Disabled Vet - TMC

Mods may want to reposition this in the TMC forum for some recent internal information.

 

Don't tell.

 

That's the right answer.
Also, flatbed is really good and I know because I used to do that. I also have an injured back from the military so I can assure you it will only get worse if you continue to abuse your back. Go with a company that's 100% no-touch freight. Every time you lift a tarp, throw a chain, throw a strap, you incur more damage to the back but may not realize it until it's too late.
I'm really healthy other than the back. Father Time always wins the war.

 

It's flatbed for you mr Vet.

Just be prepared for windy days fighting the tarp. For that reason I suggest a Covered wagon and find a large building to break the wind.

Shut up about your back and have at it in the DOT. Note that the last sentence is not a official statement just a thought that volunteering information not asked is something that will stop you from getting on.

As far as being disabled. I think you have a rating with your disability check each month. You better call the VA and ask someone hypothetically if doing labor chaining and tarping a flatbed truck something that will cause the VA to review your disability income.

My spouse was with me as a second seat as a former marine sargeant. Her knees was a issue that got her discharged just at the time of Desert Storm. She run with me as a team for almost a year with the VA having no issues with her at that time. Thankfully. Ultimately weight gain and obesity on bad food and no activity sitting and sleeping all the time in a moving truck cross country made her stop and go home. It was not too long after that before it was my time anyway, I was accumulating medical issues including a undetected cataract that would have stopped me anyway in a certain year. Surgery saved my life that year.

Whatever you do, stay away from dry van, reefers etc. You do NOT want to have to move 48,000 pounds while being yelled at to hurry in a few hours. That back will not be good for you. Don't do it.

 

Thank you for your service sir.

I broke my L4 transverse process in a motorcycle accident in 2013.got my cdl in 2014, joined tmc soon after. My advice don't tell the dr unless asked about it. I told him about mine and he required me to get an orthopedic dr involved certifying my back was good. Thankfully i already had all my documentation in order, but it put me behind in orientation by a day. Make sure you don't have any problem dead lifting 120lbs cause that's what you'll have to do during the first day

 

There's dry van and lots of reefer companies that are 100% driver no-touch freight. He's going to do what he want's anyway, but with that back I sure recommend something that's just drop & hook or no-touch freight. Most high quality companies don't want the driver unloading freight; they want the driver to rest while the lumper service does the manual labor.
Old Dominion linehaul is good; drive from point A to point B, drop & hook and back on the road.

 

I would stay away from pulling tarps over loads. Too much work and the damage to your back will add up over the years.

I prefer reefer work myself as it is steady and year round. If the economy slips people still need to eat.