First post, been lurking a few months... I've been working in the insurance industry for nearly 25 years and burned out! Too much negativity......every phone call! lol Anyways, looking for a new career and have been considering truck driving for a few years. I recently visited IITR Truck Driving School in Clackamas, Oregon. Of course the career is portrayed very positively by a school. I did some research and realized that there's much negativity associated with it as well. The long hours driving, the time away from home, dealing with shippers/deliveries, dealing with dispatchers, the driver turnover, etc. The positives for me, not taking 25 calls a day by customers bit**ing about their insurance rates (lol) and I do enjoy driving. I'm at a point in my life where I need a career that will carry me until retirement (I'm currently 44) as my current career wouldn't provide that... I don't have any young children and I do have a solid marriage with an understanding wife, so the time away could be manageable. I spoke with a few recruiters and they were friendly...except the Swift guy. Okay, a few questions... It does seem that OTR is necessary (or at least the most common, current method to get into the career) as local/regional positions want at least 2 years experience. Is this accurate? Is it safe over the road? Spending the night in a cab at a rest area in the middle of nowhere is a little scary. Of course, backing and maneuvering the truck effectively will come over time but how long on average does one take to feel comfortable? I know some will say never, but from the first time behind the wheel to jumping in a truck not scared sh**less, how long was it for you? Maybe it is never.... What is it like driving in a cross wind pulling a trailer? Are you fighting to keep in the lane? I have a prescription for Tramadol for back pain, years of basketball. Is this a problem with DOT Medical? Thanks everybody!
Welcome to the forum! Hmmmm where to start, well the Tramadol is definitely going to be a huge "no no"! Here is some personal advice, don't quit that stuff cold turkey! You are going to get major withdrawals when you stop taking it so start now by cutting down the dose. (provided you are taking it regularly.) I was on Tramadol for a few weeks and thought I was going to die when I stopped taking it! Recruiters........ Take everything they say with a grain of salt. They are just salesman and get paid for every person they get to show up for 1 hour! They will greatly embellish and sometimes even flat out lie! Your school is going to recommend about a handful of the mega-carriers. They get paid to do so! You will even have a few companies send some salesman to your school while you are in class to speak to you and tell you how great their company is! Not bashing the mega-carriers but isn't it just a little strange that they have to spend millions of dollars in advertising and recruiting to get YOU to work for THEM?! So just be cautious and know what you are getting into. They all offer great home time, new trucks, high pay and lots of miles! Take your time and do your homework. Make a list of your wants and needs and start combing the internet and doing your research. Once you have narrowed your selection down to a couple dozen or so then start calling recruiters and get some more of the detailed information. I personally recommend small to mid-size companies. Number one reason is that your dispatcher is your key to your success and at these mega-carriers the dispatchers are usually responsible for a couple hundred drivers, in essence making you a number. Smaller companies are going to treat you like a human being and will also allow for a more personal relationship with your dispatcher, thus making you more money! A company like Central Ref is large enough to keep you busy yet small enough to treat you like a human being. They are a large company but not quite a mega-carrier. I would highly recommend finding a company somewhere along these lines. As far as schools go, as long as they are an accredited school and not Bob's Backyard Back-up school then they are all pretty much the same. The schools are there to just get you your license and prepare you enough to go with a trainer. No more, no less! You are going to learn more on day one with your trainer than the whole three weeks of school. You were asking about the comfort factor, usually about a week out on the road with your trainer you will feel comfortable. Some pick it up faster , some much slower. (also some never!) Its not rocket science and just takes some getting used to. After a year or so of trucking that big rig will be like another appendage! Yes wind can be a factor especially in states like Wyo, Nebraska, Arizona etc... If its too windy, pull over! Going to depend on the conditions at the time and what you are hauling. Anytime you aren't comfortable, pull over! Better to assess the dilemma before hand! Safety.... For the most part its pretty safe out there. There are problem areas and places you stay and don't stay. Be street smart out there, use