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. 2021 Feb 1;63(2):139-146.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002101.

What Medical Conditions Limit or Medically Disqualify Truck Drivers: A Large Cross Sectional Study

Matthew S Thiese  1 , Gary Moffitt, Richard J Hanowski, Stefanos N Kales, Richard J Porter, Natalie Hartenbaum, Kurt T Hegmann
Affiliations

What Medical Conditions Limit or Medically Disqualify Truck Drivers: A Large Cross Sectional Study

Matthew S Thiese et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers must be medically certified to obtain/maintain a commercial driver license. 88,246 exams from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed for relationships between health and certification length. Relationships were quantified using adjusted odds ratios (ORs). Most conditions and/or examination findings had statically significantly limited medical certification. Obesity > 35 kg/m2, hypertension and diabetes mellitus requiring medication were most common. Significant and meaningful relationships were found for opioid or benzodiazepine use (OR = 7.30), heart disease (OR = 5.19), musculoskeletal conditions (OR = 5.13), seizures (10.18), stroke (OR = 6.73), neurological (OR = 18.51) and vascular (OR = 11.83). Drivers with 2 or more of 13 medical conditions were statistically significantly more likely to have limited medical certification (OR = 122.35) or disqualification (OR = 4.91). Drivers with any condition are more likely to have limited medical certification. There is variability in medical certification lengths related to medical conditions and differences between examiners.

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Conflict of interest statement

Natalie Hartenbaum is President of Occumedix, Review Officer/Medical Advisor for Occupational Health of FirstLab, Medical Director for Sunoco, Inc and Medical Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Matthew S. Thiese is CEO and Kurt Hegmann is President of SafeLane Health. Drs Hartenbaum, Hegmann and Kales has served as a medicolegal consultant and expert witness on cases involving commercial drivers. Dr Hanowski serves as a truck driver distraction/fatigue expert on legal cases. The other authors have no declared potential conflicts of interest.

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