Driver Trainer thoughts on trainee with bladder and CPAP issues?

Hello. I am in the recruitment process with Roehl, and I have been trying to research as much as I can to prepare myself for school and going out with a trainer. I want to be respectful to a trainer and their truck when the time comes.

What are a driver trainer's thoughts about a trainee who needs a CPAP to sleep and wears protection for bladder issues? I want to be upfront with the trainer before getting in their truck. I'm hoping the bladder issue won't be a problem, since I wear protection to manage it. Most people probably don't care, but I'll be in this person's truck for 2 weeks. I don't want to be "that guy" who weirded out his trainer. I intend to take the time seriously and learn everything that a trainer is telling me.

Also, I know I'll be on the top bunk. I just want to be sure I can plug my CPAP in, so I can breathe at night. I also sleep with pads under me. As I said, I manage my incontinence, but I don't want to freak out my trainer either. I'm sure i wouldn't be the first trainee with a bladder issue, but I can't find any information about this anywhere.

It's annoying, but I don't intend to let this hold me back from living my life and starting a new career.

 

I'm not a trainer but have been in this business a long while and have run team.
As long as you've been up front with your needs with the company beforehand, and they have then picked a trainer, just be upfront with him about the medical needs that you require and any issues you feel may arise living in a small space with another person. If you get a reasonable person no reason to think you can't be taught the biz like anyone else.
Good Luck.

 

I can't add anything more to what @Dennixx has correctly said. I would however make one suggestion in regard to the incontinence problem. This is something I live with every day because I suffer from Epilepsy and my seizures cause incontinence. I have worn adult diapers for almost a year now. I am not sure how this will play out with the trainer, but I would think about diapers in place of pads while training and check the mattress often. This is the only serious issue I see with a trainer. The CPAP thing is really a non-issue because so many drivers use them today!

 

Bring an extension cord so you can place the CPAP machine up In your bunk, and then put it down by your feet against the back wall so that it’s as far as possible away from your trainer’s ears when he’s trying to sleep.

 

my cpap is quiet. can not hear anything when it's running.

 

I had a different issue. But, it had the similarity in that I needed to ensure my trainer would be OK with it because it might create problems. It is a somewhat private issue so apologize for not mentioning specifically what the issue is. Anyway, I was up front with Swift about it from the beginning and they assured me I'd end up with a trainer who it wouldn't create problems with. And, that's exactly what happened. I was up front with my trainer and he didn't have a issue with it.
I run solo now with no desire to team, so now that I'm in my own truck, it isn't any issue.
So, just be up front with the folks who need to know and don't worry so much. I expect it will work out without any glitches. Stuff like what you are dealing with are probably more common than you think. You're probably not very unique.
Good Luck to you!

 

Actually had this happen.
Trained a guy several years ago who had a CPAP machine who had to log so many hows per night on it, and had an internal bag of some sort, he had to use these blue sterilized tubes to pee.
I didn’t go much into details, but he was in an accident and broke his back and had to have it.
He still drives, was with Dart.
Just keep clean and I never heard the CPAP, I sleep with radio or tv on in truck, knocks outside noise out.

 

I wouldn't have a problem with it, so long as you stay on top of your hygiene. We have people who piss on their feet in the fuel island with a bathroom 10 yards away, or in a bottle in their cab while parked yards from a bathroom.

 

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. I had a feeling everything would be cool, but I didn't want to make assumptions. And I know there have been trainers with bad experiences with trainees that make them weary about the next one.

 

If you have the time and opportunity let us know how things are working out for you. Keep us posted and good luck to you. Your attitude is admirable.