$79 Easy DOT Physical Exam Grand Junction Colorado

How to Apply for a Refund When You Admit to Marijuana Use at Your DOT Physical

Marijuana and CBD laws are creating issues for both commercial drivers and DOT Medical Examiners. States are being more forgiving on marijuana laws and drivers are being more truthful at their DOT Physicals. Drivers are receiving mixed messages on marijuana use. Furthermore, in Colorado where marijuana use is prevalent, this is creating significant issues. This article will show drivers who present to First Aid Occupational Health in Grand Junction how they can request a refund for their DOT physical.

Federal Test

The DOT Medical exam is a federal test and is becoming more regulated. The federal government is giving DOT Medical examiners more specific guidelines on who can pass and who cannot. Staying current on changes is necessary for both the driver and the clinic.

Colorado Law

While medical and recreational use of marijuana is legal in Colorado, it creates trouble for Colorado commercial drivers who enjoy or need marijuana for their wellness. Despite not having issues or opinions regarding marijuana use, we are obligated to follow FMCSA guidelines. From our viewpoint, we see how this creates challenges for Colorado commercial drivers. The last thing we want to do is start an exam and not issue a DOT or CDL Medical Card for a driver. Especially when it affects their livelihood.

Double Warning

Many of our drivers schedule and pay for their DOT Medical Exam online. They receive a double warning on our website that marijuana is disqualifying plus in our email with instructions for your DOT CDL Physical Exam in Grand Junction it warns drivers there too. We have nothing against marijuana. But our number one responsibility is keeping the roadways safe. When that is demonstrated and the FMCSA approves of it, we’ll adjust our policies.

DOT Physical Grand Junction Marijuana

Teach Us

We are always looking for new information and medical evidence as it relates to the DOT Medical Exam. When you find news from the FMCSA that says marijuana is safe, please send it to us.

Currently, we’re using these resources to make our policies:

Ask Us

You are always welcome to interview us before you scheduling. We’re only here to help people pass. Not to harm their livelihoods. But certifying drivers who use marijuana is a risk to our livelihoods and readers need to respect that.

Refund Request

To request a refund for your DOT Exam after learning marijuana disqualifies you please click THIS LINK to request a refund.

 

 

Improving Blood Pressure with Beets

High blood pressure is the primary reason commercial drivers have trouble that their DOT Physical. They are nervous. They come in not sure what kind of mood the doctor or nurse are in. And because the DOT Medical Exam affects a driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) there are ramifications for the physical. Drivers need to prepare to have low blood pressure so they will pass their exam and not have to have their physical time and time again. More and more drivers are using beets and beet related supplements. But is this the best solution? Read on to learn the truth.

Multiple Benefits

Beyond improving your blood pressure, beets show promise in how you think too. This is important for many reasons.

One of the biggest reasons drivers have hypertension is because of stress. Their profession involves dealing with other motorists, demanding dispatchers and clients. Driver need quick thinking and beets can actually improve a driver’s ability to think.

beets dot physicalBeet Truths

While we are not a big fan of supplements, often they are worth a try. But they need to be proven through research and beets for high blood pressure are well researched and proven.

When you choose to include beets into your wellness program there are a couple things you must do.

  1. Speak with your physician before starting a program especially if you are on prescription medications
  2. Plan for consistency
  3. Figure out how you are going to ‘test’ beets

You should always purchase a two to three month supply and figure out how you are going to regularly see if the money is worth it. Find an easy and accurate way of testing your blood pressure in a consistent location at a consistent time of day.

Best Options

Finding a brand at the right price can take a little work. Here, we’ll offer you three choices and you can find the product that suits your budget.

  1. Here is our #1 choice for people where money isn’t an option. SuperBeets aren’t the most affordable, but you get you pay for. CLICK HERE for more information on SuperBeets.
  2. For a middle of the road option CLICK HERE
  3. Horbaach is an affordable brand that make good products

Best Free Options

Some people want the most affordable ways to lower blood pressure. There is nothing better than…walking. Yes. Simply walking is the best way to lower blood pressure naturally.

The next best free option is to avoid processed and packaged foods. These are always high in salt. Packaged and fast food is usually the worst thing you can do.

Need More Help?

DOT Physical CDL Exam Grand Junction Colorado

If you try these or have tried these and you are not making progress, please reach out. There are additional ways to lower blood pressure beyond supplementing with beets or walking.

For instance, we offer a 12 month nutrition program specifically for commercial drivers. This is a remote program that helps drivers make one better choice at a time and often they lose weight. Our last commercial driver lost 40 pounds in 12 months. Call 970-712-8193 to schedule a free 10 minute consultation. And you get 50% when you sign up within two weeks of your last DOT Physical.

To schedule the most affordable DOT or CDL Physical Medical Exam in Grand Junction, CLICK HERE

Sleep Apnea, Your Health, The Effect on Your Profession

The lifestyle of a truck driver is not for everyone and sleep apnea can easily creep in to further complicate things.  The hours can be irregular and long. Drivers sit for extended periods of time with little physical activity.  Many of them have a diet high in sodium and fat thanks to the convenience of fast food.  While this lifestyle isn’t glamorous, it is rewarding and doesn’t have to be detrimental to the drivers’ health with the proper diet, exercise, sleep, and routine check-ups. 

