(New) Prime Inc. Springfield Mo.

True... also they cut that amount in half if you quit after 6 months... but to be clear, that time counter starts the day you get your liscense... not the day you arrive at Prime and not the day you get your permit. Same thing for benifts.

Also, you have up until the end of your first week out with the CDL instructor to decide if its something you want to continue or quit free and clear of the 3k+ school note you sign...

dont know if they require you to pay back the $240 week living expense loan they gave you for that week. You do give up the money that you paid for the permit, DOT Physical, Drug test and Bkgrnd check.

(each week out with the instructor, 3-4 weeks till your final test out, they give you a living allownace of $240 paid back at 25 dollars a week. You only pay back what you take of that $240/week)

This was my experiance, they may or may not have tweaked amounts in the last year... but I havent heard anything to think they have.

 

These policies are DOT = big list of drugs you cannot take.

 

I played the game for 6 months with Swift.... Prime cant be worse, learn all you can and find the company that provides your needs.... Good Luck and Drive Safe

 

Sorry for such an old thread, but can you find a quote from DOT on anti-depressants? I think that is company policy, not DOT

 

Methinks you just wanted to bring this old thread back to the top of the "Bad Trucking Company" board.

It's aliiiiiiiiive... back from the dead. Way to go.

 

Is an old thread better off dead or a dead thread on the mend ?

 

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/medical.htm

If you look into this they only test for 5 types of drugs
-pcp
-cocaine
-marijuana
-amphetamines
-opiates

-and I could not find a drug list =if your DR (DOT medical examiner) approves it and they know you are a CDL holder you should be off the hook. Check with your company med policy.

-I don't like taking anything that could make me more tired (this includes foods at certain points in the day).

 

I believe the "list of prohibited" medications (perscribed) has more to do with a carrier's insurance than DOT regs.

I could be wrong... I seem to remember someone posting a list of meds that Schneider or Swift has that disqualifies a driver from working for them... I would imagine a lot of the carriers have similar lists.

 

Statement from Administrator


The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) regulations for the medical qualification of interstate truck and bus drivers prohibit the use of prescribed substances or drugs that adversely affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves medications for use, and has recently issued a public health advisory on Chantix (Varenicline). FMCSA's rules defer to the physicians and health care professionals to determine driver medical fitness for duty, which includes when a medication has actual and potential side effects that could impact safe driving.
While we do not name any medications, such as Chantix, in FMCSA regulations, it appears that medical examiners should not certify a driver taking Chantix because the medication may adversely affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
We are committed to ensuring safety on America's highways and we will continue our ongoing effort to review all FMCSA medical standards, including prescription drugs.

 

My carrier does use a list:

Example: Allergy

Zertec is ok, but Allegra, Claritin (Loratadine), Benedryl (very bad), Sudafed, Actifed are not.
Certain variants of Zertec are not acceptable (night-time ones etc).

Any med that days it might make you tired (not to use while operating machinery/auto) is on that list.