Originally Posted by Ohnoo

Im not sure where your getting your figures from but its not 90% of age...
## X Z% =Y
45 X 90% = 40.5
46 X 90% = 41.4
47 X 90% = 42.3

Now if I use the formula that truckin916 gave..
220 - 45 X.9 = 157.5
220 - 46 X.9 = 156.6
220 - 47 X.9 = 155.7
Now thats more on par for an acutal heart rate.

Theres a few things that people can do to really help themselves befor taking a test like this.
1. This is problly the biggest NO CAFFINE from the time you wake up until after the test. Caffine raises both your BP and HR.
2. Another big one NO NICOTINE smoking, dip, chew, whatever this also raises your BP and HR. Try for the whole morning but if you cant at least try to not use the hour befor the test. It would be better at two hours ect so its better to have one after you get up or after breakfast rather then trying to tuff it out and giving in 30 min befor the test.
3. Watch your sugar this a duel edge sword. If your in no danger of going over the limit then a candy bar or juice 15 min or so befor the test will help to give you a burst of energy for the test. But if your borderline AVOID sugur the hour befor the test has it will raise your HR.
4. Breathing! Controlled breathing can help to keep your heart rate down. A simple way of doing this is, breath in though your nose at a easy slow normal rate. Hold the breath for one second then release it from your mouth at the same speed. In short the faster you breath the faster your heart pumps in order to supply your bodies demand for oxygen. By controlling your breathing you can shave a few heartbeats off.

To take your heart rate at the wrist, place your index and middle fingers together on the opposite wrist, about 1/2 inch on the inside of the joint, in line with the index finger. You may also use the jugular vein on your neck. Feel for a pulse. When you find a pulse, count the number of beats you feel within a one minute period. You can estimate the per minute rate by counting over 10 seconds and multiplying this figure by 6, or over 15 seconds and multiplying by 4, or over 30 seconds and doubling the result. This isnt 100% accurate but it gives you a good ball park.

A good idea would be to find the target are for your age, 220-##X.9=z. Then get on a treadmill or bike to place your body under physical stress and figure out your heart rate. That way you will know what you need to do befor taking the test.

Originally Posted by biker40

Well It accually says 90% of your age, She shows it to you.

Originally Posted by truckin916

Actually it's 220 - age X .9 or 90% of your age subtracted from 220.
That is the info from their website and what it was when I took it with them in October.

Originally Posted by jbc

Why do people yell "discrimination" when something doesn't pan out in their favor? That gets really old after a while.

Anyway, there are reasons for the test. One being that Schneider doesn't want their workman's comp and health insurance premiums going up because of the potential for out-of-shape drivers getting hurt on the job. Yeah, I know. Everyone pumps iron at the gym, uses the treadmill regularly, and is in great shape. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Must be that darn discriminatory test!

Nobody should be surprised by the test. It's clearly posted on their website with a video showing exactly what is expected. The heart rate formula is there as well. If anyone wants the job bad enough they can practice beforehand.

Originally Posted by biker40

I understand all the insurance stuff and I don't really hold a grudge towards them, I just thought it was kind of set up towards the younger crowd, most of the older ones went home,

Originally Posted by Ohnoo

I agree with you on this you would think that they would give some slack to a person has they get older. When I was in the Marines we had to take Phiscal Fitness Tests twice a year if I remeber right. Part of this test was a three mile timed run. Has I recall the max time on it was 28 min... may have been 26... somthing like. Well any way the point is that at a certine age (30ish?) they would add so much time per year to the max allowed time.

Some more number crunching for perspective.

Age 21
220-21X.9= 179.1 so 180
Age 31 = 170.1 so 170
Age 41 = 161.1 so 161
Age 51 = 152.1 so 151
Age 61 = 143.1 so 143

Last I checked our bodies did not become phyiscally stronger with age. And by this they would be exspecting someone 61 years old, to have a max heart rate thats 37 beats lower then someone whos 40 years younger while doing the same activities.

There are a lot better ways that they could be doing this.