Profile For James B.

Thank you G-Town and Greg M. for the info. It's been a few years since I have had stress test but the times I've had them in the past, I have always done fine with them. In both cases with the stents, all tests that were done showed no signs of trouble and it wasn't till they went in and did an angiogram that blockage was discovered. Basically I was proactive because of chest pressure I was experiencing at the time. It's something I try to keep a close eye on due to a family history of heart disease but I just don't want to waste my time and/or money pursuing something that may likely be out of reach for me. Again, thanks for the info guys.

Hey guys. I'm exploring the possibility of getting into the trucking industry. Just a quick history on myself - I was employed for the last 30 years in the printing industry. I started as a pressman at the age of 19 and worked my way up to Supervisor and held that position for the last 20 years. The facility I worked for recently shut down and I found myself unemployed for the first time in my life. I have been unemployed for about 5 months now and after long and hard deliberation, I have decided I know longer want to be in production management. Even though I have had numerous offers and would likely have no issue finding employment in a similar area, there are just too many aspects I disliked about my job. Hiring and firing, employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, OSHA regulations etc etc. Throw into it being stuck in the same building for 30 years with no windows and I just can't bring myself to go back into that kind of situation again. I want to be on my own so to speak and only worry about doing my job instead of worrying about getting chewed out for the mistakes that one my 65 direct reports made. Being that I have no college degree, my options are limited as far as career paths go. Anything I do at this point is going to be a substantial cut in pay for me if I don't stay in production supervision but at 50 years old, it's not about the money anymore for me. I simply want to find something I enjoy doing every day. While I understand there are aspects of almost every job that can be undesirable, there are things about driving a truck and the solitude of being on the road I find appealing.

I have little knowledge of truck driving other than what I have read so far but it seems as though I would qualify for almost everything though I'm a little concerned about being able to pass the DOT physical. I am borderline diabetic but only take oral medication, no shots, and I have read where that can be acceptable. However, while I have not had any heart attacks, I have had 2 stents put in my heart, one in 2011 and the other in 2014. I also take a couple of medications for cholesterol and also a beta blocker. In addition, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 7 or 8 years ago and I do have a CPAP machine. I am not terribly overweight but could stand lose a few pounds like most people. I'm 5'10" and usually stay between 205-210 pounds.

Other than the health issues, I think I would be fine on everything else. My employment history should be more than sufficient, my driving record is excellent other than a deer I hit on the highway a couple years ago, no criminal history and no DUI's. My main concern are the 2 stents I have and the sleep apnea diagnosis. Should I just stop now and forget this dream about trying to drive a truck or is it worth pursuing? Any help you guys could provide would be much appreciated. This site is extremely informative and I have enjoyed reading the ups and downs of the life of a truck driver. Many thanks in advance, keep up the good work and most of all, stay safe!