What is involved in orientation?

Really depends on the company. Most start out with physicals and DOT pre employment drug tests. Then you can expect the usual paperwork most everybody does when they start a new job. You can count on watching at least one Smith System video. Plus any videos the company has produced about company policies etc etc. At some point you will take a driving test if you are not going out with a trainer and getting your own truck right off. If you are going out with a trainer you still might have to drive some. You should get your fuel cards and give a brief introduction to them. If you are going to be driving a reefer you can expect a brief introduction to reefers . Most orientations last about three days.

 

Has anyone mentioned paperwork? A pile the size of Mount Everest.

 

yes, yes you will. lol.

 

You won't have to take a physical at Paschall if your DOT medical card has a few months left on it.
Only require a urine test.

 

legally they need to confirm all jobs you have had in the past 3 years some will go for more, if you had periods of unemployment you just have to explain them in a written statement, its not that big of a deal at least not with the company I went for

 

A company is not legally required to verify past employment. They are only required to gather the employment history for up to ten years. To stop the inevitable well my company said this or that please read the last paragraph in the link posted. In it you will see the word may not shall.



https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/383.35

 

a blood test (maybe at your expense) may be performed if you have a high content of sugar in your urine. this is separate from the drug screening by the way, as the DOT physical, you WILL pee in a cup, and they WILL measure for sugar. now whether or not they send you home for high sugar content, i cannot say, you may only get a 1 to 3 month med card, and then YOU MUST see your doctor for further testing and maybe pills, and YOU WILL be monitored. i cannot say how long a med card lasts for anyone that is a diabetic, or pre-diabetes, someone else can advise, that IS an actual diabetic, all others will just be opinions.

so that may be the ONLY time you get a blood test...........

 

Generally if you are taking the pills for Diabetes and you have control you will get a one year medical. Same can be said of blood pressure too. If after this your blood sugar is not in control or your blood pressure is out of range your medical card can be denied. A good friend of mine recently lost his medical this way. He just decided to retire.