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College educated feller, considering trucking
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? |
Have you tried Spinal Decompression yet?
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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. |
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.
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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.
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Originally Posted by murph
I was a Gynecologist, had my own practice. Business failed when I ate up all the profits.
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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 |
Sorry Useless, in your absence that's the best I could come up with to fill the humor gap.
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Originally Posted by murph
Sorry Useless, in your absence that's the best I could come up with to fill the humor gap.
You see, my grandfather was a Geriatric Gynecologist Proctologist. As a doctor, he spent his entire career looking up "Old Wives' Tales!! |
Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.
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Originally Posted by Highwayman
Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.
We just heard that you had passed away!! :shock: Was this someone's idea of a sick joke?? :evil: If it was, then it was not at all funny!! :twisted: |
Originally Posted by Highwayman
Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.
Originally Posted by Useless
Highwayman??? Is that really you???? :?
We just heard that you had passed away!! :shock: Was this someone's idea of a sick joke?? :evil: If it was, then it was not at all funny!! :twisted: |
Here is an extensive list of meds the D.O.T is concerned with. Found this on pumpkindriver.com a couple of years ago:
Drivers may not take any of the following medications while operating a commercial vehicle. Any use of these medications require a 24 hour mandatory out of service after last dose consumed. ACETAMINOPHEN/CODIENE #2, #3, #4 AMBIEN ANACIN PM ANEXIA ANTABUSE ANTI VERT APAP #2, #3, #4 AVINZA B&O SUPPOSITORIES BACLOFEN BENADRYL BONINE BUAIFENESIN/CODIENE BUFFERIN AF NITE-TIME BUTABARBITOL BUTALBITAL BUTISOL BUTORPHANOL CAMPRAL CANTIL CARISOPRODOL CARISOPRODOL/CODIENE CHLORZOXAZONE CO-GESIC COCAINE CODEPREX-Codeine based cough suppressant CODIENE CODIMAL PH COMPOZ CYCLOBENZAPRINE DALMANE DARVOCET N DARVON DARVON COMPOUND 65 DEMEROL DESOXYN DEXTROAMPHETAMINE DIDREX DILAUDID DIPHENHYDRAMINE DOLOPH1NE DOXYLAMINE DURAGESIC DURATUSS (elixir) ESGIC OR ESGIC-PLUS ESTAZOLAM FENTANYL FIORICET FIORINAL #3 FIORINOL FLEXERIL FLURAZEPAM HALCION HEROIN HYDROCODONE HYDROMORPHONE INSULIN IOPHEN SYRUP LIORESAL LOMOTIL LONOX LORCET LORTAB 2.5, 5,7.5 MATAXALONE MECLAZINE MEPERGAN MEPERGAN FORTE MERPERID1NE METHADONE METHAMPHETAM1NE METHOCARBAMOL MORPHINE MS CONTIN (Kadian) NEMBUTAL NORCO NORFLEX NORGESIC FORTE NOVAHISTINE EXPECTORANT NUCOFED NYTOL ORPHENADRLNE OXYCONTIN OXYCODONE PALLADONE PANLOR PAREGORIC PARAFON FORTE PARAPECTOLIN PENTAZOCINE PENTOBARBITAL PERCOCET PERCODAN PHENOBARBITAL PHP POWDERED OPIUM PROPACET PROPOXYPHENE PROSOM PROTUSS-D PROVIGIL RESTORIL RMS SUPPOSITORY ASTRA MORPH ROBAXIN ROBITUSSIN AC ROXICET ROXICODONE ROXILOX SCOPALAMINE SECOBARBITAL SECONAL SKELAX1N SLEEP-EZE SOMA SOMA/CODIENE SOMINEX SONATA STADOL NS SUBLIMAZE SYNALGOS-DC (capsule has codeine in it) TALACEN TAL WIN NX TEMAZEPAM THC TRANSDERM-SCOP TRIAZOLAM TUSSI-ORGANIDIN TUSSIONEX TUS SIN- 12 TYLENOL #1, #2, #3, #4 TYLENOL PM TYLOX UNISOM VICODIN VICOPROFEN VICODIN ES WYGESIC ZANAFLEX Z-COF HC ZOLPIDEM ZYDONE ** ANTICONVULSANTS - When prescribed as