Comments By worrywort

God bless you, thank you.

According to my other half who is an experienced driver, he is fairly sure that medication (prozac) is not generally allowed but there may be drivers who take that legally because they got a letter from their doctor stating it would not impair their safe operation of a CMV, and therefore have received an exemption.

Your best bet would be to discuss this with your doctor and a DOT medical examiner, and see if he's willing to give you an exemption letter or prescribe something else that wouldn't require such an exemption.

I'm getting down to it. Well, almost. The bug has bitten me and I'm about ready to start applying, and I've narrowed the list down to either Roehl or Central. I'm looking for something with zero payment down, which I know is hard to find, but it's all I can afford right now. Only question is - I'm on medication (Prozak)...Will that blow my chances at becoming a driver?

I know Roehl requires you to take the CDL exam before applying, I've been through their site, watched the videos, yadda yadda.

Thank you everyone, and sorry if I came across as a knowitall or betterthanthou - I really don't mean to be that way.

Free time? Is that the 4 days a month I spend at home?

I meant time spent waiting around...I'd like to delete this thread, it's embarrassing.

I'm thinking about being a truck driver (again) and I want to know whats your opinion on male truckers who are a little bit effeminite or are in touch with their "female side" (as a roomate once told me).

I'm 99.9% sure I'm not gay (not saying gay people all act like the ladies...)

But I feel that my personality would clash with truckers at truck stops or in school, and I have a hard time being picked on even though I know people like to kid around no matter who you are - I'm not saying i dont, its hard to go out in public places for me - one thing thats holding me back from going to school is the fact that I will have to step foot in the real world and eat in restaurants (my biggest worry) - I like being by myself and reading a good book (one of the reasons I want to be a trucker is the free time I would have at times (instead of working, I would be losing money but at the same time doing what i want while waiting on a repair or for the truck to be unloaded.)).

I know yall cant predict what people are going to do for the most part, and its an unusual question, but can I get some pointers from you fine folks about dealing with other truck drivers in case of a conflict or just your thoughts on the matter? Honest opinions count - even though im sensitive at times, dont hold anything back! Do you have to be tough on the road? Common sense should apply...but, again, im overthinking things.

I think it would be a good experience, and im really psyched at the moment about the potential of becoming a trucker...now if i could only finish the damn practice tests here...:P

Your boss is right.. im not much of a people person but in this job you do have to talk to a few new people but for the most part it's about work IE where do you want the trailer, what door, here to drop or pick up and so on but not enough to worry about...

Thank you Scott!

the good out way the bad to a point... im not trying to talk you in to something but just letting you know how it is out here.. to a point

Yes, i understand. Im thinking though...that it might be wise to stay where im at currently and "sleep on it" for a while. Theres just so much to consider. Oww! My brain hurts and i need sleep so until next time!

Your boss is right.. im not much of a people person but in this job you do have to talk to a few new people but for the most part it's about work IE where do you want the trailer, what door, here to drop or pick up and so on but not enough to worry about...

Thank you Scott!

Thank you both.

I've read the book once, I'll probably read it again, and the blog posts help, too.

I'd like to mention something I didn't really touch on in my original post, is that my main concern is how social I'm (not). Watching Trucker Mike's videos (ride alongs, episode 1, but here's episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRzq9Po3SL4) kind of confirmed what I already knew - well, he had to 'complain' a couple of times, get paperwork straightened out, etc.. I'm a passive person by nature and I don't know if I could get the courage up to go speak with someone about different things regarding loading and unloading. An old boss of mine, while doing construction work, told me that I wasn't assertive enough. I've been used to drive-thrus at McDonald's/Taco Bells/whatever for years. I couldn't tell you the last time I actually went inside of a McDonald's to order and eat.

Would I be in the wrong business? I'm guessing so, but I realize that everyone has to speak up at times, and deal with people no matter what the profession (I was in the computer/IT field for a couple of years and the people that are in that industry are....well...I better stop myself before I say something I'll regret.) and sometimes it's just unavoidable - but since I would see people at the docks and within the companies I load and unload with, maybe twice a month (once or never, maybe?), is that reason enough to forget getting my CDL since I'm so anti-social?

I'm not totally anti-social, and, like my current boss told me about a social situation a few months ago - "speaking to you as a friend and not as a boss, but if you don't face your fears and get around people, you'll never get anywhere in life."

Sorry Scott. O, I was in the middle of composing this message before I saw your reply.

Thank you both.

I've read the book once, I'll probably read it again, and the blog posts help, too.

I'd like to mention something I didn't really touch on in my original post, is that my main concern is how social I'm (not). Watching Trucker Mike's videos (ride alongs, episode 1, but here's episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRzq9Po3SL4) kind of confirmed what I already knew - well, he had to 'complain' a couple of times, get paperwork straightened out, etc.. I'm a passive person by nature and I don't know if I could get the courage up to go speak with someone about different things regarding loading and unloading. An old boss of mine, while doing construction work, told me that I wasn't assertive enough. I've been used to drive-thrus at McDonald's/Taco Bells/whatever for years. I couldn't tell you the last time I actually went inside of a McDonald's to order and eat.

Would I be in the wrong business? I'm guessing so, but I realize that everyone has to speak up at times, and deal with people no matter what the profession (I was in the computer/IT field for a couple of years and the people that are in that industry are....well...I better stop myself before I say something I'll regret.) and sometimes it's just unavoidable - but since I would see people at the docks and within the companies I load and unload with, maybe twice a month (once or never, maybe?), is that reason enough to forget getting my CDL since I'm so anti-social?

I'm not totally anti-social, and, like my current boss told me about a social situation a few months ago - "speaking to you as a friend and not as a boss, but if you don't face your fears and get around people, you'll never get anywhere in life."

I made a list of cons and pros about trucking. I'm apprehensive about it!

Cons:

Will have to develop relationships with people including dispatchers (i'm NOT a people person...)
Will have to stop off and eat inside, no drive-throughs
Will or might have to travel to big cities like new york
Mountains. Steep hills.
Getting lost even in a small city, on roads that don't allow trucks
Finding somewhere to park
My hearing is fairly poor so those cbs and dispatchers wont come through like talking on a phone or in a quiet room
Split second decisions
Getting stuck in traffic

Pros:

Get to see the states!
Get to be alone!
Air conditioning!
Comfy room in a big vehicle!
Able to work on my animations, programming and music!
Freedom without bossman looking over shoulder!
Climate controlled instead of working in some hot factory or as a janitor!
Not much pain on the body but maybe later such as the knees, back, sitting for a long time, etc.!
Air conditioning!

Am I being realistic or just making excuses? I know that I'm the only one who will decide to go to trucking school, and that some peoples' cons would be my pros and my cons would be their pros.

Any advice will suffice!