Comments By Nomad Novelist

Most days I am grumpy, contrary, and enjoy debating most any subject. However, I like to chalk it all up to the romance of transforming into the classic curmudgeon that society loves. An old curmudgeon can get by with a lot of behavior, that a younger person would never be allowed, and most people think it is funny and cute.

Just another opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade.

Thanks for sharing this, Dutch. It's a great perspective. One I'll adopt... But I have a quick question for you:

Is 40 old enough to get away with being a curmudgeon?

I still get carded most of the time. :)

Nothing to bash them for at this point.

For the record, I'm not bashing Prime, either. I'm happy with them. They're a great company. And I'll be back.

Thanks for the support here on TruckingTruth. I'm with Miss Miyoshi on this: I'm not quitting Prime unless they force me to (which they're not going to do, unless two different people lied to my face; I think they're better than that).

So after sleeping on it last night, I've decided to go ahead and abide by their "no Ritalin" policy, even though I think it's misguided, unfair, and a few other flavors of @#$% I'll keep to myself.

Others here have pointed out issues and reasonings around this topic that make sense. Much of which I agree with. While I definitely have a lot more to say on the topic, I'll keep it to myself. I want this job; I'm sure folks here can understand my reticence to be more vocal than I already have.

I will touch on whether DOT banned it, or Prime banned it, though: Almost certainly, it was Prime. DOT lists this medication as "at doctor's discretion." I checked that three months ago—because if it was banned by DOT, then I would have had plenty of time to go off of it / find alternatives. That's what's so frustrating...I was as proactive as I could have been without "forcing" Prime to tell me it was banned...which they won't do, because of potential legal repercussions.

I'll keep everyone posted. Odds are, I'll be back at Orientation on April 4th. In the meantime, I can get a few more things done around the house.

There are alternatives that are approved. Unfortunately, the one they mentioned (Strattera) was what I was first prescribed, and it made me very sick.

This is frustrating. I'm not going to lie. Prime is a great company, and I'll probably just suck it up and play ball with them. I do, however, find their policy very unfortunate. I'm having ZERO adverse side effects on this medication, and plenty of benefits.

On the bright side, it doesn't matter too much if I'm a little less social when alone in the cab of my truck, so I guess I can make due.

First off, after two days of Orientation, I can tell you that Prime appears to be a great company. It's well run, the people are friendly and knowledgeable, and the equipment is top of the line.

But, if you plan to work for them, make sure you're not on any banned medications...

What is the list of banned medications?

I don't know. And they won't tell you. For legal reasons. They said it would be "discriminatory." Their contracted medical provider (Trinity Health), however, *can* and will disqualify for you for banned medications...

What I can tell you, is that Ritalin (methylphenidate) is banned. Probably Adderall, too, since they're very similar.

The (sort of) good news is, I can come back next month if I go off my medication and have my doctor say that I can function without it. This is what I'll probably do, since Prime is a very good company, and I liked what I saw so far at Orientation.

Still, it's frustrating. I've been ready to attend for more than a month. I obtained my permit ahead of time, with *all* endorsements. A heads-up would have saved me a lot of time and some money. And now, if I want to work there, I'll have to grapple with a reduced quality of life. I can certainly get by without Ritalin; I did for 27 years, and even obtained a Masters degree in the process. But, I will be a grumpier, less social, and more scatter-brained person without medication. Doable, but not ideal.

Anyway, I don't owe them any money, and they'll waive the next Orientation fee if I come back next month. I just hope this post helps someone avoid a wasted trip.

Though I'll likely continue with Prime, if anyone KNOWS of another company that doesn't care about prescribed Ritalin (or if you're a driver who takes it and got it cleared), I'd love to hear about it. PM me if you don't want to advertise your meds.

Good tips, above, but I'm going to give you something different to focus on: Sugar intake—specifically, minimizing it.

I've found that too much sugar causes me inflammation and joint pain similar to what you're describing.

By cutting out all simple sugars (candies, soda, and juices) and also minimizing starchy carbohydrates (breads, pastas, crackers, and snack foods) you'll greatly reduce the levels and number of spikes of insulin in your body while reducing inflammation.

So, if you've got a sweet tooth, or if you eat a lot of starchy carbs, try cutting way back and replacing those calories with leafy green vegetables, healthy fats (like coconut oil and butter and bacon and nuts), and protein (like steak and eggs).

I wouldn't be surprised if your hand pain disappears after trying this for a week or two.

Just note that you'll probably feel lethargic for a few days eating this way, until your body adjusts. Just bear with with. After 4-5 days, you'll feel amazing.

Given that flatbed drivers will be out in the elements often, getting dirty / sweaty while securing loads, I'm curious if anyone's come up with a combo of clothing that works well for them (one for hot weather, another for cold)?

Do you change into a loading / tarping set of clothes you'll get dirty, and then back into something clean when you're ready to drive? Or do you wear coveralls over the same clothes you secure a load and drive in?

What about rain? Do you carry dedicated waterproof rain gear (like a motorcyclist would), or do you just change into dry clothes later?

Footwear? I keep hearing steel toe boots are a must...but do you change into something more comfortable when driving? Do you wear rubber boots when it's raining / snowing?

Do you carry extra pairs of gloves and hats for when it's wet outside?

Sorry for the dumb questions, but I feel like more thought has to go into this when you can't simply go inside and sit in front of the fireplace when you're driving a truck.

as well as a completed TSA background check for HazMat.

I missed that step... How do you get the TSA background check ahead of time?

Hey Craig. You are living the life. Good on you.

I'd love to hear your travel tips. Are you at Prime?

I just took and passed my CDL-A learner's permit, and obtained all possible endorsements.

The only thing I studied was the High Road Training Program">High Road program here on the website. I didn't even do the review questions for some of the sections; just read the material.

Thanks, Brett! Good stuff.

I look forward to digging into the cargo securement, logbook, and weight & balance sections now.