anticonvulsants. Other uses may be allowed as conditional dependent on diagnosis and require a clearance letter from treating MD ? CARBAMAZEPINE CARBATROL DEPAKOTE DILANTIN EPITOL KLONOPIN NEURONTIN PHENOBARBITAL TOPAMAX TEGRETOL TRILEPTAL ZONEGRAN CONDITIONAL KNOCKOUT MEDICATIONS Drivers taking any of the following medications require an in-depth history regarding the medications. The use of these medications may not disqualify a driver, but the underlying diagnosis may. The history should include the name of the medications, reason for taking the medication (diagnosis) and dosage. If it is determined that the medication will be allowed, it is necessary to obtain a letter from the treating physician. The letter must include the medication name, dosage, reason for taking, how long taking, that the individual is not having any related side effects to the medication and that the individual is deemed safe to drive a commercial vehicle while taking the medication. ALPRAZOLAM ALDOMET AMITRIPTYLLNE ANAFRANIL ANTABUSE ATARAX ATIVAN ATROPINE BENTYL BUPROPION BUSPAR BUSPIRONE CELEXA CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE CHLORPROMAZINE CLOMIPRAM1NE COUMADIN CYLERT DEPAKOTE DESIPRAMJNE DESYREL DIAZEPAM DIETHYLPROPLAN DONNATOL DOXEPINE DEXEDRINE EFFEXOR ELAVIL ESKALITH FENFLURAM1NE FLUOXETINE FLUPHENAZINE FLUVOXAMLNE GEODON HALDOL HALOPERIDOL HYDROXAZINE IMIPRAMINE IOANAM1NE LEXAPRO (Celexa/Prozac combined) LIBRAX LIBRIUM LITHIUM (Request most recent blood level) LITHOTABS LORAZEPAM LUVOX MELLARIL METHYLPHENIDATE METHYLDOPA (HTN) MIRTAZAPINE NEURONTIN NEFAZODONE NAVANE NORPRAMINE NORTRIPTYLINE OXEZEPAM PAMELOR PAROXETINE PAXIL PEMOLINE PHENERGAN PHENTERMINE PONDIM1N PROLIXIN PROMETHAZINE PROZAC REMERON RISPERDAL RISPERJDONE RITALIN ROHYPNOL= Tranquilizer SERAX SEROQUEL (QUETIAPINE FUMARATE) SERTRALINE SERZONE SINEQUAN STELAZINE TENUATE DOSPAN THIORLDAZINE THIOTHIXENE THORAZINE TIGAN TOFRANIL TRAZODONE TRIFLUOPERAZINE TRILAFON TRIMETHOBENZAMIDE VALIUM VALPROIC ACID= Antiseizure VALRELEASE VENLAFAX1NE VISTARIL WARFARIN WELLBUTRIN XANAX ZOLOFT ZYBAN ZYPREXA (OLANZAPINE) ANGINA MEDICATIONS (Discuss case with nurses) ADALAT ADALAT CC AMLODIPINE BEPRLDIL CALAN CALAN SR CARDENE CARDIZEM CARDIZEM CD CARDLZEM SR CORGARD DILACOR XR DILTIAZEM DYNACIRC ISOPT1N ISOPT1N SR ISORDIL ISRADIPINE NICARDIPJNE NIFEDIPINE NITROGLYCERIN NORVASC PROCARDIA PROCARDIA XL TIAZAC VASCOR VERAPAMIL VERAPMIL VERELAN ORAL MEDICATION FOR DIABETES For Experienced applicants & current drivers only. If Blood Sugar is in good control no letter needed. If the Blood Sugar is out of control obtain a letter from personal physician that driver?s diabetes is controlled, no side effects from the medication and is safe to drive a tractor/trailer. Also ask the doctor to include the most recent hemoglobin Al C which is a blood test which shows how well diabetes controlled in last 2-3 months (normals 3.7-6.4 which is good control 5.5-7.5 fair control; over 7.6 poor control) or most recent fasting blood sugar test (FBS). AMARYL CHLORPROPAMIDE DIABENESE DIABETA GLIPIZIDE GLUCOPHAGE ? GENERIC FORM IS HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS GLUCOTROL GLYBURIDE MICRONASE PRECOSE REZULIN NO LETTER NEEDED MEDICATIONS ANTIBIOTICS POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTS ADVIL ALEVE ALLOPURIINOL ANAPROX ANSAID ANTURANE ATROMID BENEMID CELEBREX CHOLESTYRAMINE CLARAT1N CLINORIL CLOFIBRATE COLESTID COLESTIPOL CYTOTEC DAYPRO DISALSID DOLOBID DURATESS ESTROGEN PATCHES FELDENE FLUVASTATIN GEMFIBROZIL GOODIE POWDER HISMANOL IBUPROFEN INDOCIN LESCOL LEVOTHYROID LEVOXINE LODINE LOPID LORELCO LOVASTATIN MECLAZINE MECLOMEN MEVACOR MOTRLN NALFON NAPROSYN NAPROXEN NUPRIN ORUDIS ORUVAIL PRAVACHOL PRAVASTATIN PREMARIN PREVACIDE PRILOSEC PROBUCOL