If your trying to loose wait check this out leangains.com in an effort to stay ripped as a trucker ( which is near impossible) this form of eating is as close to perfect. I combine it with convict conditioning ( google it). Works miracles for me.
Friend, I am sure your very strong and in great shape. But I am just trying to give you a 'heads up', as to what you may expect to have happen. Did you read the other thread on Sleep Apnea? What he said about the BMI is very real. I was in a term once where a person had to have a sleep test done, and he was big, but not in my opinion freakin big, just large thats all. And he was required to take a sleep apnea test for his DOT physical. So prove me wrong, I am just saying it could happen. If you get the chance on Monday try calling to see what clinic Swift uses or is going to send you to for the exam. Then try calling them or ask even the Swift person you talk to about this BMI thing and the Sleep test. Actually about 4 yrs ago now, when this new CSA thing was still in the planning stages before it became law. They wanted a provision that if your BMI was over a certain percent, you would not be legal to drive a truck at all! Now granted that part of the law never came into being, but nevertheless it was proposed. You know, the law makers have to jump on something, to justify their jobs. It's nutty and insane the extremes they want to take things. If you would, keep us informed about how things progress. Again I hope I am very wrong, but I did see it with my own eyes and ears, a new driver having to have this additional test, mearly due to, or because of his size. just fyi,
Common sleep apnea symptoms include: Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat Loud snoring Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation Sleepiness or lack of energy during the day Sleepiness while driving Morning headaches Restless sleep Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex Recurrent awakenings or insomnia I can tell you I don't have any of the symptoms of sleep apnea and if they target me just because of my weight I will sue their ###. I am sick of being discriminated against just because I am tall or large. (for the record this next thing isn't swift) I have all ready been sent home because I couldn't walk under a line on a wall. it didn't matter to them that I can get under the truck and do what I need to do to inspect what I need to. I couldn't get under THEIR line on a #### wall which is suppose to be 4'4. I am 6'6(I checked doc listed me as 6'6) I am doing the squat and walking like a duck just fine but because my head wasn't under that #### line I get sent home. all this after riding a ####### bus for 20 something hours and only being at their site for 2 or 3 hours. they hire druggie and ####### drunks but not a person who's never been in jail never had a serious accident in his life. Its no wonder the trucking industry has such a big turn over rate they hire all the wrong people and send the right people home. I am just sick of it I want to work I know how to drive a ####### truck just hire me #### IT. I want to get my year in and move on to a company that's going to treat me right. hell if I like it at swift I will stay but I just need to get out there I am sick of sitting on my ###. If you can't tell I am really frustrated I am not trying to say your wrong about the whole sleep apnea thing but like I said I am frustrated and I worry a lot so this is just something I wasn't expecting. I am not in that great of shape but I still have never had any of those symptoms. I won't rant anymore and be quiet.
Well I hoped you called them today, since its xmas holidays, you'll maybe now have to wait until Wednesday. I don't know really what you can expect. And just fyi, its our own federal gov making up law after law in their vain attempts at control. I am sure most companies wouldn't care one way or the other, but this crazy out of control legal system is putting as much pressure on trk'g co's as it is us drivers. There was a phase in trucking when BMI really mattered and I was even asked for my ht and wt during a phone interview with one prospective co. But that was some time ago, and one of their hiring criteria. Interstate Distribution actually fired a driver claiming his excessive wt prevented him from doing the job. He did sue them, showing a jury that he could perform all the tasks necessary to do the job. He was awarded something like $180,000. I read the story online somewhere, so this is true, not just hearsay or an urban ghost story. All I can say is, if they tell you you need a sleep test, it is because its the federal gov. telling them what they need to do. But like I say, I really don't know. All the best to you (hopefully for Swift), I hope to see you out here real soon. don b
Newbie question here. 10 people started the class training here in Sacramento on January 2nd, 2013. On our 1st day we filled out a ton of paper work etc. We went to a local Drug testing facility and had the DOT physical as well, got our green cards. My question is, do we have to do all the same things again in Fontana? Physical and drug test again?? Was the dot physical and drug test here in Sacramento just a preliminary pre hire? I know they would be doing random drug tests once on the road, just trying to understand the process. Thanks In Advance! FYI, after the drug tests, we were down to 9 students the next day. One man failed.
Brenthenley, I am just gonna take a wild guess here and say no way, once you did your physical and prelim drug test you should be ok. and the odds are very low you'll ever have to do a random, but it can/may happen once in a while. Have fun on the road, this winter is freakin cold, I hope you remember to bring lots of warm clothes with you. good luck and enjoy the run
I live in Sacramento, the class room training has been here its supposed to be 3 weeks. After the 3 weeks which ends on January 18th we leave that Sunday 1/20/13 to head to Fontana for our driving training. This is how I know of everything. We spent our 1st week in the class room. We have all 9 of us, one failed initial drug test have all taken our written exams. We all passed, I know I did, have my permit now. Saturday 1/5/13 we spent 1st day in the yard, pulling forward, backing up, alley dock, and pre trip. Monday 1/7/13 we go straight to the yard for more in truck training. I was just curious if we had to repeat everything once in Fontana, physical, drug test, etc. It would seem a little redundant, but hey it is what it is. We had a driver come into the yard and she said its a wellness test, lifting, kneeling etc. Thanks In Advance!
I'm confused ... to my knowledge, Swift does not have a driving academy in Sacramento. Are you going to the driving school in West Sacramento? If so they are affilated with Werner.
Yes. In orientation you go through the drug test and physical again. It is part of orientation for everyone. You will also be issued a new med card. Someone mentioned that you will rarely get a random drug test. That might be true, it might not be. Swift is required to test a certain percentage of drivers each month. I do know one thing, from first hand experience. Get in any kind of accident and you can expect 'random' tests every couple weeks to couple months. I had a minor backing accident 2 weeks after going solo. Minor because I only crunched a fender on a pole, with no damage done to the shippers property or anything else. (a deer hit me once, but that wasn't counted against me) During that next year I had at least 8 'random' drug tests, spaced anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months apart. Never failed a test, and never repeated my mistake either. My RA score has been between -13 and -10 for the past year now.
