Gotta love the CA DMV

[obiedon]

I have to say that most of the time I'm pretty even tempered. But the CA DMV has me really mad. Last year in October I fell off my trailer (pnuematic bulk) and was knocked unconscious. I was taken to the hospital stitched up, 4 stitches to the back of the noggin and released to go back to work 3 days later by the company Doctor. I had my recert on my medical card and filled everything out honestly, disclosing the above mentioned injury. On September 4th the DMV sends me a letter saying I have 30 days to respond back with a Doctor filling out DMV driver medical evaluation form. No problem, get rechecked by the company Doctor, fax the info back and also send the hard copies back certified mail with a return receipt for the accepting signature on September 12th. Don't hear a damn word from DMV, so I figure all is cool. Stop by the yard last week and the safety man hands me a copy of the employer pull notice that says my DL is not valid due to medical. We talk about the fact I sent all information and can prove it with a fax confirmation sheet and return receipt on the mailed originals. Safety man says it's probably just a paperwork mix up at DMV and don't worry, I'm okay to drive. That was last Thursday. On Monday, I called DMV driver safety just to double check, wouldn't you know it. My DL is not valid for a CMV due to medical. So I get on the phone and find that DMV Driver safety in Sacramento sent my paperwork to Fresno who then sent it to Oxnard and it was delayed being recieved due to the wild fires in SoCal. Talk to the people in Oxnard, they say they don't have it and I should be going through the Fresno office any how. Oxnard gets the paperwork later that day and sends it back to Fresno. Now today I talk with Fresno, they just got the paperwork and it has to go to the review board and then maybe I will get lucky and be able to see a Doctor on November 27th or 28th. I have been seen by at least 3 Doctors since the fall, I have had no problems from it and been driving safely for over a year now. And to top off the fact that I can't earn a living in my current proffession, I am being penalized for being honest also. And was never informed by the CA DMV my DL wasn't valid. Been driving on an invalid DL since September 12th when my medical card expired. The DMV has got to have the highest concentration of inept employees' I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. Don't get me wrong I know that they need to make sure I'm safe to drive a CMV but the lack of information to me the driver and the ridiculous time frame to get this resolved makes me want to go postal at the DMV. Anybody else been through this type of dilema, and how did it work out for you.And yes I have a current medical card that I got from the company Doc in August.

[LilBit]

I can understand the irritation over there, not a good thought if something would have happened and that license popped up not being valid. I hope things get squared away over there and you're able to get back in that truck soon. Is there any way at all to get a sooner doctor's appointment with them? I'm hoping the paperwork mixup gets fixed up and you get a good contact from them soon to get rolling again over there.........wishing you all the best

[Uturn2001]

CA is screwy. Only state that requires you to get a complete inspection of your CMV, by a DOT officer, if you get a fix it ticket.

All the others just want you to send in proof, such as as a shop report, reciept, etc that the problem has been taken care of.

Sometimes I think OTR drivers run 47 states plus California.

[Jay B]

The DMV has got to have the highest concentration of inept employees' I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

Well, if that's the way you feel, all I can say is you have never dealt with the Veterans Administration. Tens of thousands of employees, most of whom are not veterans, in an agency that only exists to keep its employees employed not to serve veterans.

[coastie]

Always heard the CA DMV was a pain in the rear......

The DMV has got to have the highest concentration of inept employees' I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

Well, if that's the way you feel, all I can say is you have never dealt with the Veterans Administration. Tens of thousands of employees, most of whom are not veterans, in an agency that only exists to keep its employees employed not to serve veterans.

Pending on which VA Hospital you go to what type of service you get. In Augusta Ga there is 2. Both you are treated good, least I am and many others. But if you go to the one in Atlanta, Ga, your kicked out onto the Street and have the Police called on you. That has happen.

[Jay B]

I have heard that the Docs and Nurses are good people and do care. I have prime and live in a non MTF area so I don't deal with VA hospitals. It is the bureaucracy I am really refering to. Just try to get anyone in that agency to give a definitive answer about anything.

[chuck3507]

The only good thing about Californis is I10 west!

