Comments By Stevo Reno

CRST (just thought it up) "Can't Remember Shiitt Today"

I had this very issue with my 1st company during my 2nd year with them. Their clinic doctor said I had high keto's in my urine=sign of high blood sugars (340) Dr was an idiot, I had a white pea on my eyelid(clogged tear duct) she says "Oh you have a sty?" uh NOPE a clogged duct.SMFH @ her lol

She says go home, return tomorrow to retest? Didn't tell me what to do or try the night before? I'm not an idiot, knew i'd waste a drive there, to only fail. So instead, I went where I had my DOT's done 3 times before. Now they BOTH used the same brand of test strips, I watched both times, and yet the 2nd test showed no excess ketos?? Really?

Ok fast forward, a month later am in Tennesee, they call me, and told me I cannot drive anymore due to blood sugar issue. Safety said I "Dr Shopped"?? Really? I said everyone is allowed a 2nd opinion on medicals and I didn't "Shop" I only went to 1 other clinic, and passed, not 3-4-5-6 etc. Besides that Dr never gave me any paperwork like she should've, besides telling me to return tomorrow.

It wasn't my job to teach my DM or safety the LAWS on the books of the FMCSA regarding "dr shopping" which I hadn't done.

So you really have no choice in NOT going where the company sends you. The Fed's over ride states period. Good Luck hoping your stress is for nothing, and you pass fine!!

"White Coat Fever" lol My BP would be at the limit usually when I went for physicals. I'm a big guy by my frame, was at like 267 @ 6 ft. Dropped around 35+ pounds when I driving by eating healthier foods, than the fast food junk. Used to test myself while smoking and drinking coffee, all 3 setting on tester, and was always in the good range, yet not at DR's?? hmmmmm Thinking from over thinking it and the anxiety effect made it rise....

I've always had an 18" neck since around 15-16 when I started to fill out from a toothpick kid. I snore, smoke etc, but I've snored all my life, mom used to tell me "How the hell do you sleep with that snore?.....DUH mom I'm asleep lol I've heard me recorded snoring WOW I sounded like some alien monster!

Before going I'd eat bunch of bananas I did have 5 mg BP pills too, I'd take over a weekend before my visit to clinic. No problems, once the nurse was going to measure my neck, I told her "Oh no we ain't goin' there, my necks 18" and always has been, don't waste your time"

Chris, just relax and try not to stress over it, that too will raise your BP..... Good luck, maybe see your doctor first for a check up to know for SURE!

Hi Jon, I too, was like you, I totally was against team driving before I started 9/9/19. But I was a member here 3-4 years, reading and sucking up all I could. Life kept getting in the way, until I eventually just pulled the trigger and jumped in with both feet, and an open mind. And the economy was in way better shape back then too.

Turned out CRST was close to my house (45 mi) and had all I needed to stay at the terminal dorms. We got bussed both ways to off site school they contracted with then. Within 10 days I had my CDL, and was ready to get rolling. I ignored all the negative reviews or rants by people that couldn't cut it (terminal rats) I will make up my own mind by my own experiences in life. I never looked elsewhere than here at TT for my early learning about truck driving.

So it took me 4 co drivers to find 1 that I could get along with, we actually became friends outside of trucking. 1st 2 I had were NOT drivers, they couldn't do more than a couple hours, and have to park to sleep!.....First classmate would not sleep while I dorve, so by the time it was his shift he would need sleep, and he was a hazard behind the wheel. 2 weeks in, I bailed on him. 2nd guy was older guy, know it all type, with a big loud mouth, it was embarrassing sometimes how loud he talked in or out of the truck. He too couldn't drive for crap, and was tearing up our truck, and trailers. Finally got away from him after 6-9 months.

CRST had lots of bad reviews and the like but I thought I will see for myself, they can't be that bad, they;ve been in business a LONG time. Just as I thought, they were not that bad at all. We had a DM , 1 of 4 top guys by regions. He kept us rolling on long hauls, so even though the starting CPM was low, we made money and the pay rose of course. We' done a couple 7,200-7,500 mile weeks, it was tough, and wore us out, but well worth it in the end. I stayed with them 22 months until on a physical was told my blood sugar was too high. (never felt like it) So I ended up parting ways to work on the medical thing, 5 months. Took a job with a company my last driver went to, for a solo otr gig. They were great, treated me very well from the start, in cpm and giving me a brand spanking new 2022 FL.

