Comments By Andrew C.

I'll look around for a few. How do they pick their trainers? Is it luck of the draw or do they put you mostly with someone near you? It doesn't really matter to me just curious. How long do you keep your trainees out? Have any openings around the first week of October lol... I'll need a trainer

I picked my inverter up at a Love's truck stop. I can't think of any drivers, that I know of, that use a CPAP. Then again, it is not something I ask. I probably do know drivers that do, just am unaware of it.

As far as the inverter goes, cost will be your biggest stumbling block. I do have a spare inverter I got off another driver when they quit Wolding to work a local job in AZ. It is a cobra inverter. If you can't afford one and I happen to be in the yard when you are there I will gladly lend it to you, until you can afford the model and wattage you want. I think the Cobra is either 1,200 or 1,500 watts. I would have to look.

Yea it’s kinda something I absolutely have to have. Where did you get your inverter? Do you know other drivers that use cpap? I’m really trying to not make too many waves going in to the new job but I definitely need the inverter to use the cpap.

Hey Patrick- I have sleep apnea and I use a cpap machine. What kind of inverters do you use on the truck? I know Jamie said that you have to buy one from the shop. Do you have an email as a moderator on here that I can send a question or two to you about how

No problem, I enjoy helping where I can. Feel free to ask away if any other questions / concerns pop up.

If you have a CPAP I would assume you can have an inverter right away. I don't have sleep apnea, so I had to wait 4 months to get an inverter. You are not required to buy an inverter from the shop. I bought me a 1500 watt power drive inverter. You just have to have the shop install it. The ones from the company wouldn't work for you anyways. They have a 2 hour timer.

As far as your other questions, ask away.

Ok no problem! I’ll keep it here.

Do you have an email as a moderator on here that I can send a question or two

We would prefer you keep the conversations here in the forum so other people can learn from them. If it's something super private then that's different. But you'd be amazed at how many people have the same questions you do.

Hey Patrick- I have sleep apnea and I use a cpap machine. What kind of inverters do you use on the truck? I know Jamie said that you have to buy one from the shop. Do you have an email as a moderator on here that I can send a question or two to you about how

No problem, I enjoy helping where I can. Feel free to ask away if any other questions / concerns pop up.

Hey everyone! Hope you’re having a good day... I’m looking for suggestions on boots with good arch support for the truck. Also where did you get them? Thanks as always for your insight!

Good stuff. I was hoping that’s what you were going to say. I put in my 2 weeks notice last night. Got kinda nauseous after I did it thinking oh Jesus this is really happening, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Not in a bad way just in kind of a nervous way. Turning in that notice to the city job to pursue something you may suck at definitely has a pucker factor associated with it. DOT physical is the 28th and first day of school is the 4th. It should be sometime the first week of October that I got to HOW. Thanks again for all your info.

Hi Patrick! Thanks for responding. I was kinda looking at all of your pics and reading all your stuff. How is their in house physical? Everyone has been so nice there when I called and everything. They were even nice on Facebook when I commented on one of their pics. My wife is like oh wow look they responded to you after I posted a comment about being excited about getting started. It was something like "welcome to the family" and we are stoked to have you. I thought that was awesome. I don't know if they actually knew me or even if I was starting with them but it was cool either way. I look forward to speaking with you further about them. Andrew

Hey Everyone! Just want to share my good news. I’ve been approved for company sponsored training at 160 Driving Academy by HO Wolding. They were my first pick through everything when I realized I was actually going to go through with this but they never answered my emails. I was kinda of disappointed so I thought about LTL for a bit, then toyed with Schneider a bit but when I found HOW worked with my school I put an application in. They called me back a day later. I had another interview call and then they ran the mvr and background. They then called the school and said I was approved. I was very honest about the recent sleep apnea diagnosis and they were cool with it (im still not cool with it but I have to be honest about it)as long as I was compliant with my machine usage. They needed 30 days of data which is no big deal since I start school sept 4th. (Have to give notice at work etc.) Still a little nervous about the DOT physical and their company physical. I hope it’s nothing too crazy.

Special thanks to everyone on here for sharing their individual experiences in the industry and thanks to Brett for having the insight and fortitude to make this site for future generations.

Andrew

Well thank you all so much. I’m shocked by the number of people that use one. To address one comment listed I’m not bummed by finding something that would help me more so that it delays forward progress I was making in transitioning to a new career. Im sure you understand that. I’m glad you guys told me about the downloading one. I’ll ask my doctor when I see him on Thursday. I would prefer not dying in my sleep as well. Thank you again.

I dearly love my cpap machine. I don't even know I have the mask on at night and my whole life changed for the better when I started getting a REAL nights sleep.

If you are a military veteran the VA will hook you up with a machine and all the gear for free and you can get a new mask and hose every 6 months.

Like Rainie said, keep the mask clean. I wipe my mask down inside and out every night before bed time with alcohol wipes. Also, the filters they give you are not worth the effort, they let too much dust through. I cut a square of blue shop towel (from Walmart) and snap the little air inlet window over it and since they're a tighter weave than paper towels they stop 100% of any dust that might get in other wise.

Once a week I take the mask apart and soak it, the hose, and water dish in warm bleach water with a little dish soap solution for 30 minutes.

Don't be bummed out, be glad they caught it in time.

Feeling super bummed... I had a sleep study today and I had to be put on cpap since I apparently have sleep apnea. Which makes it worse is Alice from Millis Transfer called to tell me my application was approved and to call her to schedule school. I had to send her an email asking if they allowed cpap or if there were trainers using cpap.I was supposed to get my DOT physical next week.

Just left me in a foul mood and I kinda feel like I got kicked in the balls.... this happen to anyone else before?

I respect your continued positive perspective despite the challenges of the industry as a whole. It has been reflected consistently throughout your posts. Better luck with your scheduled route in the coming days.

I agree Errol I really appreciate the positive attitude about the industry.

So no money since the trip was cancelled? That sucks but I would like to be home that much. I would still have to pay the bills though.

Hope it works out well for you brother. Stay safe out there in the meantime.

Hey Greg! I also am in the same boat. I currently am a Paramedic and I have been at it for just under 15 years total including my EMT time. I have a family too and was wondering if changing careers is something I want to pull the trigger on. I spoke with Millis a while back and they seem to have a great training program. If I decide to go back I would definitely consider them. I am out of the Chicago area so it would be regional. The only problem is the best they can do is get you home every 11-14 days. That's a little difficult for me. Ideally I would like to be gone 2 or 3 nights a week and then home for most of the weekend. Good luck finding that right? I work in the Cook County jail and I am just over the crap. Let me know how it works out for you.- Andrew

I love Renae's response. I found great inspiration reading it. The hardest part is taking that first step. Good luck Renae!