States within the U.S. typically have strict guidelines for who can and cannot receive commercial driver's licenses. Disabled applicants present a rather tricky issue, especially when it regards their vision, hearing or wakefulness. These are usually deal-breakers in most programs.

Identification

Whether or not a disabled person can become a truck driver depends on the nature and extent of the disability. Anything that would duly impair him from safe operation of the vehicle may be grounds for dismissal from a training program. In this sense, there are not specific training programs to instruct disabled drivers.

Problems

Trucking companies are required to screen applicants for potential disabilities. This is especially pertinent with regard to vision. States usually have a prospective driver obtain some form of formal medical card from a physician in order to be licensed for truck driving. Failure to get this documentation or its misrepresentation of your health can be grounds for the revocation of a commercial driver's license or dismissal from a training program.

Significance

Commercial truck driving is often an exhausting and taxing profession -- one that requires constant alertness, physical stoicism and long hours. Driving in a disabled state only exacerbates the risks associated with these factors and may compromise the safety of the driver as well as those persons with whom she shares the road.