $1100 but i lost 30 days of work so i still ended up losing but crete and their medical team didnt get my $1100.
I think you did the right thing
Exactly right decision. Good for you ! You also need to pass the word to other VETs on the road.
Did you file a compensation claim with V.A.? It behooves you to do so. I did and V.A. listed by Sleep Apnea as 50% disabled. Which equals to $1,000 a month and TAX free for life , plus other benefits. Your a veteran, you earned it, you deserve it.
Everyone worries about the truckers, what about all of the regular people out there driving, and falling asleep and running into trucks.. And then how many people out there can sleep for 8 hours straight, and then in a strange bed at that.. The most I can sleep is 6 hours.. My internal clock wakes me up.. A lot of people I’ve talk to that failed the test at hospital , went some where else and passed the test.. You know they have to pay for those Hospitals some how.. Also if you check into things, you’ll find that the Doctor’s and Hospital’s have stock in these companies.. Just like the stock in the drug companies.. But people will believe a quack..
Autonomous vehicles.
I’m not opposed to the company testing the employees. It’s their company. I’m not sure if any evidence that it’s done any good. But whatever. I do think however, that they should pay for it.
With regards to people that are refusing to take the test. Ehh.. I’m both ways on that. The only reason why I wouldn’t want to take the test is because of the time involved and the hassle. But I do know people that say they sleep better now because of the machine.
Crete carries runs this sleep study. The charge the driver for this study. So the company can make more money of truck drivers. Body mass index didn’t look at body builder’s. Their mody mass index will not pass this test. The only thing I see from this is another way to rob the truck driver. Not everyone who is obese has sleep apnea. The sleep apnea people are just looking to make money. All I can say is call you senators and the president. We all need to stand up and tell this people this bull . Just like the Commercial Safety Alliance is. Mr Trump said it best for every new regulations we lose two other.
Crete is a crap company anyway.
BMI is a flawed way to calculate whether someone is obese. It does not take into account muscle vs fat tissue. Even the so called experts say it’s wrong. There needs to be an accurate way to test if this does go forward and big brother gets his way.
What a joke, i can not sleep in the testing locations or with all the crap that they attatch to our face for the test.ive taken the test 3 times with no resolts don’t know what I’m going to do.
Take a herbal sleeping pill. It helps to relax you.
Trying to say that it can be done sole based on BMI should be construed as discrimination. You are saying either if your skinny you can’t have it, or if your fat you have it.
If you have sleep apnea its not something to ignore. I have it along with atrial fibulation
What this article doesn’t cover is the fact that untreated sleep apnea can lead to stroke along with a-fib so I’ve got 2 strikes against me already
But it is what it is …….
There are several companies wanting to shove these test down the drivers throat. Then there are other companies to work for. They are world’s apart. Another year or two and I’m out making 42 or 43 years altogether but there isn’t a schedule to trucking to stay fit. Trucking by itself is not healthy as anything you eat is followed by 5 or 6 hours of riding around then a 10 hr break to shower and sleep. No fitness there and eventually the younger well fit become old and fat so out to pasture you go. That’s your future.
So, here’s a suggestion. I understand that not everyone fits in this categoty. But a majority of truck drivers are out of shape. Meaning, if you walk further than from your truck to the inside of the Pilot, you’re winded. I’ve seen guys out at Grand Island Bosselmans having to rest leaning against the hoods of trucks tired and winded.
This can be fat guys or skinny guys. The best thing to do is try and get some exercise, try and eat better and get your weight down.
You can walk or jog around truck stop parking lots. Most truck stops are on roads you can jog or walk down next to miles of cornfields.
Get a few dumbells, a jumprope, some resistance bands. There are plenty of 10 minute exercise videos on youtube that require nothing but you and a little space. You can do it in the cab of your truck in most cases.
Get a Planet Fitness membership. Park there over night. You can get a shower and it’s usually in a strip mall with a Golden Corral or other decent restaurants that have something better than the fast food available or TA/Petro offerings.
Stop making excuses and start changing your lifestyle.
Also, put a plant in your truck. You’ll be amazed at how much better you sleep.
Just a few simple, economic suggestions to help the otr crowd.
As a driver who has been using a CPAP since 1999, I don’t see a problem with finding out if one has a problem requiring help sleeping properly. A carrier being able to require a test at a specific testing area is also ok, as long as they are willing to absorb all the cost of testing and treatment. If a driver or his insurance must bare the cost the carrier should have no say as to where tested or purchased. Crete’s situation smacks of profit and kickback. This may not be the case, but the possibility is there.
Otr = most awful life ever….who wouldnt have trouble sleeping in a rolling metal coffin
I think main problem is trying to make a driver sleep when he is not sleepy and making him drive when he is sleepy.Why not let the driver make that decision after all it is his life on the line.
God Bless you. Yes driver choice.
I heard of people choking on food while sleeping and dying, why they don’t forbid eating? That would solve many problems.
So another pre employment test, big deal. If he doesn’t have any issues why refuse? As far as a high bmi that’s not a disability that’s being lazy. Try walking more than 100 ft a day. I’ve stopped at night when the parking was apparently full, when I go to the back rows there’s lots of parking. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I was 145lb. then and 150lb. now no heavier now then when I started.
Is’s as easy as this, SCREW CRETE. If your have no other option for employment you need to find a new occupation anyway. Guess who will be treating drivers like 8 track tapes when mass production of driverless trucks begins.
If trucks don’t need drivers shippers won’t need carriers.
Not only does the sleep center have a conflict of interest due to them being the CPAP vendor the method of payment is an issue. One reason for deducting the cost of the CPAP from driver pay is that it bypasses any oversight by an insurance carrier or in the case of a driver that is over 65 Medicare. My company threatened a 30 day suspension if I refused the machine from the sleep center with whom they contract. So I paid for their overpriced CPAP rather than be out of work even though I could get a machine from the VA at little or no cost. It feels like extortion to me.