How Unhealthy Commercial Drivers Can Stay Legal
Driving long hours every day can take its toll on anyone’s health.
It’s possible, that long term commercial drivers have suffer from health issues such as muscle and joint pain, backaches, obesity, diabetes or even heart diseases.
And continued driving under such circumstances is not just dangerous for you, but also for other passengers and cars around you.
However, it’s not completely illegal for you to drive as long as you can prove that you’re no threat to others.
Read this guide to find out how you can care for your and others safety while you drive.
Maintain a medical DOT card
Medical cards, on one hand, proves that commercial drivers are capable of physically inspecting their vehicles. On the other, it validates a driver’s health. These commercial vehicles can easily weigh tens of thousands of pounds. It is fairly easy to steer and maintain control of such vehicles, but a slight mistake can also cause ripple effects that leads to huge damages beyond belief.
So to legally drive a commercial vehicle, you must obtain and maintain a license specified solely for this purpose, issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT). If you suffer from any health issues, you must, in addition to obtaining a medical card from DOT, notify the medical card examiner as well.
DOT conducts a comprehensive medical exam that tests vital health indicators such as pulse rates, blood pressure, eyesight, respiratory issues and so on. In case of any disease, further tests and analysis decide whether you can be deemed fit to drive or not.
Note that even if you don’t have any serious heart condition, but tend to get a high blood pressure occasionally, you can be easily disqualified from completing the DOT medical procedure.
Maintain proper blood pressure
To ensure your blood pressure stays in check and does not shoot up without any valid cause, you must keep an eye on your health and diet. Cut down on the consumption of greasy and fast food.
Moreover, incorporate leafy- green vegetables (like spinach, lettuce, celery, kale, etc) into your diet. Eat more bananas along with oatmeal and whole wheat. These foods are known to naturally reduce blood pressure.
Also if you’re a habitual smoker or drinker, it is best that you curtail these habits.
