Truck Driving Jobs

Doug P · #1 02-03-2007, 02:20 AM

Hi all, I'm looking for a new career. I live in FL and am under employed,
mainly because of a back injury and the two past occupations (stock broker and computer tech support), have hit the skids. Yeah, I know the market is coming back, but I want to make an honest living. I have to take pain meds for the back injury(all legal, but they are opiates) So, I guess the two questions I have are:

Is there any company, who prefers a college educated drivers?

Will a company hire a person, who has to take pain meds everyday?

glasman2 · #2 02-03-2007, 02:31 AM

Have you tried Spinal Decompression yet?

ibamars · #3 02-03-2007, 02:36 AM

Hello, Driving companies will basically hire anyone to a point. The only thing I could tell you is, will your back be able to hold up with the constant bouncing up and down in the truck.

Other things to consider as well. Do you plan on doing flatbed, tanker etc.
Some of these jobs require climbing up and down and lifting heavy things. Only you can decide on what kind of manual labor your back can endure.

Driving a van is probably the easiest out of all trucking jobs I think. But you still have to pull a fifth wheel lever which from my understanding is equivalent to 50lbs.

Things to ask trucking companies are definitely going to be your meds as well. You must report all prescriptions to a trucking company for a medical DOT card.

I wish you luck. Hopefully some of the mods will chime in on this also, due to you have a back problem. They will probably give more insight.

GMAN · #4 02-03-2007, 12:51 PM

Education, or the lack thereof, is neither an asset or liability for carriers. You will find a broad range of backgrounds and education in this business. They main thing they want to know is that you are dependable and can do the job. The back injury would be a red flag. You may need to get a waiver from your doctor. You will need to pass a DOT physical and could be required to pass a physical given by a carrier's doctor. There are some medicines which are strictly forbidden by DOT. You may want to check to see whether yours are listed. If so, you may be able to get the doctor to switch you to another med. You may want to contact some carriers and explain the back injury to see if it will work for them. Good luck.

murph · #5 02-03-2007, 01:16 PM

I was a Gynecologist, had my own practice. Business failed when I ate up all the profits. Decided trucking was the place to be. Found that many companies offered to give me a start. Just find yourself the one that works best for you to start out with. So many factors; Can you afford to send yourself to school? If not, that narrows the field. Choose a carrier that has a training program and a contract obligation that you are willing to accept. If you can afford school, make sure it's PTDI certified and you will find carriers who will reimburse you as you drive for them. Good luck.

Useless · #6 02-03-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murph

I was a Gynecologist, had my own practice. Business failed when I ate up all the profits.

:lol: :lol:

ssoutlaw · #7 02-03-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murph

I was a Gynecologist, had my own practice. Business failed when I ate up all the profits. Decided trucking was the place to be. Found that many companies offered to give me a start. Just find yourself the one that works best for you to start out with. So many factors; Can you afford to send yourself to school? If not, that narrows the field. Choose a carrier that has a training program and a contract obligation that you are willing to accept. If you can afford school, make sure it's PTDI certified and you will find carriers who will reimburse you as you drive for them. Good luck.

" I was a Gynecologist, had my own practice. Business failed when I ate up all the profits. "

This was too funny....lol

murph · #8 02-03-2007, 04:20 PM

Sorry Useless, in your absence that's the best I could come up with to fill the humor gap.

Useless · #9 02-03-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murph

Sorry Useless, in your absence that's the best I could come up with to fill the humor gap.

Actually, I do understand where you are coming from.

You see, my grandfather was a Geriatric Gynecologist Proctologist. As a doctor, he spent his entire career looking up "Old Wives' Tales!!

Highwayman · #10 02-03-2007, 11:18 PM

Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.