PRO VERA QUESTRAN RELAFEN RUFEN SELDANE SIMVASTATIN SUDAFED SYNTHROID TAGAMET TOLECTIN TORADOL TRINALIN VIOXX VOLTAREN ZANTAC ZEPHREX LA ZOCOR ZYLOPRIM __________________________________________________ ________________ ANTIHISTAMINES (note- Claritin/Claritin-D , Allegra/Allegra-D and Zyrtec are antihistamines- designed to have less sleepy side effects than those listed below): AS THERE ARE MANY OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN ANTIHISTAMINES AND DECONGESTANTS- THIS LIST IS NOT ALL INCLUSIVE-IF SLEEPY SIDE EFFECTS OCCUR, DO NOT TAKE AND Check with Occ Health x8709 DO NOT TAKE AND DRIVE FOR 24 HRS AFTER LAST DOSE: ACTIFED ATARAX BENADRYL (DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINE) CHLOR-TRIMETON(DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINE) DRIXORAL ALLERGY SINUS/ ANTIHISTAMINE (Cont on Next Page- scroll down) TYLENOL PM (CONTAINS BENADRYL) RONDEC TYLENOL PM (CONTAINS BENADRYL) Occ Health DrugList 10/21/2005 |
I have a degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Economics. I get paid the same as the rest of the guys at my company :)
For some niches, education may be useful. Examples include mobile medical screening trucks or NOT lease purchasing from CR England lol :) |
Originally Posted by Highwayman
Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.
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Originally Posted by Highwayman
Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.
First, let me say how glad I am that "the news of your demise was greatly overexaggerated!" I know we've had our dfferences, but I was shocked to hear the news! Secondly, I guess we'll disagree a bit some more. No offense, but your statement was a bit too all-inclusive. I'm sure SOME back injuries would be made worse, or agravated, by driving a truck.... but not all. I happen to have a "degenerated disc" at L-5 (lumbar, lower back.) It has caused me MUCH pain throughout my whole life. However, I find that driving a truck has given me as much or MORE relief than my lifelong visits to a Chiropractor. What happens in normal life is, my muscles in the lower back get stressed out and "pull" the spine out of alignment. I find that the vibration and bouncing in the seat tends to "relax" these muscles and allow the spine to align itself. Also, the constant vibration tends to "strengthen" these muscles so that they keep a constant pressure from both sides, and the spine stays straight. Also, since I drive team, I sleep while the truck is vibrating and bouncing! I sleep on my SIDE, with one leg raised and laid over the other. This is essentially the SAME position that the chiropractor puts me in before shoving everything back into place. By sleeping half of my 10 hour break on one side and the other half on the other side, I am essentially "re-aligning" my spine everytime I take my 10 hour break. I have NEVER, NEVER felt better as my lower back is concerned, than I have since I started driving a truck, and sleeping in a moving truck. Now, my situation may not hold true for others.... maybe not ANY others.... but I think I know a bit about spinal alignment issues after 50 years, and I BELIEVE it will work for many others. At any rate, it would surely be a "personal" experience for anyone with a problem, and should not necessarily be painted with such a broad brush. That being said.... it SURE is good to hear that you are still alive and kicking! Take care of yourself. I really don't want to EVER hear such bad news about YOU or any other of our little community here! Hobo |
Originally Posted by golfhobo
First, let me say how glad I am that "the news of your demise was greatly overexaggerated!" I know we've had our dfferences, but I was shocked to hear the news!