Explaining Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is extremely common, however, growing obesity rates in the truck driving industry, have left drivers more exposed to acquiring it.   OSA occurs when a person’s breathing becomes obstructed during sleep due to throat muscles that relax intermittently, meaning they stop breathing.  This results in a person not reaching the full restorative REM sleep cycle.

What Does This Mean for Truck Drivers

According to the Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMCSA} reports show that over 28% of truck drivers have sleep apnea.  Those with mild sleep apnea are still qualified for truck driving jobs.  However, they must see a medical examiner to determine their fitness to operate a motor vehicle.

Disrupted sleep can decrease a truck driver’s cognitive function and cause increased daytime sleepiness.  This leads to more truck driving accidents.  While driving any vehicle requires an alert driver, truck drivers are typically going down the highway at the tune of 50 – 80 thousand pounds.  Reaction time is key and lessened if the driver is groggy.

Disrupted sleep can decrease a truck driver’s cognitive function and cause increased daytime sleepiness.  This leads to more truck driving accidents.  While driving any vehicle requires an alert driver, truck drivers are typically going down the highway at the tune of 50 – 80 thousand pounds.  Reaction time is key and lessened if the driver is groggy.

Sleepiness, dull response time, and lack of concentration are all side effects of sleep apnea.  A crash can occur in the blink of an eye.  Current times have proven that the country depends on truck drivers to deliver goods that we use in every aspect of our lives.  Sleep apnea can hinder the driver’s ability to function safely. 

Drivers can still drive commercial vehicles if they have been diagnosed with sleep apnea as long as they are compliant with their treatment.  This means they may only be granted a year on their Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC).  However, if they are not compliant, they could be denied the MEC and lose their CDL.  Bring your CPAP compliance log to all future DOT physicals. Safety is first and foremost.

DOT Physical Grand Junction

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

Several risk factors can increase the development of sleep apnea.  This condition does not fully discriminate.  This condition can affect both men and women, though men are at a greater risk.  While sleep apnea can occur in those of average weight, those who are obese are four-times more likely to incur it.

Smoking can increase a person’s chances of this condition because of the possible fluid retention and inflammation often brought on by cigarette smoke.

Alcohol and pain medications can relax the muscle tissue in the throat, also elevating the risk of sleep apnea.

Sitting in a truck all day, easily contributes to poor posture and results in alignment issues with the cervical spine.  This mis-alignement is another contributing factor.

Those with a larger neck are more prone to sleep apnea.

Lastly, this condition can also run in some families.

Recognizing the Symptoms

The main symptom of sleep apnea is excessive daytime sleepiness.  Additional symptoms of sleep apnea include the following:

  • The size of the neck
  • Restless Sleep
  • Loud snoring with brief periods of silence followed by gasps
  • Falling asleep during the day
  • Morning headaches
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Irritability, mood or behavior changes
  • Forgetfulness
  • Anxiety and depression

Should you be experiencing three or more of these symptoms, it would be wise of you to consult a physician.

Sleep Apnea DOT Physical

What if it Goes Untreated

There are further risks involved if sleep apnea gets ignored.  Possible risks include:

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Cardiac risk
  • Hypertension
  • Irritability
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Depression
  • May lose your CDL

Take Action

Now that you better understand sleep apnea, you can become proactive in addressing the issues that can contribute to this condition; sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and healthier choices.  We encourage you to check out our Trucker Transformation program at www.truckertransformation.com. We developed this program and believe it is the best method to support truck drivers prior to them actually incurring additional health issues. 

Or, if you want to join a group of drivers supporting each other on their weight loss journey, click HERE to join our free Trucker Transformation weight loss group.

However, if you have already been diagnosed, the most common treatment for sleep apnea is the continuous positive airway pressure machine.  A CPAP machine is a device worn during sleep that increases the air pressure in the throat so the airway doesn’t collapse when breathing in, allowing the deep restorative sleep needed.  Be compliant with your treatment and you will be able to continue your profession.

Keep yourself safe as well as others on the road and see your doctor if you feel you have undiagnosed sleep apnea or the symptoms.

For More Information

Click HERE to hear more about OSA from the FMCSA.

When you need a DOT or CDL Physical in Grand Junction or Fruita Colorado, you can schedule online by clicking HERE

First Aid Occupational Health provides the most affordable and smoothest DOT experience in Grand Junction. You can call for more information at 970-712-8193.

Click HERE to Schedule a DOT Physical in Grand Junction

Trucker Transformation

Trucker Transformation Coming

Grand-Junction-DOT-PhysicalAre you a Trucker? We have been doing DOT physicals since 2007.  On average we do over 500 DOT physicals a year. Working with commercial drivers is a lot of fun because they are a hard-working population. They sacrifice time away from their family and friends so that the products and goods that we rely on get safely transported throughout the country.

in 2014 health care providers that perform DLT physicals where required to take a class on how to do the DOT physical and pass an examination proving that we know the healthcare demands of this occupation.  The government saw increasing health concerns and decided there needed to be greater regulation to protect the people that share motorways.

