Oklahoma Trucker's Size May Have Put The Brakes On His Career

Gan Matthews, News 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma – Truck driver Tim Hurt is a big man, weighing in at 340 pounds. He believes that's why he was recently placed on an inactive status with his company.

"They tell me I can't pass the DOT physical because of my BMI, which is body mass index," said Hurt. "They say I'm over."

Hurt said he's getting by on unemployment compensation for now, but that's only half of the income he was making before his Ardmore-based company placed him on inactive status.

The U.S. Department of Transportation stated there's no federal rule requiring a driver to have a certain BMI, but every two years a driver must have a state-certified medical practitioner issue a certification that the driver is healthy enough to drive a big rig.

Tim Hurt said he has that certification.

"If they do this to me, how many other people can they do this to?" Hurt said.

The official who informed Hurt that he was being placed on inactive status because of a serious health issue said Hurt's case is now a matter between lawyers, and declined further comment.