Newbie needs advice: Who to go with for experience?

Well several days into the withdrawal and I'm still doing well. I started the Sam-E and I'm not sure if that is helping yet but I do seem to feel better. I'm taking it 200 mgs three times a day per a pharmacist's instructions. I'm also working with my mom to make me some pants that have extra padding in the knee area with pockets for some warm packs to be slipped inside. I'm making sure that I will have full movement and function of my legs while driving in these pants.
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

I've made contact with my orthopedic surgeon who has operated on my knee in the past. She agreed to see me in early November to entertain the idea of doing arthroscopies on my knees to clean up the problems inside my knees before I start school in December. The surgeries are minor and since I've had them before the recovery is less than a week. After that week, I will be asking for Synvisc injections which is a ultra slippery fluid that replaces the fluid in a joint that has weakened for whatever reason. I've had those injections before also and they do help. For any of you with cartilage problems, check into the injection. The docs have it down to a science to where only one injection is needed. Miracle stuff.

 

I have read this whole thread,and since you are new and need some help,I have to point some things out to you.I cannot believe noboby has pointed out to you first and foremost,recruiters do not give a s#it aboutyou,and WILL tell you anything to get you to sign on.I did my 3 years in the military as a kid,and believe me,military recruiters cannot hold a candle to trucking recruiters so far as TELLING you the truth.....Keep in mind,trucking is hard and stressful work,you will have appointments impossible to make and stay within the HOS rules,and yet if you get put out of service by the DOT,the same people telling you to drive illegal most probably write you up.......Even if your only gone 3 weeks at a time,you WILL feel like a stranger at home after awhile,and it will tear you up when you will have to leave again.....If you have never been to the east coast,well,I wont even touch on that,Chicago will be a big enough awakening for you...The mountains out west,I am guessing will be new for you,and in winter it is especially tough out there....YOU WILL have mechanical breakdowns on the road,and before you go it is best if you have a plan on what to do when this happens,cell phones do not work everywhere,trust me onthat one.....IN NO WAY am I trying to discourage you,but I want you to know it is a very tough life....Maybe you (I see you live in So Mn)check with a company in New Ulm called Shelter Products,they only go out 250 miles from New Ulm,and you will be in a semi-tractor so you will get a good feel for the trucking life,and you can decide if that is what you want.I wish for you the best and have nothin but good luck.- Bumpy

 

Bumpy, I do realize all of those things you were mentioning. I do have a boyfriend who is an OTR trucker and I hear everyday of what he goes through. He has opened my eyes to what the lifestyle is like and what I can get into and have happen to me. He also knows me and thinks that I can do this job maybe not easily but competently. I'm tougher than I sound on here and thats because I haven't had an easy life so far.
As far as coming home and feeling like a stranger, I have no one at home with me except my dog. My children are both grown and gone and I will have the same life as I do now except that I will be on the road doing what I've wanted to do my entire life but haven't been able to do until now. I know it sounds like I'm defending my plans and goals but honestly I'm not being defensive. I'm on this forum to get the information that I will need to arm myself and know what I'm entering into. If I don't try this now I will live with regret and having to live with one regret for most of my adult life is something that I will not do again. I missed out on something huge when I was a young adult and I won't let that happen again. If I am in a tractor trailer for a year, well then I have done what I wanted to do, no harm no foul. If I die doing this job, well I will have gone doing what I always wanted to do.
I'm hoping against all hopes that my boyfriend will drive team with me when I get out of school. At this point since I'm not in school, he says no. When I get my license, we'll see. Maybe then he will also see that I'm serious about this and will partner up with me.
I do sincerely appreciate your input and this is what I need to hear from the truckers who read this thread. I'd rather be armed with the information then be surprised with the disappointment.
Thanks again!

 

I almost did not write that last post cause it was mostly negative,but,it is REALITY,and I am glad you knowof such things,-and a lot more that I did not cover,BUT,always a but,what I did not mention is,all in all,I do love truckin,and if I could go back in time,would have started much earlier in time than I did....For everyone who trucks,I am sure like it for different reasons,so I will not touch on them as it is just me....The only trick is(as you know)is makeing it past the first wave of B.S.,-getting the experience-and then hopefully not makeing the same mistakes as you will when starting out...I will be leaving this thread permanently now,so nothin but the best from me to you.- Bumpy

 

Bumpy, Why leave permanently? I appreciate you helping me open my eyes to the realities of the road. If and when you have information that you think is pertinent to my situation, please contribute!! I need all the info I can get.
thanks!

