CDL and seizures

I had a seizure in 2006.......I think u need to be off the meds for 5 years....then seizure free for another 5.....THAT'S 10 YEARS.......it really is the kiss of death. No doctor will even consider taking you off meds....putting you back behind a wheel...and you end up killing a bus load of kids....the doctors don't want that liability.
They never found any reason for my seizure.......I have only had 1.....I think the doctor called it a PARTIAL SEIZURE DISORDER...just to cover his ass.

I am too the point I am considering getting a lawyer.....and of course somewhere out there...I gotta find 2 doctors that will dispute the original doctors findings....but there again....it's all about LIABILITY..........I wish u all the best.............we r most likely outcast from the big rigs forever....strange how the diabetics can continue to drive. I did ask that question once.....I was informed that the seizure med DOES NOT PREVENT seizures.....just helps to lessen the chance you will have another.

You can get a CDL after 6 months seizure free. However you will never again be able to drive a commercial passenger vehicle regardless of much time passes or if you become medicine free

If you know of someone who has gotten their Class A back after 6 months....I would really like to talk to them.....I know they keep your Class C for 6 months......I would appreciate more info on how to get a Class A back after 6 months

Thank You

I would like to talk to them also. I've looked for any information I could find on the internet and I've seen 10 years to never. I'm gonna contact TN DOT today and ask them directly.

In those individual cases where a driver has a seizure or an
episode of loss of consciousness that resulted from a known
medical condition (e.g., drug reaction, high temperature, acute
infectious disease, dehydration or acute metabolic disturbance),
certification should be deferred until the driver has fully recovered
from that condition and has no existing residual complications, and
not taking antiseizure medication.
Drivers with a history of epilepsy/seizures off antiseizure
medication and seizure-free for 10 years may be qualified to drive
a CMV in interstate commerce. Interstate drivers with a history of
a single unprovoked seizure may be qualified to drive a CMV in
interstate commerce if seizure-free and off antiseizure medication
for a 5-year period or more.
(See Conference on Neurological Disorders and Commercial
Drivers at:
www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/medreports.htm)

I used to know a "hopalong". In TN, I think your driving career is over. It sucks, but is way too risky for the state to permit you to drive. FMCSA is only part of it. Check with TN Dept of Safety.

I use to think about becoming a heavy equipment operator....it DOES NOT require a class A..........might b an option

I'd even do that. I have authority issues and that's why I liked driving a truck. I would think being a heavy equip. operator would be somewhat similar. I'm gonna check into it. I'll let ya know... Thx

Cathy in Crossville, Tennessee said: I'd even do that. I have authority issues and that's why I liked driving a truck. I would think being a heavy equip. operator would be somewhat similar. I'm gonna check into it. I'll let ya know... Thx

I've checked with a heavy equip operator school in AL and they're telling me that being on seizure meds is not a problem. Gonna research further. They'll tell ya anything to get their $7,000....

I had a seizure that made me pass out and have an accident last year. I was driving a CMV class B and the cause was a tumor on my right temporal lobe. They suspended my license indefinitely for 1 year and now my Dr. cleared me for driving my personal vehicle and not commercially....what do I do now? Driving is all I know.

I had tumor surgery to my 5th cranial nerve on the left side of my head about 20 years ago. The surgery caused scares in the area that caused seizures. I was a police officer at the time and was medically retired about 5 years ago with what my doctor called a verbal disorder. I was taken off of medication in 2007 and allowed to have my commercial drivers license. I had not had a loss of consciousness since 1994. Unfortunatly I had a loss of counsciousness August of this year and was placed back on medication. I have had no problems since but was told I would never drive commercial again. There is supposed to be a study going on about possibly changing the dot rules. Is that true? The only thing I know to and wish to do know is trucking. I would like to know if there is something I can do.

twisk in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: You can get a CDL after 6 months seizure free. However you will never again be able to drive a commercial passenger vehicle regardless of much time passes or if you become medicine free

Most of the time unless you get the right DMV Hearing Officer you won't get your Class A for interstate and in California even intrastate back until you have been seizure free for 10 years and are off of medication. There are some states where you may be able to get an intrastate Class A. Check the epilepsy foundation website under drivers license laws by state. Good luck. I'm stuck in California so I probably will not drive a Commercial vehicle again.

Mark Smith in Fresno, California said: Most of the time unless you get the right DMV Hearing Officer you won't get your Class A for interstate and in California even intrastate back until you have been seizure free for 10 years and are off of medication. There are some states where you may be able to get an intrastate Class A. Check the epilepsy foundation website under drivers license laws by state. Good luck. I'm stuck in California so I probably will not drive a Commercial vehicle again.[/QU

Thanks for the info,
Sorry to hear that, I have discussed the DOT regulations with medical review and they said it will take about six months to review and decide whether I will be able to drive again " not guaranteed " though. Lots of luck to you.

twisk in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: You can get a CDL after 6 months seizure free. However you will never again be able to drive a commercial passenger vehicle regardless of much time passes or if you become medicine free

Can you explain how you got the CDL with current medical certificate. Who did you contact?

Thanks

twisk in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: You can get a CDL after 6 months seizure free. However you will never again be able to drive a commercial passenger vehicle regardless of much time passes or if you become medicine free

C

How did you get the medical exam cleared?

I've had a CDL for 15 years. DMV only suspended my license for 1 year because of the seizure and the accident. My license was restored five and a half months ago and now I'm trying to get a waiver from DOT so I can drive commercial vehicles again.

I was told by TN DOT that as long as you were on seizure medication you could not drive a commercial vehicle. Were they wrong? I would give anything to get back in the truck again.

CA Vehicle Safety says the same thing about certain medications claiming it is a Fed DOT law. To my knowledge DOT is regulation and not law. Also, Fed DOT regulates only interstate operation and does not regulate intrastate operations. Intrastate operation is left to each state. The State of Oregon is a good example. It determines CDLs on a case to case basis for intrastate operation and allows seizure medications.

i had a seizure back in may of 2011. it's the only one i have had and all my test are not showing anything wrong. i was working some long hours and little sleep at the time. is ten years the guideline for being able to drive with a cdl again and are there any exceptions?

I have researched this extensively due to the fact that it was devastating to me that I could no longer drive a big truck. You have to go 10 years seizure free off medication in order to drive. However, I had every test you can have and they all pointed toward epilepsy. I had what they call "spikes" in my EEG which are seizure activity. They cannot explain how all of a sudden at age 48 I developed epilepsy. My husband is still driving and I got my old job back as a graphic designer but I'd much rather be driving a truck. Hope you have better luck than I have.

Thanks Hopalong. I feel the same as you. There are states that allow intrastate driving but in California I think I am stuck with the 10 year rule. Same thing on age. I am 50. Ten years pretty much closes me out.

I spoke to the head RN at the FMCSA and he told me for a single unprovoked seizure I have to be on a steady medicine regimen for 2 years and seizure free for 4 years in order to qualify for the exemption.There`s a good chance I will be able to drive again come 2013.

Roger, thanks for your info. I'll have to see what I can do. I hadn't had a loss of consciousness for over ten years. Mine is caused by scars from a tumor I had removed years ago. I don't know if they would consider it a non-provoked seizure or not but it is worth trying. I'll try contacting FMCSA and continue trying with state of California to get a intrastate CDL.