Physical strength?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by sadears, Jan 31, 2010.

  1. Texas-Nana

    Texas-Nana Princess Drives-a-Lot

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    I'm 53, overweight (but I'm losing it by george!), have bad knees, and have always been a delicate little flower of Texas. Seriously, for 10 years I didn't even put gas in my car...I am that pampered by my husband.

    You can do and achieve what you desire enough. I wanted this job. I WANTED it BAD. So eventhough I had a severe leg and hip injury just before moving to AZ I began a work out program, bought a set of cheap weights and began lifting weights.

    Last year Swift still had the work well program and we had to meet a higher requirement than just the DOT requirements.

    I worked until I could meet the weight requirements of the work-well exam which was:

    With a heart monitor on you had to lift 3 times from floor to waist 30lbs, 50lbs, 75 lbs. Then lift those weights 3 times waist to shoulder (placing on a shelf)

    Then carry 85 lbs for 150 feet. Then push at least 100 lbs which is done with a gauge device against a block. Then you pull 100 lbs with the same device. Finally you step three times onto a 26" platform (which they had a bit high so it was actually 30")


    I did it. I had problems with the platform but I did it with the encouragement of other students (all young males) standing in the hall chanting "you can do it you can do it".

    You can and will do this! Believe in yourself. Swift no longer does the work well and no other company did that I know of so your requirements should be quite a bit easier. You can do it.
     
    road dust and GuysLady Thank this.
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  3. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    That's very admirable, good for you. I like stories like this.
     
  4. Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    One thing I noticed in the answers.... having a forklift driver lift you to the top of the load is a bigtime nono. Besides being grounds for him to be fired it's incredibly dangerous. Ever see a forklift blow a hydraulic hose? The lift drops like right now. Hands in the wrong place and you lose fingers, when the forks hit bottom you go flying. Maybe into the mast and shield. people have been killed doing this.

    And yes I am forklift certified.
     
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  5. kdryan

    kdryan A Pleasant Fellow

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    I have yet to see a company ask me to unload a trailer. It's a liability for them to have someone that does not work for them to do so because if you do hurt yourself, it opens them up to having responsibility because it was their stuff you are unloading. The closest I have ever come is Budweiser asking me to off-load some plastic containers and stack them by the door.

    Since they had kept me waiting five hours to unload and I figured that was their job, I politely informed them that I was disinclined to acquiesce to their request. They then informed my dispatcher the my talents were no longer of value at that particular facility...

    But that's another story. :)
     
  6. Lady K

    Lady K Road Train Member

    Well this thread has done my heart good - I was worrying about the practical physical test the trucking company was going to give me. I'm 5'9" and 160# - but I've lost a bunch of weight (160#) and with that some muscle mass that was use to hauling 320# around. I tried lifting 50# over my head (which I had heard/read somewhere) and that was a no go!! If its only shoulder height - I should be able to manage that - now to work up to doing the 75# carry!!
     
  7. heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

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    I knew two short drivers who were hit on the face when the support crank kicked back. Crank handles have kicked back on me a few times, but I am 6'1". Keep both hands on the crank handle if the sand shoes are on the ground.
     
  8. greenmachine9507

    greenmachine9507 Bobtail Member

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    i am new to truckin but i have been around it all my life i am woundering what this phisical agility test is and what it consists of for hiner transport if anyone knows
     
  9. TREE

    TREE Heavy Load Member

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    I agree i ran a forklift and a crown hi lift for 14 years and you will get fired lifting anybody up with them,
    I sent a guy home one time because some guys would hitch a ride on the forks to get to the lunch room (and the forks where not off the ground)
     
  10. TREE

    TREE Heavy Load Member

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    Also to the smaller drivers ,if there is a will theres a way!

    But 40,000 pounds of beef (up to 90 pounds each) on the floor isn't fun for anybody!
    Oh yeah they want the weights to show on the outside and up to 6 cases high(lol)

    If i see any lady haveing problems(or anybody for that matter) i will take the time to help them out.
    I figure helping out will help me out down the road:biggrin_25515:
     
    Lady K Thanks this.
  11. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Borispol, Ukraine
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    company I work fdr has yard drivers who swap trailers, tow trailers in workshops and do the similar job. Last year very yound guy of 5' tall was the best yard driver, guru of backing and docking. He drove all, conventional trucks and cabovers... it is funny, his name is Max) LOL. later he drove my friend's century class and now ho drives semis in EU. And really he got no problem swaping trailers. Really I do not like to hook/unhook trailers, up/down landing gear, jump on frame to put glad hands on and connect wires..... but it is not hard comparing with tint works on EU tint trailers!!!! yep, we get more curstsinders but tint trailers are really popular... Flatbed trucking is the hard work too!!!!
     
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