Profile For Harold L. (Go-Go)

Hello everyone,

I just completed week two of SQUIRE training at Knight. Week 1 was all company orientation and processing which went very well. Week 2 was actually on the range which has gone well also. I came to knight with prior CDL training at a private school which i didnt complete due to active duty recall a few years ago.

So I basically knew my PTI and air brake test already. I could drive the rig around the range without grinding have not driven in over 2 years. What I REALLY needed work in was my offset parking to the left. My initial problem was that I would hold my initial turn too long and get a bad start angle, and would ride the clutch. Instuctor, (great instructor by the way) told me what I was doing wrong and afterwards was putting it in the box cleanly.

I'm due to get some road time with a trainer in the coming weeks so Ill be good for my CDL examine which I have to teake in my home state of VA which consists of a straight back and curve back for skills.

About the school here. The school is run pretty well. Right now there are two range instructors so the teacher student ratio can build from week to week. The school uses 2 Volvos.. I know that one is a 2011. Each person is assigned their own dbl hotel room which serves breakfast. Lunch is provided during the first week of orientation. The hotel is decent. Its caters to a few trucking companies so its not used much by regular visitors. There are a few hotels, a waffle house, and two restaurants in walking distance. Walmart is a $20 cab ride one way so be prepared.

Overall the program is decent. You job is to get in and out so that you can get on the road and start earning.

I have an appointment to see my primary care Dr in 2 weeks. They're not familiar with home testing. I called the DOT doctor's office and they've never heard of home testing and will only accept a sleep clinic assessment which is out of the question.

I'm still waiting to hear from the company that hired me but it looks like I'm going to be out of a job.

I wish I knew about this before I went to CDL school.

I'm sorry to read this, but I just signed up with a company (I'm in CDL training now) that did not require students to perform a sleep apnea test. There were some pretty big guys that were in orientation as well. I honestly believe that its being sought out the wrong way in the industry. I know guys who were in the military with me who were in BMI shape and regular shape that had sleep apnea. I think its a rachet to make someone take the test without having any symptoms to justify one. Body weight is not a justifiable determination IMHO.

When I was deciding what company to sign on with, one company who has their own doctors on site and administers the sleep apnea test regularly made the decision for me to sign with another company. They would give you the test (@ $600) and make you pay for it out of your check. Then if you were lucky enough to win the cpap machine, that wold also be taken out of your check @ $2100. You would almost be working for nothing as all of their advances and things that you "had to pay for" would be taken out of your check. They also take your pay for your TWIC and Passport admin fees.

Good luck, I hope that your PCM can determine that you dont have sleep apnea.