Career Change, a few questions

Hey Will, you're my neighbor. I live near Seymour about 30 miles east of Springfield. Welcome to the forum. Many of your specific questions will need to be researched. Google is your best friend. For instance Google "disqualifying prescription drugs for DOT Physical".

1) I can't say for sure but I imagine if you can pass the hearing test with aids you will be okay.
2) I don't think they will affect Hazmat if they pass the DOT Physical requirements.
3) I imagine there are several medications that are disqualifying.
4) There are more manuals and most prefer them. I would learn on a manual and do my first year on one. Then go to automatic if you prefer. This way more opportunities will be available to you.
5) This is a matter of personal preference. I prefer to close the doors and drive so I like vans and reefers.
6) Not completely but yes with big companies.
7) If you are asking about tolls most do but some seem to think you are their bank and want to reimburse you.
8 ) That would be a matter of personal preference. I hate fresh-pack chicken. It stinks, fills the trailer with blood and requires a washout.

Now since you are new and my neighbor, I'll throw in my standard copy and paste advice for free.

You need to research and find out what the important questions are. You can make an above average living but you will make sacrifices that other jobs don't require. Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. Don't just go to school and then try to figure out where to go.

I don't know your financial situation. Don't take training from a company if you can afford it or get it with financial aid. You will be their slave for up to year. If you leave they will trash you DAC and credit record. Check out your local community colleges and employment office.

Just know that most training and trucking company recruiters will do nothing but lie to you. They will let you talk about what you want and then tell you what you want to hear. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Your home time, family, paycheck and everything else comes second.

It is not like any other job. Local is usually backbreaking delivery work 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Often you unload dozens of times a day or you are a salesman. In my area most dump truck jobs pay less than a good factory job. Regional is lots of loading and unloading time, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local but will wear on you and push your HOS limits. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles.

You'll probably have to pay your dues before you get the gravy job. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get something like that starting out, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Regardless of your driving choice, after school you will go through company training. For OTR this can be six weeks to three months with little or no home time. The first phase is usually $400 a week and the second phase is $500-550 a week. Some pay less. One company pays 12 CPM for training.

One last thing, you don't want to wait around too long after training or you'll have trouble finding a job. If you get out before you have a year in, when you try to come back a few months later you will find they want you to start over.