Need Advice About Prime (physical)

Hey guys! I ve done some searching around but haven't seen what im looking for. So I'm all set for orientation with prime on 10/03/2016. Ive been studying for a few weeks and feel very confident i can pass the written exam but not sure about the physical. I have never had any trouble health wise but i never go to the doctor either. I checked my blood pressure at the store the other day and it was 136/84. Then i found out my father in law has a tester so i checked my blood pressure with his machine and the results were 142/92 so now im worried about the physical. My question is will i be sent home for anything over 140/90? Or do they give a one year card if it is barely over? On a completely different note. I read on this site prime trainees are required to obtain a hazmat endorsement, but when i talked to my recruiter she assured me I will not have to get that endorsement. Then she sends me an email and in the flyer it says Prime requires Hazmat and tanker endorsements. I have studied all of the areas that she outlined and have about 3 weeks reading the book and taking test without working Hazmat. Should I start cramming on Hazmat right before orientation?

Hey guys! I ve done some searching around but haven't seen what im looking for. So I'm all set for orientation with prime on 10/03/2016. Ive been studying for a few weeks and feel very confident i can pass the written exam but not sure about the physical. I have never had any trouble health wise but i never go to the doctor either. I checked my blood pressure at the store the other day and it was 136/84. Then i found out my father in law has a tester so i checked my blood pressure with his machine and the results were 142/92 so now im worried about the physical. My question is will i be sent home for anything over 140/90? Or do they give a one year card if it is barely over? On a completely different note. I read on this site prime trainees are required to obtain a hazmat endorsement, but when i talked to my recruiter she assured me I will not have to get that endorsement. Then she sends me an email and in the flyer it says Prime requires Hazmat and tanker endorsements. I have studied all of the areas that she outlined and have about 3 weeks reading the book and taking test without working Hazmat. Should I start cramming on Hazmat right before orientation?

First don't worry about the hazmat now. They want tanker in prime test and its the easiest of the tests. They told us hazmat and passports are required but wanted us to get hazmat at home not in MO. Only 3% of primes freight is hazmat so most of us didn't bother getting it. The tanker is for reefer as well. When we ship juices and other liquid in totes it can create a surge like the tanker. I still never renewed my passport not got hazmat.

As far as the blood pressure that would be a guess. I DOUBT they would give you a year card. Probably more like a 60 day or something of that nature then retest you. I'm not a medical person but those numbers sound very high to me. Be prepared to get sent home and come back when you can get a doctor to stabalize you. If you can squeeze in a docot now that would be great. They seem to require 30 days med history in these types of situations. It MIGHT be a good idea to consider delaying to get the blood pressure down. They'll hold a spot for you they have new arrivals every Monday.

If your BP cannot score out less than 140/90 - you will be sent home to get it under control.

People on BP meds, will only qualify for a 1 year card - but you STILL HAVE TO BE BELOW 140/90 on meds also.

Better, if you are questioning whether or not you can pass the physical, to get your BP UNDER CONTROL BEFORE YOU GO.

Also - being overweight, a smoker and a coffee drinker can spike your BP. Can't do much in a hurry about being overweight - but if you smoke and use caffeine, try getting up in the AM and NOT SMOKING/COFFEE and see where you score out.

It is recommended you DO NOT DO EITHER (any ways) the morning of you physical, because the STRESS of the physical (white coat fever) combined with the nicotine and caffeine can cause an abnormally high reading even with folks that have no BP issues.

Rick

Brent here is some helpful information on blood pressure found in our WIKI section here on the web site. I agree with the others, you need to have that under control before showing up for orientation. I've been to a good many orientations, and there are always folks who get sent home because their blood pressure was over the limit.

Don't sweat it, Brett has always said that the whole trucking industry runs on coffee and blood pressure medications.

Thank you for the information guys. I'm going to have to take this by the horns now. Im going to do a few more readings and if its lower i will jump in my car and make the 1800 mile trip. If it looks like its close or over i will call my recruiter and give her the bad news.

Thank you for the information guys. I'm going to have to take this by the horns now. Im going to do a few more readings and if its lower i will jump in my car and make the 1800 mile trip. If it looks like its close or over i will call my recruiter and give her the bad news.

Also lay off foods that are high in sodium (salt), eat foods higher in potassium like bananas and citrus fruit.

Good luck.

Queried my wife on your bp issue. She is an RN here inFla.

She notes the following for you to try.

Home bp cuffs CAN be off by a very wide margine ( 10 - 15 points )

What she also noted is to do the following... Hand massage, start at base of pinky massage from base to tip of finger, then massage the lowest (ball of finger not the knuckle ) finger joint, repeat for each finger in turn, approx 15 seconds each. Repeat for opposite hand. Then take one of those dryer balls with the little spikes / ridges and roll it between the palms of your hands for about 2 minutes or so. This should get you approx a 10 point drop in your indicated BP

A Lavender essential oil soaked cotton ball placed under your pillow as you sleep will also yield a drop in your indicated BP ( causes relaxation, is commonly used to help stroke patients relax and lower BP as a result).

All natural, no drugs.

Hey guys! I ve done some searching around but haven't seen what im looking for. So I'm all set for orientation with prime on 10/03/2016. Ive been studying for a few weeks and feel very confident i can pass the written exam but not sure about the physical. I have never had any trouble health wise but i never go to the doctor either. I checked my blood pressure at the store the other day and it was 136/84. Then i found out my father in law has a tester so i checked my blood pressure with his machine and the results were 142/92 so now im worried about the physical. My question is will i be sent home for anything over 140/90? Or do they give a one year card if it is barely over? On a completely different note. I read on this site prime trainees are required to obtain a hazmat endorsement, but when i talked to my recruiter she assured me I will not have to get that endorsement. Then she sends me an email and in the flyer it says Prime requires Hazmat and tanker endorsements. I have studied all of the areas that she outlined and have about 3 weeks reading the book and taking test without working Hazmat. Should I start cramming on Hazmat right before orientation?

Start eating salads, stay away from processed foods, fast foods and coffee until after the exam

Lots of good advice. I would recommend putting off going to School until you can get to your Doctor and determine IF you have High BP. As has been mentioned earlier, if you do, they will send you home and put more obstacles in your way. High BP can be VERY Dangerous, and is easily controlled with medication. Lots of advice here to "temporarily" lower BP just to pass your Physical. I would avoid that route if it were Me. You mentioned that you had not been to a Doctor for quite some time. Do yourself a favor and have a Complete Physical exam BEFORE you put in the time and effort involved in Trucking School. Just my $.02. Good Luck!

Lots of good advice. I would recommend putting off going to School until you can get to your Doctor and determine IF you have High BP. As has been mentioned earlier, if you do, they will send you home and put more obstacles in your way. High BP can be VERY Dangerous, and is easily controlled with medication. Lots of advice here to "temporarily" lower BP just to pass your Physical. I would avoid that route if it were Me. You mentioned that you had not been to a Doctor for quite some time. Do yourself a favor and have a Complete Physical exam BEFORE you put in the time and effort involved in Trucking School. Just my $.02. Good Luck!

Excellant advise, best to find out if you actually have an issue, HBP IS a silent killer, no warnings, no symptoms.

Go get a basic physical, they will yeild a more realistic BP reading. Better safe than sorry.