Safe Roads

We believe safer motorways are necessary and we also believe there are better ways at providing and creating healthy drivers in addition to the regulations.

We want to see drivers that are healthy and passed their physical without any limitations hesitations or restrictions. We want them to live a healthy lifestyle and retire from the Transportation industry feeling physically well and healthy to enjoy the retirement.

Your Health is Everything

Our motivation when certifying drivers is to protect the public and make sure our families are safe while sharing motorways with commercial drivers.

For years, I had been referring drivers who needed health Care Services to colleagues that could support them. These drivers would be referred to nutritionist dietitians and health coaches however not a single one would follow up with the person.

That’s when we decided we needed to do something about this problem and we created our own program that we believe is the best method to support the commercial truck driver.

The Trucker Transformation program is portable it is not a diet nor do you have to buy any products or supplements

How do I learn More?

Check out www.truckertransformation.com for more information, give us your email address on this page or join our free Facebook group.

Safety Driving Tips For Commercial Drivers

Commercial driving is a risky, and error prone endeavor that is often associated to be devoid of emotional control. So, exactly what are the issues that cause so much stress in drivers? Driving can potentially be a stressful experience. Moreover, anyone behind the wheel, whether commercial or personal faces unpredictable variables that otherwise cannot be controlled like weather conditions – can be minor, traffic, fatigue, and psychological health problems which can be more challenging. It is important for commercial drivers to drive safely. Here are some safety driving tips for commercial drivers.

Cost of Road Rage

Through evolution, our bodies have been designed around a simple fight-or-flight mechanism, in relation to stressful situations. Sitting in a car ultimately results to stress build up since there is no physical outlet. We can neither fight nor run, therefore tension simply builds up with no obvious outlet.

When an outlet does present itself, for example on another driver who is being irritable, there’s a potential danger of reacting aggressively leading to the so-called road rage.

Typical drivers exhibit this rage in three different ways, as the aggressor; who takes extreme actions against other motorists, making it well known he/she has been wronged. The Communicator; who simply communicates his/her displeasure and take no action through making vulgar statements and gestures or even honking the horn frantically. Finally, the silent avenger who has the potential of becoming an aggressor or a communicator

The cost of road rage is huge often resulting in loss of lives and livelihoods (loss of insurance and jobs, in the case of a commercial driver) through accidents.

Manage Your Emotions, Lower StressSafety Driving Tips For Commercial Drivers

Your emotions, such as anger and grief, are the hidden causes of high blood pressure, the number 1 health problem for commercial drivers. While high blood pressure is caused by other factors like body chemical imbalances, unhealthy diet, or excessive weight, but it also reflects another major cause, bottled up anger and/or grief.

Luckily, there are practices that one can use to help defuse anger and manage grief to subsequently reduce blood pressure naturally. As a commercial driver, please consider these 7 strategies to manage your emotions as you drive:

  1. Remind yourself that you’re in control of yourself, your emotions and your vehicle.
  2. Recognize that it’s not your duty to manage other drivers’ behavior. Every driver is their own person and thoughts.
  3. Stay cool and always drive defensively. Be on the lookout for drivers who are going too fast, traveling too close or driving erratically. If you notice a driver driving in a manner to suggest unsafely, keep your cool and drive away, or drive off the road for a moment, let them pass and continue.
  4. Plan to enjoy your trip however it presents itself. Play your favorite jams. Have your non-alcoholic chilled beverage etc.
  5. Keep your distance both physically and emotionally. Give plenty of room between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.
  6. Set an example. Be the man, take the high road by showing others about what driving safe entails.
  7. Learn to let it go. Regardless of the other drivers’ irritability, always learn to let go of any negative feelings creeping in.

Learn more about driving safely and schedule your DOT Physical Exam in Grand Junction

Here is how the process works:

  1. Schedule and pay for your exam by clicking here
  2. Arrive ready to complete minimal paperwork
  3. We’ll do a thorough examination and determine your certification length
  4. Also, you have the option of having us recommend wellness strategies that’ll improve your health

Make life easier by scheduling and paying for your DOT Physical in Grand Junction, Colorado at www.dotgj.com and save $10

Company Info

First Aid Occupational Health
2140 N 12th
Grand Junction, CO 81501

tel. (970) 712-8193

Recent Posts

Tags

Acute Myocardial Infarction Back Pain beets blood pressure cdl CDL Exam CDL Physical CDL Physical Closest DOT Doctor Near Me Commercial Driving Decompression Delta Diabetes DOT Physical DOT Physical Grand Junction Montrose Delta Rifle Glenwood DOT Physicals Eating healthy Ergonomics Food Fruita Glenwood Springs Grand Junction Grand Junction Colorado Health For Truckers heart attack high blood pressure Lower back pain make a plan Marijuana metformin Montrose muscle mass Neck Pain Pittsburgh recipes Rifle Sleep Apnea strength training Stress Trucker Health trucking Uber and Lift Physicals Uber and Lyft Physicals Uber Exam Weight loss worker's compensation