your head, and don't let your guard down! Always pay attention to your surroundings and never look like a victim! Keep your doors locked when driving. Never let anyone step up on your steps! Its best to avoid conversation with the rift-raft, they are going to try and sell, borrow, steal, beg etc... whatever they can do. Don't give them the time of day! If you are nice or reply they now have an in! All in all if you use your head you shouldn't have a problem. A little tip I tell the new drivers is when they go to sleep get two bungee cords and attach them to the air horn cable and then to the door. If your door were to open at night your airhorn is going to blast. Kind of a little alarm! I personally don't recommend driving if you have a wife or family. It almost never ends well! Besides that you are going to see each other maybe a dozen times a year if you are lucky. If you don't have kids, I highly, highly recommend your wife get her license! You can make very, very, very good money as a husband/wife team! To the tune of over $200,000 a year! Plus you can live in the truck and eliminate all bills and putting all of this money directly into the bank! I did this and it worked quite well for me! There is negativity in trucking and it is a very high stress job! At your current job if you have a bad day at work, you can go home sit in the lazy boy and drink a beer while you relax and your wife gives you a massage. A bad day on the road means you are still at work and there is no drinking a beer, massage, lazy boy etc... There is however usually a long line to wait for a shower so you can sit in the tv room at the truck stop with all the other stinky truckers and maybe talk to each other about your crappy day! Who knows one of them may give you a massage! Brushing your teeth while 20 truckers are doing their maternity ward impression is always fun too! That always grossed me out! But hey, every job has its ups and downs! Hope this helps a little. Holler if you have any questions. Good luck......
The only problem I see is your back condition. All the other questions will work out. You'll get used to backing just like you'll get used to driving in the wind. You can find local jobs but if you only use the computer to search for a job then forget it. Do yourself a favor when you go looking for a job. Check as many sources as you can. Get out and look. You taking a controlled substance can be a problem if not done correctly. First off as the law states today you can have a doctor say it's ok to drive as long as he knows what you are driving. That's all the law requires. But you should know that insurance companies just don't go by the law. So you would be better off having a doctor sign a letter stating it's ok to drive and then telling the company when you have to take the medication. But here's another problem. When you're going for a job and the company sees that you have a back problem your application is filed away to never be seen again. It's legal that the companies do this after all they can pick who they want. And they do not want a driver that is going to be out of work because of a back problem. I've seen this at more than one company. So if you have a documented history then there's not much you can do. But if you do not have a major issue with your back then I would keep it to yourself unless you've had surgery. NEVER lie on a job application but do not volunteer information either.
Tramadol is a narcotic and controlled substance. Note or not you will NOT be able to drive while taking these meds! I would stop taking them and possibly not mention the back problems. You maybe a workmens comp liability were you to divulge this info.
That's not what the FMCSA says. Most likely it's a company policy and to be truthful not a bad one. But as far as the law goes all he needs is a doctors approval.
O/P You and I seam to be in the same boat. I'm 47 & looking to start a new career that I'll be able to do the age of 65. I start driving school on june 11 here in Michigan. I'm a carpenter/stair builder by trade. I can't see myself at 65 carting all my tool's in a house everyday then going up & down the stairs 200 times a day like I do now. Good luck I hope it all works out for ya!! ED
Sorry, I stand corrected! I looked up the fmsca and this is the report... [TABLE="width: 100%"] [TR] [TD]13) What medications disqualify a CDL driver? You cannot take a controlled substance or prescription medication without a prescription from a licensed practitioner. You are not qualified if using a controlled substance identified in 21 CFR 1308.11 (Code Of Federal Regulations) Schedule I, an amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other habit-forming drug. There is an exception: The prescribing doctor can write that you are able to safely operate a commercial vehicle while taking the medication. In this case, the medical examiner may, but does not have to, certify the driver. Note: Any medication used for the prevention of seizures is disqualifying Thanks Gashualer [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
