Profile For Brad F.

Hi Folks,

Looking for a career change after 25 years in IT. I have a couple of questions before I embark on my CDL quest.

1. I have chronic SI joint pain that has been treated for the last 10 years by a physician prescribed Tramadol and Medical MJ. After using them for this long they no longer provide much, if any relief. My condition really only affects my ability to stand or walk for long periods of time. Sitting for about 3-5 minutes alleviates the pain and then I am good to go for another 30 minutes or so. I am capable of driving all day and perform typical lifting duties with no physical restrictions. I assume I must be drug-free to pass my DOT , even if medically prescribed. I have begun the process of weaning myself off the tramadol (under Dr. supervision) and have quit using medical cannabis. I expect to produce clean urine after about 30 days of sobriety. Do I need to worry about any residual detection if my meds were prescribed or should I wait a longer period before testing?

2. I am in good financial condition and can afford to pay for my own CDL training or take a lower-paying position for a year's contract for company-paid training. I am mechanically minded and not intimidated by the knowledge tests or the thought of operating a large vehicle. I feel pretty confident the skills would come easy for me. I am of the mindset of completing all endorsements and passing with no restrictions, out of the gate. I have two school options in my neck of the woods. One being NETTS in MA and another being CDLofNH in NH. NETTS wants $11k for a 22-week program and CDLofNH wants $8500 for 8 weeks. NETTS seems to have a lot of bad reviews and 22 weeks seems like overkill to me. Knowing that I will need at least a year of driving experience to be considered for employment with most reputable companies, would I be better served to pay for my own training or just do my time with a company that will cover, and expedites my training?

Thank you for your advice.