[obiedon]

Spent the morning on the phone today. Talked with the Fresno office and was then called by a hearing officer from Fresno and told I had an 11:15 a.m. phone interview on Friday morning. I then got off the phone and called Sacramento since my boss wanted me to. Got nothing from Sacramento but the promise of a return phone call from a supervisor, maybe today, but for sure by Monday. An hour later I get a phone call from the Bakersfield office telling me they have my paperwork and I will be seen in Ridgecrest,Ca in late November. Tell them no dice, I'm out of work and money. Now I have to make an appearance before a hearing officer in Bakersfield at 11:15 a.m. tomorow which is good, but I have a feeling I'm going to show up in Bakersfield and they are going to ask me what I'm doing there. I'm starting to think this would make for a good episode on the Jerry Springer show. So much drama. Well wish me luck, maybe I can get my CDL back so I can feed my family.

[Skywalker]

Maybe a better solution would be to move to a state where they don't have stupid rules and processes?

Not trying to be snide....but what you are having to go through is senseless.

Maybe you should document your experiences and send them to your governor and ask him why you and your family should suffer....due to government stupidity and ineptness.

[obiedon]

Skywalker,
You almost read my mind. After I have a valid CDL in hand I am going to forward copies of all my information and supporting documents as well as a copy of all my notes of who I talked to and when to my local Assemblyman so he can help me take action against the DMV. Apparently a hearing officer in Sacramento sent my information to the Oxnard office instead of Fresno causing a lot of the delay in this issue. I don't believe she should lose her job, but maybe a suspension from work with out pay that equals the number of days off I have had with out pay would help her to do the job correctly in the future. Maybe DMV will feel bad and write me a check for my lost wages, yeah right. Maybe that bump on my head was worse than I thought, if I actually believe that.

[Orange Andy]

Obiedon, I hope this all gets resolved very quickly. It is not right, and this crap has to end. The DMV here is about the worst Ive ever dealt with.

Recently, I sold a car 72 days before the registration expired. Sold it to an Oregon resident. Weeks later, my paperless title never arrived. So I went in and asked about it. DMV clerk says I will not be receiveing it because I did not renew my insurance in time. I reply "car sold on this date, so why would I buy insurance for another year after it is gone? And I have notarized proof right here that what Im saying is true".

Now I am reasonable. But I also take ZERO schmidt off anyone. Especially someone I AM PAYING AS A TAXPAYER. I said I need to see your supervisor. She goes & gets him and I said.....Sir, if I dont receive my title within 72 hours, the DMV is going to get sued for the costs incurred by me and the new owner who has every right to ask me for re-imbursement in Oregon, for fees and any penaltys levied against him by his state. Do you understand me? He said yes, and he got on his computer. About 10 minutes later he tore a piece of paper off the printer, which showed the title would be mailed the next day, which was 10/21. And it DID arrive on 10/23.

But what a bunch of crap, I feel your pain, but if they harm you financially, do not ever forget that they too can be held liable, and made to pay for their errors.

Good luck

[obiedon]

Update. I raised enough hell on the phone that they expedited my case and I had a hearing in Bakersfield on Friday, the outcome is my CDL is now back with no restrictions. I tell you what, nobody should be made to go through this. If DMV really had driver safety in mind they would be proactive instead of reactive to situations like mine. I'm going to take a week to calm down and then document my mis treatment at the hands of a broken system. My ultimate goal is going to be to get some sort of law enacted, so CDL holders don't get abused by the very system that makes the rules and then uses them against you.

[LilBit]

Good to hear that you have that license back in hand and all is well with it now

Wishing you all the best in trying to get some good changes through the system for everyone's benefit over there.

[yoopr]

Update. I raised enough hell on the phone that they expedited my case and I had a hearing in Bakersfield on Friday, the outcome is my CDL is now back with no restrictions. I tell you what, nobody should be made to go through this. If DMV really had driver safety in mind they would be proactive instead of reactive to situations like mine. I'm going to take a week to calm down and then document my mis treatment at the hands of a broken system. My ultimate goal is going to be to get some sort of law enacted, so CDL holders don't get abused by the very system that makes the rules and then uses them against you.

Now is the time for you to tell your State Reps about all the Unreasonable BS you had to go through. Might help somebody else who runs into the same problem(s) as you.