Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Finally Started School!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ScooterDawg, Jan 5, 2009.

Page 8 of 15
  1. Jan 17, 2009 #71
    RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

    12,812
    6,136
    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
    0
    DOT requires BP to be 140/90 or lower without medication to get the 2 year physical card . Here's the scoop .
    http://www.barnescare.com/barnescare_bcc_content.aspx?id=1447
     
    RickG, Jan 17, 2009
    RickG, Jan 17, 2009
    #71
    ScooterDawg Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jan 17, 2009 #72
    ScooterDawg

    ScooterDawg <strong>"The Blue Tick Lab"</strong>

    980
    654
    Nov 23, 2008
    Trinity, NC
    0
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    Stage 1 Hypertension
    Stage 1 indicates a blood pressure range of 140-159/90-99. Drivers in this range can receive a one-year certificate. After a year, if they are not at 140/90 or below, they can receive a nonrenewable three-month certificate. During this time, they must have a 140/90 or below to qualify for an extension of the one-year certificate. If they do not reach the required level, certification extension is suspended until control is achieved. They will require re-certification every 12 months.
    (excerpt from BarnesCare)
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    And that is what the doctor and myself were getting at..... Technically, according to this standard, my BP could have been up to 159/99 and I would still be eligible for a 1 year card. My BP was 138/92 which should have put me in the one year category, yet this new doctor gave me a 6 month card. But like I said, and will say it again..... It is irrelavent, I now have medication, and we are working on getting it where it needs to be. But the above excerpt reinforces what I said before.... I should have gotten a 1 year card...... no biggie..... I'm gonna be just fine......

    I'm not denying that my blood pressure is higher than it should probably be, but I am not a ticking timebomb like the one doctor tried to make it out to be. And we haven't even considered the fact that I was a little nervous being that I hadn't been to a doctor in a while and had no idea whether I would pass the physical or not......

    But thanks for the info RickG!
     
    ScooterDawg, Jan 17, 2009
    ScooterDawg, Jan 17, 2009
    #72
  4. Jan 17, 2009 #73
    Rawlco

    Rawlco Medium Load Member

    384
    200
    Aug 13, 2006
    Central Maine
    0
    Actually the DOT doctor was almost correct to give you only a 6 month card. Any blood pressure over 140/90 means you can not get the two year card, and your BP has to be lower than that to renew it I think. Like anything mandated by the government there is no room for the Doctor's opinion, only the numerical cutoff. You missed it, so tough luck, thank the government.

    TMC does not like 6 month med cards, I am not sure why. They really want you to have a 2 year med card, and they won't accept your med card either. They will have their own doctor check you out.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2009
    Rawlco, Jan 17, 2009
    Rawlco, Jan 17, 2009
    #73
    ScooterDawg Thanks this.
  5. Jan 18, 2009 #74
    ScooterDawg

    ScooterDawg <strong>"The Blue Tick Lab"</strong>

    980
    654
    Nov 23, 2008
    Trinity, NC
    0
    Hey there Rawlco!

    Yup, that is what I thought had happened. I can understand their concern. I just wished they had at least contacted me to let me know and gave me an opportunity to discuss it. But you know, that's ok. I'm fine with it. There is always a reason for everything.

    But now that I have that behind me, and I am taking my medication, things will be just fine.

    Appreciate the info!
     
    ScooterDawg, Jan 18, 2009
    ScooterDawg, Jan 18, 2009
    #74
  7. Jan 18, 2009 #75
    luvtheroad

    luvtheroad Road Train Member

    1,734
    488
    Jan 1, 2009
    Central Ohio
    0
    When I first went for my DOT physical to attend driving school, my blood pressure was higher than it should have been. The doctor asked if this was normal. I said that I'd never had high BP in my life and I do the doctor visits like I should. By the time the rest of the physical was over my BP was back to normal and I got the regular card. Go figure.
     
    luvtheroad, Jan 18, 2009
    luvtheroad, Jan 18, 2009
    #75
    ScooterDawg Thanks this.
  8. Jan 18, 2009 #76
    SpecialOps

    SpecialOps Light Load Member

    76
    21
    Oct 22, 2008
    Pontiac, MI
    0
    HEY SCOOTERDAWG,

    Glad to hear that everything is going well with your training and your having fun doing it. Have not posted on here in a couple of days, just reading and enjoying some of the others post and gathering information.

    Well buddy its been a long and stressful at times fight with the No Worker Left Behind program here in Michigan, but I received a phone call from case manager on Jan 5, 2009, to inform me that I have been approved for funding for driving school.

    I guess there was light at the end of the tunnel, only 5 months after starting the process, and finally the train is at the station. The truck driving school call yesterday and told me that I would be starting on Monday the 19th, and that everything is already to go. The school told me that I need to be there at 6:45 on Monday, and that to sign the paperwork and start class.

    The coordinator said that I would be in class for about 2 hours and then out to the range to start learning the big trucks. Since I already have my TIP and all my endorsements that is were I will be, The coordinator told me that after graduation that we use to have 90 days to get on with the big companies for OTR, and now that has changed to 30 day's or if your not hired on by the 30 days they will require you to take a refresher course.

    This to me is the biggest scam I have ever seen in my life, you have to pay 4600 dollar to get my CDL's and if you want to work the big outfit's you have to do it within 30, just another way to screw people in my opinion. I have pre-hires from several different companies, but being that I have 7 years experience in shipping and receiving manager and working with family members in the trucking industry and heavy equipment I am networking with many different sources.

