Profile For Will H.

Hi Anne,

Thanks for the comments. It definitely helped relieve my concerns on the questions I posted. It's great to get some other folks to check in with as well. There is nothing health wise that I am worried about - just not in as good a condition as I used to be in. Once upon a time I was 3-4 days per week in the gym. I had planned on staying clear of the flat beds. This is my first run at trucking but far from a first career. So blindly stumbling ahead into the breach.

thanks again,

Will

Hey y'all,

I am still in training for my CDL but have noticed something on company sites. Once you get to orientation they have you do a physical test to check your condition / endurance. I had heard it was lifting something so many times then checking your heart rate. I asked this over in the general questions but think it may get a more accurate answer here.

Howdy, Will ~!!

I've read your 'ask and answered' session over in the 'general' category, and ... was hoping you would have gotten 'more' replies, but.... this 'diaries' section is usually followed and updated by folks already 'IN' training, and most often company sponsored as we suggest on Trucking Truth.

I've read that you are 61, and that's about the 'median' (or the mode?) in trucking anymore; my husband is 56 and i'm just a tad younger.

Why is this condition/endurance stressing you so bad? DO you have underlying health issues? Read some of PackRat's posts ... he JUST got a new HEART not too long ago, and is BACK ON THE ROAD~!! Pretty sure Crete is dry van, so not too much physicality there, as that's what my husband does for a different carrier.

Climbing in and out of the trailer is essential, 3 points of contact getting in and out of your tractor is essential, and often a 'duck walk' underneath your trailer...for your pretrip. You'll also need the strength to open the hood of your tractor, again for the pretrip. Cranking the landing gear up and down, is of course....essential. My husband does all this on a daily, and oftentimes I'll do it alongside him when he brings the rig home. I'm 5'3" and about 130# and I'm capable, at 50'ish y/o !

Unless you plan on going flatbed (100 plus # tarps, throwing chains, straps, binders, and securing borders...) I'm not seeing what is so concerning. It is my understanding that each and every company has their 'own' standards regarding these 'endurance' tests....and in asking my own old guy (haha!) he's driven for OTR companies, a handful, and has never had a 'monitoring' of heart rate, et al . . . but that's been awhile ago. I've actually 'read' about such on here, and thinking it might have been in Turtle or Rob D. 's diary, going Prime flatbed.

I'm not really sure how much (if at all!) this helps.. just my 2 cents for the moment, to hopefully quell your fears.

Perhaps PackRat, G'Town, PJ, Turtle, Rainy, Rob D., and Rick S. will chime in . . . ! Rob T. also. (<<< you can search all these people's diaries, as well!) Wishing you the best, good sir. If there 'are' any pre existing health issues that concern you with 'endurance' abilities, please make that known to the veteran drivers on here, so that they can better answer your questions/concerns.

Another couple great veteran member/drivers to look up is Susan D., and IDMtnGal . . . both females, and in the median/mode age of trucking; as I mentioned above, LoL! Get searching~!!!!

Good day~!!

Anne

Hey y'all,

I am still in training for my CDL but have noticed something on company sites. Once you get to orientation they have you do a physical test to check your condition / endurance. I had heard it was lifting something so many times then checking your heart rate. I asked this over in the general questions but think it may get a more accurate answer here.

Hey y'all,

I am still in training for my CDL but have noticed something on company sites. Once you get to orientation they have you do a physical test to check your condition / endurance. Can someone give me an idea what they are really looking for? Are they just checking to make sure the new hire is not going to fall over with a myocardial infarction or if they are looking to find athletes for the company softball team? What does the test consist of and how hard do they push? If you don't meet their standards - what happens next?

Hey Y'all,

I am outside of Richmond, Virginia and working on getting my Class A CDL - moving up for a current Class B. I keep seeing stuff about free training / paid training. Which ones are legit - which ones should I stay away from? Making this step at 61yo and have been driving busses for 4 years.