32 Years Clean And Sober
Topic 31123 | Page 1
I have 11 years clean n sober. Was a contractor for 30 years. I just switched to trucking this year. Loving it. The principles of the program definitely help in making a career in this.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
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.
Hey you all I am considering a new career in trucking I plan on getting my CDL A. I was a painting contractor for many years and am ready to make a change. Also clean and sober 32 years, I would like to hear from other sober truckers for feedback. Or thoughts from anyone on starting a new career in trucking. I will be 60 in January. Thanks!
Congrats on 3+ decades of sobriety.
Here are a few links to check out:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
High Road CDL Training ProgramPaid CDL Training ProgramsApply For Paid CDL TrainingTruck Driver's Career Guide
The one major hurdle that you may encounter in getting into the trucking industry is that some company applications ask if you have ever been diagnosed with alcoholism. If you have ever received documented treatment for alcoholism, then you would definitely need to disclose that. I am not 100% certain, but there might be a question of alcoholism on the DOT physical form.
The good news is that your age is a non-factor, as long as your health is good. You will be able to find a company willing to give you a chance, but it may require filling out a lot of applications and working through a lot of "No"s.
Best of luck to you and Happy Thanksgiving.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
I have 11 years clean n sober. Was a contractor for 30 years. I just switched to trucking this year. Loving it. The principles of the program definitely help in making a career in this.
Thanks Guys, I appreciate the feedback I just need to bite the bullet and sign up for the class, its not easy making a change after 30plus years doing the same kind of work. Congrats on 11 years Davy!
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.
I don't think anybody cares about our drinking preferences. There are rules that drivers must follow, but these rules do not regulate alcohol intake during off duty time. Personally, this whole idea of being sober in the sense of completely eliminating any alcohol always seemed strange to me. I believe that fermented drinks are important part of human history and culture and rejecting it can hardly benefit anyone. Drinking and getting drunk are two different things. When I was 25, I realized that I could get in trouble if I did not stop drinking that much. Since that time I have never been drunk again, but I do drink beer and wine. https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-31123/Page-1/32-years-clean-and-sober-
I don't think anybody cares about our drinking preferences. There are rules that drivers must follow, but these rules do not regulate alcohol intake during off duty time. Personally, this whole idea of being sober in the sense of completely eliminating any alcohol always seemed strange to me. I believe that fermented drinks are important part of human history and culture and rejecting it can hardly benefit anyone. Drinking and getting drunk are two different things. When I was 25, I realized that I could get in trouble if I did not stop drinking that much. Since that time I have never been drunk again, but I do drink beer and wine. https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-31123/Page-1/32-years-clean-and-sober-
I can definitely appreciate your standpoint but for some it’s not that easy. I’ve been sober 11 years myself and honestly don’t miss it. My wife and I recently visited a local winery to pick up something new and help support local economy. We both did the taste tests and I gotta admit, while the ones I sampled were of very good quality, I didn’t like it, it just wasn’t me. Needless to say, she has new bottles of wine that I’m completely uninterested in lol
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
I don't think anybody cares about our drinking preferences. There are rules that drivers must follow, but these rules do not regulate alcohol intake during off duty time. Personally, this whole idea of being sober in the sense of completely eliminating any alcohol always seemed strange to me. I believe that fermented drinks are important part of human history and culture and rejecting it can hardly benefit anyone. Drinking and getting drunk are two different things. When I was 25, I realized that I could get in trouble if I did not stop drinking that much. Since that time I have never been drunk again, but I do drink beer and wine. https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-31123/Page-1/32-years-clean-and-sober-
There are some people that become addicted to alcohol and one drink just isn't possible. One drink becomes a snowball effect into an unmanageable life of alcohol consumption. For people who have an addiction like this, the only choice to survive is to choose sobriety.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Just want to clarify something Andrey said that some might misinterpret:
There are rules that drivers must follow, but these rules do not regulate alcohol intake during off duty time.
The actual FMCSA Regulations regarding alcohol use:
392.5 Alcohol prohibition.
(a) No driver shall -
(1) Use alcohol, as defined in § 382.107 of this subchapter, or be under the influence of alcohol, within 4 hours before going on duty or operating, or having physical control of, a commercial motor vehicle; or
(2) Use alcohol, be under the influence of alcohol, or have any measured alcohol concentration or detected presence of alcohol, while on duty, or operating, or in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle; or
(3) Be on duty or operate a commercial motor vehicle while the driver possesses wine of not less than one-half of one per centum of alcohol by volume, beer as defined in 26 U.S.C. 5052(a), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or distilled spirits as defined in section 5002(a)(8), of such Code. However, this does not apply to possession of wine, beer, or distilled spirits which are:
(i) Manifested and transported as part of a shipment; or
(ii) Possessed or used by bus passengers.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-392
Thus, consuming alcohol while off-duty, but within four hours of being on-duty violates the regulations.
Also, you can't be on-duty with any measurable alcohol in your system. Alcohol can be detected in your system by breath analysis for up to 24 hours.
FMCSA Regulations regarding alcoholism:
Manifest:
Bill of Lading
An accurate record of everything being shipped on a truck, often times used as a checklist during unloading.
Commercial Motor Vehicle:
A commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property with either:
- A gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
- A gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more which includes a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Yes, Chief, I heard about this 4 hr rule. Some companies are even more strict - Roehl, fore example, doesn't allow alcohol 10 hours before going on duty.
One drink becomes a snowball effect into an unmanageable life of alcohol consumption. For people who have an addiction like this, the only choice to survive is to choose sobriety.
If a person can stay away from the first beer, how can the same person be not able to stay away from the second? Doesn't make any sense to me.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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Hey you all I am considering a new career in trucking I plan on getting my CDL A. I was a painting contractor for many years and am ready to make a change. Also clean and sober 32 years, I would like to hear from other sober truckers for feedback. Or thoughts from anyone on starting a new career in trucking. I will be 60 in January. Thanks!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: