FINALLY!!! (almost)

Hello everyone,

After series of unfortunate events, 1 really good event, and then a medical hiccup, I am now just a few months away from finally getting my driving career started.

Being diabetic sucks, and for the last year or so, my a1c never dropped below 12, even though I did everything I could to cut carbs, and sugar out of my diet. (my physical activity was also lacking.) My new doctor, in response, put me on a once a day insulin injection, to help bring everything back into line. I pleaded with her, to find a different way to do this, and explained my plans for driving, and about the waiver process. So she made a deal with me: Give her 3 solid months of her regimen, and then she will help me find an alternative to the insulin. Well, it worked! my latest a1c was 7.2, so WOOOT!!! (under 10 will get you a 1 year card, although I am not sure a diabetic can get a 2 year card.) I am now taking Trulicity, along with my oral medication, and diet, and new exercise routines. I had almost decided to give up on my driving dreams, because I found a good paying job, with decent benefits. But my wife finally kicked my bum into gear, and in her own words, "You have become miserable, and this house is becoming miserable! What do we need to do, to get you into a truck, before I strangle you?!?" Let's just say, there is more pep in my step, and our home is happier, now that I can finally see the end to my current drudgery. Granted, I will inherit a whole different set of drudgery type things, in this thing called "Professional Driving." I have couple more things to clear up, but those are tiny things, and easily taken care of.

I re-evaluated my choices, and have settled on going the company training route. my top choices are .... 1. Wil-Trans , 2. Millis, 3. Stevens, 4. Swift, 5. XPO. TMC, and Roehl at one time, were my top 2 choices, but Niagara Falls is not in the hiring area for their respective cdl training. Which is odd, because, If I were to attend the local private school, they have stated that they hire from that school on a regular basis. This confuses me, but oh well, I don't make up the rules.

Flatbed is still my top choice, but I think that starting out pulling reefer , or dry-van, will be good for me, Unless of course, TMC decided to expand their hiring area, just for wee little ol' me.

Stay safe

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Good for you Danielsahn. I got a similar repsonse from Swift. I was told by a recruiter although they hire from my area (NH) they don't bring students from here. I am going with Stevens. Good luck to ya.

Your A1C was over 12??!! Dang, I'd be more worried about going blind or getting neuropathy than whether I could get a job as a truck driver. Do you have Type 1 or type 2 diabetes? I'm assuming type 2, since you mentioned oral medications?

Congrats on getting your A1C down--I'm sure you're feeling a heck of a lot better now. As long as you aren't taking insulin, you shouldn't have to jump through too many hoops. If you end up having to take insulin, you'll need to get a federal diabetes exemption (if you don't know what that is, just type "federal diabetes exemption" in Google and it'll pop right up.) I have Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes, so even though my a1C hovers right around 7 I have to have that exemption. It's a royal pain in the butt so if you can avoid getting on insulin while keeping your a1c down, do it.

Your A1C was over 12??!! Dang, I'd be more worried about going blind or getting neuropathy than whether I could get a job as a truck driver. Do you have Type 1 or type 2 diabetes? I'm assuming type 2, since you mentioned oral medications?

Congrats on getting your A1C down--I'm sure you're feeling a heck of a lot better now. As long as you aren't taking insulin, you shouldn't have to jump through too many hoops. If you end up having to take insulin, you'll need to get a federal diabetes exemption (if you don't know what that is, just type "federal diabetes exemption" in Google and it'll pop right up.) I have Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes, so even though my a1C hovers right around 7 I have to have that exemption. It's a royal pain in the butt so if you can avoid getting on insulin while keeping your a1c down, do it.

When I was first diagnosed 9 years or so ago, my initial a1c was, according to my then doctor, not registerable. I usually just tell people that it was 18. After my denial and rebellion stages were over, I was able, with some major lifestyle changes, to lose over 100 lbs, and achieved several a1c scores of between 6 and 7. And then I moved, to Iowa. Ever since then, up until now, i struggled. It was while moving from Iowa, to South Carolina, that I made up my mind to drive. I went and grabbed an a1c home test, and it was 13. I was only taking my oral medications at the time, and figured I could get it down myself, thus avoiding having to go through the waiver process. I was sadly mistaken. I used to ride my bike an average of 10 to 15 miles a day, before I left Michigan. Between then, and now, I was lucky to walk more than 100 yards in a day, and my bike grew cobwebs. Now, I am a planet fitness regular, and I have been tailoring my eating habits to be easily duplicated while on the road, hopefully.

This is one of the reasons flatbed appeals to me. The extra "exercise" i get from securing, and tarping loads, in my thinking should also contribute to maintaining good habits.

Bring a bike on the road with you too, it mounts pretty easily on the back of the truck.

Bring a bike on the road with you too, it mounts pretty easily on the back of the truck.

That is a great idea. I had thought about it, then dismissed it, for whatever reason, I don't remember. Your comment just reminded me of Daniel B.(i think) and the picture he posted a ways back of his bike attached to his truck.

I might also buy one of those collapsible type bikes, for an easier fit.

I might also buy one of those collapsible type bikes, for an easier fit.

Sounds like a much better idea. I think a bike on the back of the truck would get FILTHY in a hurry. Put the folding bike on the floor in front of passenger seat.