Driver Medical

[KJ83]

I've seen this asked a few times... but not recently, in posts from 2013 ish so wondered if there was some up to date answers,

I have a medical next week for a trainee driver role, im a bit stocky at 5'7 with a BMI of around 34/35... i could do with loosing a few lbs (infact i doing something about it already) and my last stone of weight has been purely due to lockdown.

Other than that i'm very healthy, run a few times a week... had a blood pressure and diabetes test at the docs last month and both were fine!

Should I be worried?

 

[Efini92]

I had a medical the other day and my BMI was 33, I didn’t even get the usual telling off

 

[train-safe]

Nothing to worry about I had a medical recently and she basically said BMI is out dated now, you will be fine

 

[Stigy]

I've seen this asked a few times... but not recently, in posts from 2013 ish so wondered if there was some up to date answers,

I have a medical next week for a trainee driver role, im a bit stocky at 5'7 with a BMI of around 34/35... i could do with loosing a few lbs (infact i doing something about it already) and my last stone of weight has been purely due to lockdown.

Other than that i'm very healthy, run a few times a week... had a blood pressure and diabetes test at the docs last month and both were fine!

Should I be worried?

Judging by your BMI, I’m roughly the same weight as you now. My BMI when I had my medical last year for GWR was 32.7. The limit for GWR is BMI of 33, although there’s probably an amount of discretion given to the physician in relation to this if the candidate is generally healthy. I’m mobile and at the time walked a lot for my job, so he told me he’s like me to lose half a stone, which I did anyway, although he never asked to see me again (which he said he would, but I knew it wouldn’t actually materialise, knowing the railway).

BMI isn’t a great measure, and doesn’t take in to account muscle mass, so you can be very healthy but be clinically obese. I’m obese through obesity, but even then I look at the term and think that’s a bit harsh, since I’m still just under 15 stone

You’re clearly generally healthy and mobile as you run quite a bit. You won’t have anything to worry about, I’m sure. Good luck!

 

[General_miller]

Nothing to worry about. Had my medical recently and had a bmi of 35. Just said lose weight and come back in 2 months to see results. Lost 1 stone and got an extra day off driving and half my shift covered the day before

If you’re just joining they won’t turn you away if your bmi is 35 unless you are massively obese and won’t fit in the cab.

 

[KJ83]

Nothing to worry about. Had my medical recently and had a bmi of 35. Just said lose weight and come back in 2 months to see results. Lost 1 stone and got an extra day off driving and half my shift covered the day before

If you’re just joining they won’t turn you away if your bmi is 35 unless you are massively obese and won’t fit in the cab.

I'm not massive that I wouldn't fit in the cab of a class 800, but I'm just thick set... Big arms, legs shoulders and a bit of a beer belly.

 

[General_miller]

I'm not massive that I wouldn't fit in the cab of a class 800, but I'm just thick set... Big arms, legs shoulders and a bit of a beer belly.

You’ll be fine. I am also 5,7 and stocky. They might say you need to lose some weight and that will be it. Honestly they won’t reject your application because your bmi is 35. Nothing to worry about.