Am I an idiot?

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by TheMightyWaffle, Aug 2, 2021.

  1. TheMightyWaffle

    TheMightyWaffle Bobtail Member

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    Ok here it goes. I will trying to get my cdl permit and go to trucking school soon. The OTR life sounds appealing to me. I'm looking to escape my current life situation. I have a few question I'm looking to have answered.

    1st. I have a dog and will need to get him onboard as soon as possible. are there any companies that will let me onboard my pet within a month?

    2nd. Will I be a prisoner to the truck? can I park at a truck stop or yard and rent a car for my 34? or do I need to stay with the truck the whole time.

    3rd. Will anyone hire me without a hazmat? Not sure I can get one with my medical history.

    thank you in advance, hope to join the circus soon.
     
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  3. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Yes to every question posed (except 2c), including title, but welcome, me too :p

    1. Youll just have to find a company that accepts animals, personally i couldnt do that

    2. To a degree youre married to the truck, but if you have enough cash and energy, sure go rent a car if youre out, probably best to try uber or lyft though.

    Been doing flatbed for 9 years no hazmat, no sense getting it now.

    Medical history... depends on what that is, the dot physical is more what id be worried about
     
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  4. sealevel

    sealevel Road Train Member

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    It typically will chew you up and spit you out faster than the life situation you are trying to avoid. Your mindset has to be that you are doing it because it's what you can build a life and career around. It's a industry built around tight schedules, stress and generally unacceptable pay for new drivers. You can overcome that quickly if you love the job and do it for the right reason. I would highly recommend fixing what your running from first.
     
  5. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Ah yeah, didnt catch that part, though i started simply cause i thought it looked interesting. But correct, it was not a choice of desperation
     
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  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    If you can pass a DOT physical, you're good to go.
    Is the medical condition something serioius?
     
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  7. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    Most of the mega's will let you have a pet, but you will pay a deposit to do so and generally have a weight limit. If I recall, no dogs over 70 pounds or so at most companies, but as usual there are exceptions, as in anything in life. When you go out with a trainer, I wouldn't expect the pet to go with you for the time frame of the training.

    As for renting a car, sure why not if there's one available and they will rent it to you. If you have a credit card, it shouldn't be a problem to rent a car. As for the truck, all I can say is this, "even when you think you're off duty on a reset, you'll be thinking about the well being of truck if it's at a truck stop", if you care that is. It just goes with the work ethic, if you have a work ethic at all, I don't know you, so take no offense.

    As for hazmat, unless you are pulling tanks and it's required, it's not worth the hassle.
     
  8. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Yes, it can be done, and can be quite successful, however, couple things. Pets no problem, prisoner? Don't think of it like that, it's a non-stop roller coaster of adventure,,,( cough), and I'd rather be a truck driver than a prisoner anyday. Last, HazMat, that's a sticky issue. If you are starting out, you should have everything needed to haul any kind of load. HazMat isn't as scary as it sounds, aside from the stupid test, it may be a load of paint, or have "Sterno" on board , it's not nuclear waste. Not having a HazMat will limit you considerably, and later on, when you find a good place that doesn't need HazMat, go from there, but I'd make sure I had it today.
     
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  9. MTN Boomer

    MTN Boomer Road Train Member

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    If you have a medical condition, that you think might disqualify you from getting a haz endorsement, you might not pass the CDL medical either. Look at what the requirements are, then proceed,
     
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  10. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    1. Probably
    2. Usually you can. But it is up to the company you work for if they want you to leave a loaded truck alone at a truck stop. Some loads are very high dollar.
    3. Getting the Hazmat endorsement requires you to pass the test, get the fingerprinting/background check done and pass that. Nothing more.

    Medical issues come into play when getting your DOT physical done, and to a certain extent at some companies, when getting hired.
     
  11. Hatt91

    Hatt91 Light Load Member

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    To emphasize what others have said, depending on what exactly your medical history is, you may not even be able to get a medical card which is required along with your license for driving a CMV. You might want to investigate that before you pursue a driving career any further.
     
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