    Being transfer driver for home improvement company, to pallet recovery driver, looking into driving for acouple different trash carrier in the area.
    If I do have to go with the big outfits I would be looking at one that do not go to Canada, this is my chosen due to the fact with all the hassle trucker get at the border it just is not worth it to me, most of the trucks that delivered to us were always being delayed for hours, so if any know of company that don't route you to canada please advise.

    I will be starting a new post next week and keep everyone updated as to my experience with this school, Integrity truck driving acadamy. Hopefully I will be able to find something local, yes your reading between the lines!!! if I do not have to do the OTR thing then better for me, I have a friend that runs for the US Postal Main Hub here in Pontiac, and I will be talking with him, all he runs is Day cab and they run over nite and come back in the morning to do it all over again but he does pay well.

    If anyone knows of companies in the Detroit Michigan area that are hiring local please let me know. I had my CDL several years ago but let them expire when I went in the Military and all this just to get them back, this won't happen again.

    Good luck scooterdawg and I look forward to swapping threads.
     
    SpecialOps, Jan 18, 2009
    SpecialOps, Jan 18, 2009
    #76
    ScooterDawg Thanks this.
  9. Jan 18, 2009 #77
    ScooterDawg

    ScooterDawg <strong>"The Blue Tick Lab"</strong>

    980
    654
    Nov 23, 2008
    Trinity, NC
    0
    <holding a glass of champagne high in the air> CONGRATULATIONS!!! Like my Daddy always said.... all good things come to those who wait! I'm tickled to death for you, my friend!
    Yup, sad, but true....
    Actually, I think they do that so the student doesn't have time to bounce around from orientation to orientation without being penalized. Just my opinion though...
    Check out KLLM... No NYC or Canada... Yeah I hear border crossings can be a real hassle
    Man that would be GREAT if you could land that. Working for the Post Office is definately a wonderful opportunity if you could land it. Plus with your veteran status, you might could stand a pretty good chance of getting it. But you know what I have found? If you do have to get an OTR job, once you get a year's experience, you can get about any job, local or long distance, that is out there.
    Thanks Man....you too!
     
    ScooterDawg, Jan 18, 2009
    ScooterDawg, Jan 18, 2009
    #77
  10. Jan 19, 2009 #78
    ScooterDawg

    ScooterDawg <strong>"The Blue Tick Lab"</strong>

    980
    654
    Nov 23, 2008
    Trinity, NC
    0
    Ok, so here we are.... technically on the downslope.

    Got in today and immediately started the classroom aspect. They had sort of staggered us around, being I am a class of one. It definately has its good points.

    Went to the instructor today and talked to him about teaching us some more manuevers in the yard. The school is mandated by the State of North Carolina to teach the 100' straight backing and 45 degree offset. When I went to the instructor, I told him I wanted to learn the Alley Dock, 90 degree Alley Dock, and Parallel Parking. And that is exactly what we did in the yard today. There were other students out there too who were starting the 100 and the 45, but when it got to be my turn, I was doing my own little thing.

    Then my buddy Tyree (one of the coolest guys I have ever met) got in on the action and him and I were out there walking through the course (sort of reminiscent of watching skydiving teams on those little sleds, spinning around on the floor) figuring out our positioning and egging eachother on. It was a lot of fun. It took me a couple times to get comfortable with it, but I think I got the concepts. Now practice, practice, practice.

    Also got a little surprise today. Hadn't been told that it was time to study for it yet, but got the Haz-Mat practice test thrown at us. It was sort of ironic because I was talking with Linda last night, and decided to crack the book and sorta blaze through the section. Lucky I did. There was a lot that I wasn't ready for, but I did pass with an 84%. You can bet I will be ready for the next one. Just applied for my HazMat Background Check thing online, so 4-6 weeks, I should be set.

    They are talking about snow tonight, and not sure if I'll get any drive time tomorrow, but I am ready!

    If I had known this was so much fun, I would have done it years ago!

    Oh yeah, almost forgot! Christine called me today from Conway. Everything checks out and I am a GO for Feb 9th Orientation in Joplin. (would somebody PLEASE wipe this stupid grin off my face!!!!)

    See Ya Tomorrow!
     
    ScooterDawg, Jan 19, 2009
    ScooterDawg, Jan 19, 2009
    #78
    dawgfan Thanks this.
  11. Jan 19, 2009 #79
    SpecialOps

    SpecialOps Light Load Member

    76
    21
    Oct 22, 2008
    Pontiac, MI
    0
    Well scooterdawg,

    I started another thread, check it out under finally started school with Integrity, here in Michigan we don't let the white stop us, it was cold as a well digger's you know what. Our school and state do not require off set parking or blind side backing, instructor say that you OTR trainers can teach you that stuff inform them that alot of companies require you to do this on road test, but they said they will check into this and if we would like to practice it they were alright with it.

    Don't want to take over your thread but will check in from time to time to see how you are doing I already have a Pre-hire from KLLM if plan A changes.

    Thanks
     
    SpecialOps, Jan 19, 2009
    SpecialOps, Jan 19, 2009
    #79
    ScooterDawg Thanks this.
  12. Jan 19, 2009 #80
    IronRydr

    IronRydr Light Load Member

    154
    73
    Dec 1, 2008
    0
    Scooter,

    Congrats the the Conway gig! I sent you a PM about this.

    IronRydr
     
    IronRydr, Jan 19, 2009
    IronRydr, Jan 19, 2009
    #80
    ScooterDawg Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 8 of 15