Interested in trucking, few questions.

Here is a little history about me, I have been in the warehousing industry for around 12 years. I talk to a few drivers daily and truly admire the work they do. I live in southern California and enjoy driving up north to visit family often. I would like to provide for my family and have my spouse be a full time mother and not work.

I am saving now to be able to attend a truck driving school. My first question, Should I get my drivers permit before I attend school? At what time should I go to get a dot medical card, before permit, after permit, while in school? I just want to get a head start if possible.

I am type 2 diabetic, I am on metformin. I keep my sugar levels in check. I also Have a misdemeanor when I was a 16 ish. I am 33 now. Assault and battery on a peace officer. I did probation and was done with it. All I did was grabbed an officers arm, But that a story for a later time. I do not know how extensive the background checks go. That is the reason for my question.

I have never received a speeding ticket and never been in an accident. I have been suspended for fta on a car pool violation and another time for failure to register my vehicle in time.
I applied to work at ups as a ramp loader and they did a finger print check. I got the results and my misdemeanor showed up. I did not get a call back.

Thank you

 

Most apps ask about Misdemeanors, Felonies, and Suspensions. Some are within a certain time frame but many if not most say Ever. I doubt your old misdemeanor would hold you back. There are specific rules on Diabetes and I am sure there are existing threads on here you can search for using the search tool in the upper left. Suspensions could be your biggest hurdle particularly if they are recent. What good is a driver to a company if he doesn't protect his license? You unfortunately have a history of not protecting your license. Somebody may hire you but many perspective drivers will not bring your package to the table. My school required me to obtain the permit and dot physical prior to accepting me into their program.

 

Thank you for your reply. I will continue to read these forums, there is a ton of information here. I am a book work so I love to read.

 

I have little doubt you could be hired into the trade assuming you can pass a physical. I'm not sure what CA requires or does not require in terms of "permit" to attend a TDS. If you have insurance you could consult your family practitioner and ask him/her if they know a doctor who is familiar with DOT medical regs, and visit that doctor for a "checkup" and see if they feel you're stats and history are ok or if perhaps there may be an issue that needs to be addressed, first. Or, simply pay the $100 or so and get your own DOT physical at your convenience if it's a concern for you but there's a lot of info here about many drivers with diabetic issues but have no issues getting 1 and 2 year clearances.

EDIT: You only need a DOT physical IF you're concerned about your ability to pass before taking on all the time and costs of school. The school doesn't care and the carrier you eventually hire on to will pay for you to get a physical with their pre-hire requirements that may or may not include physical agility tests, depending on the carrier.

But the best advise I can give you is think long and hard before jumping into this trade and know what you're getting into. Many love, many hate it it, many tolerate it. It ruins marriages and much quality time with kids unless you can get a true local/regional gig. Don't expect more then $25-38k in the first year depending on your approach.

If you make it through the first 4 months of the OTJ/Solo phases, you may make it as a driver. Whether or not you'll like the job is another matter. It's not all pretty sunsets and leisurely driving.

 

You sound like a good guy. Shouldn't have any issues. When you do applications , always tell the truth. they will find out.
Go to the forum section for motor carrier questions and click at the bottom to go to specific company forums, then click on Prime. Read and learn and we will welcome you when you are ready.

 

Thank you for your reply. I am confident that I can pass the physical. I have a Doc appointment this week and I will make sure to ask them about the Dot medical regs. I consider myself to be a great driver and have driven class c truck in the past, I think it was called a stakebed. I am not comparing it to a 18 wheeler. I am a quick learner and I hope I can pick it up quick.

 

Thank you Easy Steamer, I always tell the truth and will continue doing my research.

Thank you all for the replies. I want to do this, but dont want to quit my current job until I have a solid offer. I am in no hurry, and want to do this right.

Is it possible to not go the school route?

 

A few nights ago I was stuck in traffic for a couple of hours, It was horrible because I had to use the restroom. Do truck drivers carry some type of toilet in the truck for emergencys?

I was looking at the drivers and was just wondering, lol. Just an off the wall question.

 

There is a fair amount of Camping in trucking. You'll figure it out.

 

Many, many drivers take Metformin, no big deal there. If your sugar level and blood pressure are under control you should be fine passing a DOT physical. By visiting family up north, do you mean Northeast USA or Northern California? TWT runs lots of I-5 and hires new CDL graduates. Contact them about which schools they recruit from; the website is trans-system.