My turn for orientation at Watkins & Shepard!!

A serious question here for anyone knowledgeable on the subject. The more I think about it, and only because what I have read, the whole blood pressure thing seems to be a possible issue with getting hired at a company. More so at some than others.

I found out I had it 5 years ago when I went into have a physical. It has always ran a little on the high side and by that I mean more than what doctors normally like to see but not off the charts like I was at risk of a cardiac. If I remember right it was right at the legal limits of what FMCSA allows when I found out. My doctor went ahead and put my on medication for it just to be safe (because it runs in my family) and it normally runs 110-120 over 70-75 now which is below the normal 120/80.

I am not overweight by any stretch of the imagination and do not have any other health issues. For the most part I am in good shape other than the minor aches and pains one starts to develop as they get older.

My question is am I going to be getting doors slammed in my face by companies because they may think I am a risk? I know they will find out about it at the DOT physical because I will disclose it on the form but should I call around companies prior to applying and find out what they will tolerate?

If any of you guys have knowledge you can shed on this subject please let all of us with blood pressure issues know. Thanks and be safe.

By the way, I have not had an issue getting a DOT card in the past/present but they only will let it be valid for a year because I am on bp medication. No biggy though.

 

GPS and CB's take all the fun out of it! The old fashion way keeps it interesting. Kinda of kidding, kinda serious!

 

W/S bought 6 or 8 volvos specifically to run rocky mountain double loads of paper from the missoula mill up into canada. the trucks had 13 speeds and 500 HP engines where the OTR fleet trucks were 10 speeds with 450 HP engines. the 'special' heavy haul trucks also had double-locking rear ends. i don't remember if these trucks had sliding 5th wheels.

W/S started doing the heavy haul paper loads with OTR fleet trucks and the drivers were able to convince management that they needed a little help with power and gears to be able to do a good job. once things settled down and the new trucks arrived, all the heavy haul work was done with the dedicated trucks and the OTR trucks went back to OTR service.

i left W/S in october of 2008, but things started to unravel before then. i know they had at least a couple of the volvo heavy haul trucks running OTR on the flatbed side. i'm not sure if that was because they couldn't get the drivers they wanted, or the freight wasn't there anymore, or what exactly.

i do remember the missoula mill started quite a bit more by rail than they had been, but i don't think that impacted the canadian heavy haul stuff.

 

i also have HBP and have had for the last 7 years. no company i've ever applied at so much as blinked when they noticed. i wouldn't worry about your HBP at all...

 

That is good to know. Thanks. Anyone else reading this please add your comments as well.

 

My husband has driven for W/S for over 27 yrs and 2 yrs ago had a mild heart attack (ended up with one stent)and is on B/P meds among others. He has to have a stress test once a yr and a DOT physical once a year now, and as long as everything is ok he can continue to drive as long as he wants

 

I also have hypertension, well controlled with meds. WS didn't even give it a second thought, when I had the phone interview with the risk manager he didn't even mention it. The only difference is now that the DOT knows you have HBP, you can only get a 1yr med card. NO biggie though....

 

You guys really do need to at least get a cheap CB. It is very dangerous running in the winter time without one. It has saved my skin on numerous occasions. Wait to you come over the hill or around that icy corner and traffic is stopped. Come on guys you are getting some experience under your belt now and you need to be running like the big dogs! I'm not pulling your legs or joking around this is real trucking knowledge I am handing to you. (don't mean to sound like Mr. Miagi though!)(karate kid) Anyway drive safe guys!

 

I had a Ranger radio like a TR969 or something like that and sold it like a dummy. I wish I still had it now. It was a good radio.

I asked this question over in the cb forum but I will ask it here too. What is a good one to get with sideband, weather, and maybe echo for 200-250 dollars?

 

while on the topic, mine stopped working like a month ago. i can hear so i guess its good enough to be useful, but if i talk on it no one hears me. i never use the thing so i dont really care too much, but its been annoying the few times i have wanted to use it.

im guessing i hit a weird knob but ive tried messing with all the buttons, but i know nothing about these things. what does squelch do all i know is thats a funny ### word.