Profile For The Professional

It doesn't matter how old your birth certificate is. Mine was issued when I was 4 years old and I've never had a problem. It has the raised seal so it's good. It's falling apart but then it's 24 years old soooo....

Thanks Chicki and Rick.

I would take the birth certificate, passport, and the social security card just to be safe. Since we're on the topic of birth certificates, as long as it has the raised seal, is there a limit to how old it can be? For example, what if one has their birth certificate with the raised seal but it is five years old? Would one need to get a new one?

Thanks Anchorman!!! Good to know.

Hello all,

Question. On the sites I have gone to for the "starter companies" that pay for everything upfront and you then work for them for around 9 months, they all say that they only need three years of verifiable work history. Yet I have read on these and other forums where some drivers have said that the company they work for requires ten years.

Do some started companies only require three years of verifiable work history while others require more?

DOT Physicals are registered in a Federal Database. I would not "just get one" to see if I could pass.

Excellent point that i didn't even know, Tractor Man. I don't want to be in a federal database before going to school so it looks like I will just wait. Thanks!

Hello all, Just curious about something. It may be six to nine months before I start applying to some trucking schools. I am considering getting a DOT physical and paying for it myself. I want to do this to see if I can pass before going to a school and then find out a day or two after class starts that I didn't pass.

I'm not taking any medications and I just got mt BP checked and it was 120/70. I'm assuming this is possible as long as one is paying out of pocket?

Beet juice... and baby aspirin... 2 hours before your test.

Baby Aspirin? One or two?

It seems like a lot of the starter companies are making the new people drive team a little longer than what I have learned in the past. CR England has on its website that you go out with the trainer for about a month and then go team for a month and a half.

Yeah, the child support will for sure keep you from getting a Passport. Aren't you afraid of being arrested owing that much? I thought if you were even late with a payment that they would put you under the jail.

I read of another trucking company that said they were going to make it (Passport) a requirement in the near future for all of their drivers. Why not just get your Passport and then you won't have to worry about it? They don't cost that much and are good for ten years.

After you get your Passport, you can apply for the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC). That will look even better. I don't believe you need to have a Passport before applying for the TWIC but it makes the process faster. At least that's what they told when I applied for mine back in 2012.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information!!!

Hello all,

A friend of mine told me the following story (situation) about someone he knew who used to drive OTR but got out of it I think because he was good at hitting parked trucks (sounds like someone who should have never gotten into trucking).

He said one big problem he had when driving was arriving at a shipper and then having to wait forever to get unloaded. After having to wait so long, this person said his driving time for the day was up but the shipper still told him he had to leave.

What does a driver do in a situation like this? If he/she is not supposed to move the truck for ten hours yet the shipper is telling you to GO!

I'm sure I will have more questions in the future. I haven't started truck driving school yet, but when I get stories like this from people I know about trucking, I like to see what can be done to avoid this situation to begin with. My brother-in-law is supposed to talk with me about this tomorrow but I also want to hear from all of you who have experience in OTR.

Thanks!!

I'm starting this post as a response to the one about alcohol in mouthwash and other things that could cause a possible false read on a drug test. I sometimes us a protein supplement called carnivor. Here is a link that show the ingredients.

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/musclemeds-carnivor-chocolate-2-3-lb-powder/im-1012#

Does everything in there look legit? I;m wondering of the cocoa would cause any problems.

Thanks!

I use Colgate zero alcohol mouthwash. I also stay way from soaps that have alcohol. I have only seen one brand that had alcohol in it so now I check every bar before I buy.

T.W.

I too have done many things in life and have failed at many. I also have a ton of education but not much to show for it besides the incredible critical thinking skills . I used to work in the administrative side at universities and thought I would do that for the rest of my life but then 2008 happened and I was unable to get back into it after having lost my position.

I had a bachelor at the time so I thought I would get a masters while waiting to get into another university. My masters is in education with a specialization in English Language Learners (ELL). No jobs after finishing THAT powerful degree so I got into a doctoral program in education. The money ran out so I am now an ABD...All but dissertation.

I am currently considering trucking since my brother-in-law has given me information on it and I am studying some things on this forum.

Have you ever thought about teaching English as a foreign language? You could make some cash in places like China, Vietnam, and possibly the ME.

Good luck with everything.

In the end it is what you experience that matters more than how much money you made. My advice to someone like you and to myself is, don't compare yourself to others, fill your time with experiences, even small inexpensive ones, keep plugging away and finally be honest with yourself.

Phil

Word to live by.

I'm not surprised. This says it all.

The TSA Stops Another Terrorist - AIRPLANE! II Airport Security Clip

Home life wouldn't be a problem for me. I'm 47 and have been married 18 years and no kids. Regarding the driver TV lounge...are they allowed to smoke in there because I am a non-smoker.

Being married might make things a little difficult because you'll be away from your wife for long periods. you might be ok with it but what about her? I have watched video diaries of truckers with kids and for the most part they seem to do alright. Doing what they gotta do to support family.

Welcome aboard!

Go through our Truck Driver's Career Guide from beginning to end and follow all of the links you come across. That will help you understand a whole lot about what life on the road is all about and what it's going to take to get your career off to a great start.

I remember reading through that... it's a lot to take in I tell ya what...very informative though.

Thanks Phox. My wife wouldn't mind as long as some cash is coming in. Ha!!

Welcome aboard!

Go through our Truck Driver's Career Guide from beginning to end and follow all of the links you come across. That will help you understand a whole lot about what life on the road is all about and what it's going to take to get your career off to a great start.

Thanks for the information, Brett! I'll look through the truck driver's career guide.

Phox, being an introvert means you probably will stay out of driver TV lounges. That's a good thing.

A major issue with OTR is your home life almost doesn't exist. Yes, phone calls & Skype, but no sitting on the sofa, or mowing the lawn kind of things, either.

Home life wouldn't be a problem for me. I'm 47 and have been married 18 years and no kids. Regarding the driver TV lounge...are they allowed to smoke in there because I am a non-smoker.