So yes team driving can suck, but it's sometimes a way to get started, then ya can move on later. Never regretted my time at CRST, no matter what things came up during my time there. It did take a bit of getting used to, being 2 grown men sharing a small cabin space, but it was what it was. In the end it was a good experience in that lifestyle. Yes SOLO was far better alone in that same size space!! And the freedom from someones possible bad attitude or habits.

Werner, RM was my original choice but it didn't work out. Same with Knight, and couple others.

Good luck in what ever you go with Jon, time will fly by faster than you think !

Sharon, sorry to hear of your hubbies accident, glad HE is/was ok in that mess !!

BK, now days there is NO such thing as company loyalty in any field anymore ! They only care mostly about what it cost them in damages done. Sad this is our world, well it's been around for ages actually. My buddies dad @ Waste Management, was with them over 30 years. He would do anything they asked of him after hours or on weekends. He would do all that extra work because he had a extended family to house and take care of. Company policy was ANY type of accident 3rd time, no matter what, instant termination.

I used to tell him "Bro we work 60+ hours a week, and you go way over that, for what? You're just a number to them" Well, his 3rd little mistake, was knocking off a mirror on another trash truck, parking 1 he'd finished fixing (night shift) We had around 150 trucks, and the drivers parked em any which way, no certain spots per truck, and crooked a lot of the time. I knocked off a mirror or 2 in my 6 year stint there, we all had.

Well, he was fired on the spot for that mirror, just like I tried to remind him, his loyalty and devotion, didn't mean SHYIT to them....

Good luck to your hubby Sharon, hopefully he finds a company to bring him on

And when the bragging O/O's or lease drivers try and brag on how much big bucks they make, ask to see their tax returns lol. Ya won't even get a peek, just excuses lol......The occupation, is like any other, you get out of it, what you put in. The grass is seldom greener on the other side of the fence, like some like to believe. Just let all the BS go thru 1 ear, and out the other from the other wanna-be "super truckers"

Yeah Michael, I dunno what's the big deal of a laminated SS card really. I had mine since I was 12 years old, and laminated it to make it last. Getting into trucking I also had to get a new 1 plus have my name corrected. Was always called Steve,not Steven, and had that on my SS card, hence another reason I had to get a new card lol.....

Yet, here in the Phil's, when I traded my Calif license to a Filipino 1, they had all my ID's in hand, yet in the end they spelt my last name wrong, with 1 "L" not 2 duhhhh lol Also they gave me an "auto restriction" lol They didn't understand why my Calif lic, had auto restriction, no matter how much I tried to explain it, whatever.......Not like I drive daily, or get pulled over, they have NO traffic control/cops like the states.

Sounds like your journey's pickin' up steam, good luck !

They are "Red Crowned Amazon Parrots", an endangered parrot species native to Mexico are now taking up residence in urban areas of South Texas, according to a recent study from Texas A&M University.

Researchers estimate that there are currently around 900 red-crowned parrots living in the Rio Grande Valley, with four main roosts confirmed in the cities of Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco and McAllen. The red-crowned parrot species is endemic to a small region of Northeastern Mexico.

Many were bought as pets in the 1980's when it was legal to buy them. .Less than 2,000 red-crowned parrots remain in the wild.

Dre, all I will say is, you've been given some sage advice from everyone. It's all about getting your head right, and remain positive, no matter what ! And I seen myself, that after 1 year mark, I would get emails, all the time from companies wanting me to try them out. I stuck with my first company 22 months, I' ve never been much of a job hopper (mechanic 40+ years) And I still do get emails sometimes now, from some companies.

I knew i planned to retire at 62, and trucking was my ticker to make and save some serious cash. I only left my 1st company with a blood sugar issue, so I took 5 months off to work on that. Then I went to another company to drive for, my old co driver went to work for. Finished out just 4 months, because my pension kicked in, other wise I'd probably still driving for them til full retirement age!

Hopefully you take all the info you've gained here, and everything works out for you and your new family !!

Googled (already knew)

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