 

MaMa...Hope something works out for you. I feel your pain about the knees. I have arthritis in my left knee and a couple years ago have the fluid drained and that lasted for about 3-4 months. Then it got so bad I could hardly walk after getting out of my truck. Switched to glucosomine/condrotin (sp?) and yes it did help. I still gimp a little after sitting but its a whole lot better. I can even run again, surprise, surprise. We give to to our dog (German Shepard)and our horse and its been a help to both.
Sorry can't offer any advice on OTR companies, since I have never done that. Started out on a concrete mixer then rock bucket, and now flatbed hauling precast concrete products, all local or mostly local.
Just do your research, this forum has a ton of information and always check the web sites of the companies you are interested in. I'm afraid taking you dog may be a problem with a number of companies, especially for a newbie, but you never know.
Good luck

 

Mama Bear, I've been enjoying following your thread. You have been asking a lot of the same questions I'd like to ask, but you get there first! Keep the questions coming!

You wrote that you get what you pay for as far as trucking school goes. What differences have you found (other than price) between schools? There sure seems to be a wide range of prices! You also wrote that you are going to start in December with a company that has an excellent reputation and has been training drivers for 40 years. Which school is that, and what made you decide on that one?

Also, I sympathize with you as you're going through your withdrawals. I hope you're doing OK. I know this can't be an easy time. I'll be praying for you.

 

Rocknsand, I have noticed that there are practically no companies that will let me take my dog with me. I am in the process of making plans for him to stay with relatives until I get at least a year in with my starter company and either I will move to a new company that will let me bring him along or I decide to buy my own truck and go O/O.
As far as my arthritis in my knees is concerned I have started on a supplement called SAM-e and it has worked wonders!! The box said to go to 600 mg for osteoarthritis but I wasn't getting much relief at that dose so I upped it to 400mg in the morning, 200mg late afternoon and 200mg at bedtime. What a difference it has made!! The maximum dose for the SAM-e is 1600mg a day. It took two weeks to get to the 800mg dose and I using the Nature Made brand that I bought at Walgreen's because SAM-e being sensitive to humidity made their blister packs a necessity. I still have aching sometimes but not like I had before. I'm also weaning off of my narcotic drugs and the pain doc told me that I could have genetics that the pain drugs made my pain worse so I would keep taking them. Seems very strange to me but she said she has seen that syndrome somewhat often.
In the time since I have written on here about the weaning, my amounts are cut in half and I'm going to try to cut the long acting drug in half once again starting tomorrow. So far no withdrawal symptoms so I'm very happy about that, because that is what I've been most afraid of.
Rocknsand, I would suggest you check with an orthopedic surgeon and see if you are a candidate for a Synvisc injection, miracle stuff for sure. The only way you couldn't have one is if you are allergic to chicken or eggs.
Good luck!!

 

Hi VMWelker, Thank you so much for your prayers, I need them! Sometimes I feel like I ask too many questions but all on here have been so forthcoming with the answers I'm feeling very thankful!!
There are a couple of schools in my area and the one in Eagan has a sliding fee scale which I find highly questionable depending on how you will be paying for their training. Also, their course is one month long, $5,995.00 and you go in with nothing as far as a permit, or skills of any kind. That school is called TCE or Transportation Center for Excellence. They don't have many of the benefits of DCTC because they are a stand alone school with a small staff of around 7 people. I just wasn't impressed when I visited there.
I've decided on DCTC which stands for Dakota County Technical College. They have been training students for 40 years, have a 3 mile real life driving course right on school grounds complete with what they call a "slick pad" which they ice up in the winter to teach their anti-jack knifing and accident avoidance training on. For that course they also have trailers with remote controls that seize up the axles while you are going over that pad so they can teach you how not to wreck. DCTC costs everyone $5,500.00 for the 2 month/320 hour course. Before you start at DCTC you have to have your permit, DOT physical, and drug test. That tells me that they don't waste time helping you get those preliminaries and go right to the meat of the trucking industry. They have an excellent reputation within the trucking community here in my area. When I visited that school, I was given much information and even the manual in which to study for my permit test. They also give tours of that part of the school every Tuesday afternoon.
I hope I have answered all of your questions and if you have any others you can either reply here or PM me.
Take care!