Where To Go From Here?...

So, the verdict is in, it's simply an oddly extreme case of allergies triggering asthma. Been on daily breathing treatments for a couple weeks and it seems to have calmed down, with the occasional relapse.

Looking into Quality Leasing on the recommendation of a friend, they partner with the last company I drove for, which was definitely giving me the miles. Might be the best of both worlds?

I've looked for Quality Leasing threads on here but don't seem to find anything good or bad that's confirmed... Anyone?

 

Ixnay on the QLC for now, I understand it's owned by Celadon, which appears to be on the rocks.

I've been making phone calls pending what is said at my followup appt the 23rd. I have a few options. As someone stated in an earlier post, I will have to make a compromise or two, and I fully expected I'd have to give a little on one thing or another...

Option 1 is a reefer company out of MN with 72 mph trucks, and no nanny stuff, choice of auto-shift or manual. Midwest to Southeast, no NE that I remember mentioned.

Option 2 is a dry-van company, also out of MN, manual transmissions and no nanny stuff but 65 mph trucks. If memory serves per the conversation, no NE and MW to SE as well.

Option 3 is another dry-van company, has a yard 45 miles from home, runs some NE, 71 mph trucks with manual transmissions and no nanny stuff.

I also have the option to go back to my previous job, and from the email I got yesterday, it sounds like they're hurting for drivers. But I hear they have cameras now, and I plan to tell them if I'm getting another auto-shift Volvo, they can forget it. This company locks out the manual mode on the trans control, and I have seen first-hand that this is very dangerous. Not sure how that's even legal.

 

So this is how it ends... As of June 2017, I was diagnosed with chronic allergic asthma (layman's terms, 75-95% of the air I breathe is potentially toxic to me), and against doctor's advice, attempted to return to trucking. I was hoping medications and breathing treatments would keep my problems to a minimum.

However, I am still having issues. My doctors say I could qualify for disability, but I would rather at least TRY to work, as full disability does not afford comfortable living, and partial does not supply or allow enough income to be worth it.

Thus, I am considering offering a taxi/shuttle service around the truck stop/rest area near where I live. I have posted a thread in "Truck Stops" about this... Link below...

I-64 EX 136 IN VA - Gordonsville-Palmyra - WalMart DC/Store - Taxi/Shuttle Needed?

 

i have been at crete since march 1st. mid south regional. basicly from cheyenne south across i80 to chicago then south. im dry van, i refuse to pull a reefer. mostly d/h. not bad other than alot of micro mgmt. tolerable.
its gotten better since i stay on planner/dispatch keeping me planned. i got voluntered for helping on walmart ded fleet for a week. in cheyenne. told them i dont do reefer, they didnt like that but helped out & still have not touched a reefer. mid south has 1,2,3 week fleets. or did. no nav., decent trucks/benefits. they are better than some but its what you can tolerate. trucks have no driver amenities but have had very little problem with my '14 shakeliner condo. dispatch leaves me alone now for the most part.. good luck

 

Thanks for all the useful info and cautions about possible issues. I have been given some info regarding a local opportunity that, through an initial chat with the owner, appears to be primarily in-state container runs along a corridor in which I live. To date, I've only run reefer and dry-van. What should I know about running containers?

 

You probably will need a TWIC ID card for container work. Ask about that.
There's a lot of junk chassis out there the containers ride on. Don't let that stop you though; it's just part of the game with intermodal work.

 

Gotta love it when someone says they need a driver but won't return your call... Back to the drawing board...

I put in for a 'shuttle driver' position. Lady told me on the phone it is local work, just moving trailers a few miles between yards. I didn't ask about pay, but is this what shuttle driving really is, just jockeying trailers between yards locally? And what should I expect for pay for this?