TMC Trucking Physical

I am a recent CDL graduate, trying to get hired on with TMC Transportation. I was just wondering if they do a urinalysis sample at orientation, because I have small non obstructing kidney stones and the recruiter is giving me a story about if they find more than 1+ of blood in my urine they will send me home.. Now with that said, i've always wanted to drive for this company, but now they're kinda shooting my hopes down because of this issue I cant control, even though I was cleared through the DOT physical. I am in excellent shape and have no pain or visible blood in my urine. I just wanna know if they do a urinalysis( with the drug screen) for my own sanity.

Matt, they will definitely be doing a urine test. That will take place on the very first day, if I remember correctly. Look, here's what I would do if I were you: Get a letter from your doctor stating what is going on inside your kidneys and also have him state that he doesn't see any reason why it should hinder you from operating a commercial vehicle. That is a proactive step in the right direction. I can assure you the Doc that's doing the physical will be interested in your condition, and he will ask you some questions. Having a letter from your physician is a standard way of dealing with issues that might arise in a urine test.

I'm concerned with any pain killer medication you might be taking because I know that kidney stones can be brutally painful at times. If you occasionally take some pain meds you will also need to list them on the paper work they give you prior to the taking of the sample. You will need to have the bottled prescriptions with you (in their properly labeled bottles) and the prescribing physicians name, number, and fax number needs to go on that form you fill out also. These are the kinds of details you will need. These are important if you are serious about doing this. I've been to TMC orientations several times, and saw lots of people get sent home for not taking the necessary details serious and thinking they could just explain it to the doctor while they are there. It does not work like that. Any medication you are taking needs to be handled in this way. I think you will be fine, you've just got to be one step ahead. When it comes to them having questions about something, you need for them to already have the answer in their hands when the question arises.

One more thing Matt. You mentioned that you were already cleared for the D.O.T. physical. Just understand that every time you get a job in this industry you will have to go through a new physical. It doesn't matter that you just had one two or three weeks ago at truck driving school. This is mandated to avoid fraud. Some companies are way more strict on their physical than the D.O.T. requires, some go with the bare minimums. TMC is pretty strict as are most flat-bed companies. Usually the more physical the job the more stringent the physical will be to get in. I recently took a company physical for a new flat-bed job at Knight Transportation - it was pretty grueling as far as truck driving physicals go. We had to do quite a bit of lifting of weights and some aerobic stuff prior to checking our increased pulse rates, and then checking to see how long it would remain elevated. My physical lasted almost two hours total.

I was going to provide you with a link to a member (Steve) who went through TMC's orientation and training, but once I looked it up I saw you've already been there.

Thanks Old School. I take no meds for this condition. I actually take no meds at all so. Just getting the proper documentation will help or will it put me in the clear if you know?

Matt, there is no way I could tell you that it will put you in the clear. But I will say that it is the proper and acceptable way to deal with this type of issue. I suspect you will have no problem with it, but there is always the outside chance that something will go wrong.

As long as you have that documentation and have given it to them with the form that you will be asked to fill out you should be good.

Best of luck at TMC! They've got some really good opportunities there for a successful flat-bed career, and some nice trucks too!

I just got my radiology report and a discharge paper with the sentence " The patient may drive a commercial motor vehicle Class A with the necessary requirements for flatbed physical labor." Thanks a lot OS. Means alot man. Anyone else have similar problems like these?

Anyone else have similar issues?

Thanks I was thinkin the same thing...thanks for the info

Matt, they will definitely be doing a urine test. That will take place on the very first day, if I remember correctly. Look, here's what I would do if I were you: Get a letter from your doctor stating what is going on inside your kidneys and also have him state that he doesn't see any reason why it should hinder you from operating a commercial vehicle. That is a proactive step in the right direction. I can assure you the Doc that's doing the physical will be interested in your condition, and he will ask you some questions. Having a letter from your physician is a standard way of dealing with issues that might arise in a urine test.

I'm concerned with any pain killer medication you might be taking because I know that kidney stones can be brutally painful at times. If you occasionally take some pain meds you will also need to list them on the paper work they give you prior to the taking of the sample. You will need to have the bottled prescriptions with you (in their properly labeled bottles) and the prescribing physicians name, number, and fax number needs to go on that form you fill out also. These are the kinds of details you will need. These are important if you are serious about doing this. I've been to TMC orientations several times, and saw lots of people get sent home for not taking the necessary details serious and thinking they could just explain it to the doctor while they are there. It does not work like that. Any medication you are taking needs to be handled in this way. I think you will be fine, you've just got to be one step ahead. When it comes to them having questions about something, you need for them to already have the answer in their hands when the question arises.