Secondly, I guess we'll disagree a bit some more. No offense, but your statement was a bit too all-inclusive. I'm sure SOME back injuries would be made worse, or agravated, by driving a truck.... but not all. I happen to have a "degenerated disc" at L-5 (lumbar, lower back.) It has caused me MUCH pain throughout my whole life. However, I find that driving a truck has given me as much or MORE relief than my lifelong visits to a Chiropractor. What happens in normal life is, my muscles in the lower back get stressed out and "pull" the spine out of alignment. I find that the vibration and bouncing in the seat tends to "relax" these muscles and allow the spine to align itself. Also, the constant vibration tends to "strengthen" these muscles so that they keep a constant pressure from both sides, and the spine stays straight. Also, since I drive team, I sleep while the truck is vibrating and bouncing! I sleep on my SIDE, with one leg raised and laid over the other. This is essentially the SAME position that the chiropractor puts me in before shoving everything back into place. By sleeping half of my 10 hour break on one side and the other half on the other side, I am essentially "re-aligning" my spine everytime I take my 10 hour break. I have NEVER, NEVER felt better as my lower back is concerned, than I have since I started driving a truck, and sleeping in a moving truck. Now, my situation may not hold true for others.... maybe not ANY others.... but I think I know a bit about spinal alignment issues after 50 years, and I BELIEVE it will work for many others. At any rate, it would surely be a "personal" experience for anyone with a problem, and should not necessarily be painted with such a broad brush. That being said.... it SURE is good to hear that you are still alive and kicking! Take care of yourself. I really don't want to EVER hear such bad news about YOU or any other of our little community here! Hobo I never had any back problems - until after a few years of driving. My chiropractor chalks it up to a few things; -all that extended time sitting down, which weakens the back muscles; -the bouncing around, which stresses weakened back muscles; -lumping freight, which is not something that I "trained" for, nor did I allow ample time before and after lumping freight to warm up and cool down. Yeah, I know, i was an idiot for lumping my own freight. That much is my own damn fault. But according to my chiropractor, sitting for long periods, whether behind the wheel or in front of a computer screen is bad for backs, and bad for bad backs. So whenever i can, I stand up at my current job (which sometimes means I am standing for many hours), and my back feels better than it used to. My feet, on the other hand.... |
Originally Posted by yoopr
Originally Posted by Highwayman
Trucking is NOT a good job for people with bad backs - unless you want to make your bad back worse.
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I work out the abs and lower back at the gym and find that helps with back problems from running the highway.
I move the seat to a new position every hour or so, even a few inches up or down and hitting the recline to a new spot as well as power lumbar settings forces the body to settle into a new position and not become as sore as 1 spot for the entire trip. Watch having an education in this industry, it's dangerous as the old school cowboys get riled up quickly. What do you mean these exposed air canisters are costing me 20K in fuel a year? they look cool, my grandpa ran them in the 1930s, they have to be good. It gets tiring after a while hearing about 1 over extended bankruptcy case after another, usually ego is the root cause. Apply sound business principles to this industry and you can do well as in most industries. |
I have known some who have back problems. Some have a problem driving, others don't have more simply because they drive. It depends on the type of injury. You can stop every now and then to stretch. You can also put a small pillow behind your back. Driving is not nearly as bad on your back as when I first started driving. Most are air ride which makes the sitting much more comfortable. Before air ride most people who had been driving for any length of time suffered from back pain. It is just something that was expected. I would discuss is with my doctor before making a decision.
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