I Have To Be Honest
Topic 21473 | Page 1
You need to get the weight down. Even at six feet tall you are going to have trouble. The average driver gains a lot of weight their first year, it is just the nature of the job. Losing weight as a driver is going to be even more difficult than it is right now.
Have you tried getting a dot physical yet? That would be the first thing to do before going any further. Even if you are healthy enough to pass and get a job it is likely that you will be required to go and do one every three months which can get to be a real pain.
I love this job and that helps motivate me to keep in shape as best I can , good luck to you.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
As long as you can pass a DOT physical you'll be ok. However, some companies may require you to "duck walk" under the trailer.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Hi. im a fellow primate. ;) they wont reject you for weight alone if that is what you are asking. jumping into the top bunk of the truck is another story but you are a strong guy and i do it...so can you.
worst case they will have you go for a sleep study which will not be taken u til you pass and get your CDL. then they will take weekly deductions for the test and the CPAP machine if you need it.
i LOVE LOVE LOVE prime ;)
good luck ;)
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Tom, not sure where your getting your information about him needing to get a physical every 3 months. From my understanding you'll only be granted a 3 month card once. And I've only heard of that due to sleep apnea concerns/needing documentation of using a Cpap
You need to get the weight down. Even at six feet tall you are going to have trouble. The average driver gains a lot of weight their first year, it is just the nature of the job. Losing weight as a driver is going to be even more difficult than it is right now.
Have you tried getting a dot physical yet? That would be the first thing to do before going any further. Even if you are healthy enough to pass and get a job it is likely that you will be required to go and do one every three months which can get to be a real pain.
I love this job and that helps motivate me to keep in shape as best I can , good luck to you.
You need to get the weight down. Even at six feet tall you are going to have trouble. The average driver gains a lot of weight their first year, it is just the nature of the job. Losing weight as a driver is going to be even more difficult than it is right now.
Have you tried getting a dot physical yet? That would be the first thing to do before going any further. Even if you are healthy enough to pass and get a job it is likely that you will be required to go and do one every three months which can get to be a real pain.
I love this job and that helps motivate me to keep in shape as best I can , good luck to you.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Rob in his reply to Tom wrote:
Tom, not sure where your getting your information about him needing to get a physical every 3 months. From my understanding you'll only be granted a 3 month card once.
This is true. The three month card is designed as a bridge to resolve whatever health problem exists.
I do not know the details of sleep apnea or the short-term medical cards but I have known a couple drivers with different health problems that are struggling with having to deal with the extra physicals and the rest of the problems that come with it.
Getting the physical every two years is hassle enough, I cannot imagine having to deal with it even more than that.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
I have now been caught in the sleep apnea campaign. I am not obese, but this time the Dr. measured my neck and decided I need a sleep study for a possible sleep apnea situation.
Every thing else can be ok, and the sleep lab is not a sentence to a CPAP. If you can sleep ok for the test, and all other things are within range, you'll be ok.
BTW, as a veteran, I'm working to do the test within the VA system. I assume they will also provide the CPAP machine. I'll find out in a couple of months.
The thing that will bounce you out with a failed physical (besides a positive drug test) is high blood pressure, I believe.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Getting the physical every two years is hassle enough, I cannot imagine having to deal with it even more than that.
Being diabetic, I can only ever get a 1 year card. I really don't see this as a hassle at all, after what I have gone through just to get my 1 year card. My PCP is harder on me every 3 months, than the DOT physical will be.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Don't worry about it too much I'm 6'3" and well into 300s pound range. I get my yearly card because of my cpap it's not too bad the duck walk as long as you have strong knees
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
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Listen I have to be honest, I am supper excited about starting orientation and after doing over year of research on this career I'm pumped to get started, but I have to be honest I'm not worried about my BP or my heart rate or anything but I am very worried about my weight being an issue like I'm going to be eliminated cause of it I'm 375lbs and 6'0 tall I do a very active and physical job now so I don't feel at all I am lazy in the workforce, I'm a big dude but not rollie pollie looking. I have been on a very strict diet and exercising everyday, but this still weighs on my mind (no pun intended) is this something I should stress or not stress about. The company I'm starting with is Prime