Profile For Thomas (Knot Head)

I was originally sent for the sleep study by my migraine dr. She thought i wasnt getting enough good rest that may have triggered my headaches or migraines. It took a while once i got away from my other job my headaches have been less often and less severe. I also feel better after sleeping once i got back into a normal schedule. So i think that may have resolved itself.

Well today i took a physical with CT Transportation. The Dr. said i passed as far as the dot was concerned but I did not meet ComCar's requirement. My bmi was 2 point too high and my neck was 18 and they require 17. So again I am being sent home.

The frustrating thing for me is how can I be deamed medically and physically fit for my firefighting career(part tine and volunteer) but not to drive a truck? My duties include driving and operating the fire truck, fighting fires, rescuing people from houses and cars and also providing medical care to people. My physical for my firefighting stuff is a lot more in depth, strenuous and throrough than that of the 3 dot physicals i have taken.

Well I started my orientation with McElroy two weeks ago but was sent home after a day and a half because I do not have a CPAP machine that I am apparently suppose to have. I didn't have a job to afford it at the time and was never officially told by the sleep study company or my Dr's office that I had sleep apnea. McElroy requires a minimum of 30 days worth of data and 70% of compliance to be placed in their trucks. Well I do not have a machine so I was sent home after the physical.

Thomas, this is all kind of confusing me. Help me out here, and I think we can help you get started in your newly chosen career. You say you were never "officially" told that you had sleep apnea. I don't even know what that means. Does that mean you were "unofficially" told that you had sleep apnea, and/or you needed to get a CPAP? Because just prior to that statement you make it sound like you knew you needed the machine when you stated, "I didn't have a job to afford it at the time." That statement makes it sound like you knew that you needed the machine. Furthermore, you didn't have a sleep study done at McElroy, so how did they know you needed a machine? Fill in the gaps for me and I'll explain how most folks who can't afford to purchase a machine go ahead and get their new career started.

What i was meaning by that is the dr and the place i did the sleep study at never called me with results. About a week amd a half after the sleep study i had a medical supply company wanting to set up a time for them to come out and do the demo and set me up on a machine. But i could not afford my part after ins. I never was officially told the results until about a week ago and i did the sleep study in late june, early july.

They knew about the problem because when they sent me to the dr for the physical there was a question on there that asked " do you have sleep apnea or cpap machine or have you ever had a sleep study?" I answered yes because i had the sleep study.

The dr said she didn't have a problem with giving me a new medical card if i could get my dr to send a letter saying we are working on it but back at the terminal they said they needed 30 days worth of data from the machine, so they sent me home. I was just contacted yesterday by CT and theh said the same thing.

Thomas, I believe that thirty day requirement is a D.O.T. requirement.

That would make sense. CT called me today amd said the same thing. The problem is, I need a job to be able to afford the machine. And I can't start with a company because they need me to be on the machine. Ugh.

I'm in NC every week. Plus we have a terminal in Laurinburg. Not sure how they figured 2-3 weeks for regional

The recruiter said he didn't have any regional where I am. It is all OTR. But I see Maverick trucks every single day going down I-40 and 311 where I live. I don't know.

Ok. You're either out west or in Florida right lol

Nope. NC. And I need to correct myself. Flatbed was 2-3 weeks and Glass was 2 weeks.

I work for maverick. My roommate during training had sleep apnea. They provide you with the machine and payroll deduct the cost I believe. You have to use it a percentage of the time you sleep. Also we're home on weekends.

I talked to Maverick. I guess where I live they said I would be on the road for 2-3 weeks. I like their company but I can't do that much time out.

Well I started my orientation with McElroy two weeks ago but was sent home after a day and a half because I do not have a CPAP machine that I am apparently suppose to have. I didn't have a job to afford it at the time and was never officially told by the sleep study company or my Dr's office that I had sleep apnea. McElroy requires a minimum of 30 days worth of data and 70% of compliance to be placed in their trucks. Well I do not have a machine so I was sent home after the physical.

Anyway so I am working on my 2nd attempt and have 3 companies willing to work with me and they all know about the situation. Gypsum Express looks good until I read the reviews on them. They are really interested in me but it does not seem like a good place for a rookie to go. IT appears they use smaller tractors to lessen the weight of the equipment to haul more stuff. CT Transportation is interested as well, I am just waiting to hear back from them on if my app was approved or not. They have pretty good reviews and nice looking equipment. And Shaffer/Crete trucking actually said they would help me get a CPAP machine and it would not be an issue. I really like them, they have good reviews and nice equipment as well but my family(mostly the wife) DO NOT like the 12 days out and 2.5 to 3 days home schedule. I guess my family loves me a little bit since they want me home more often. lol.

Any thoughts from anyone? Anyone work for either company and can tell me either good or bad things? I am trying to get as much information as possible so I can make an educated choice that is better for my family.

As of right now I am going to Pleasant Hill, NC on August 1st to start my orientation with McElroy. I might graduate sooner from trucking school and if I do then I might try to move it up to July 25th. Super excited but nervous as hell at the same time.

Week 6: I am typing this one a little early but I will be doing the same stuff tomorrow so it is rather easy to tell you what is going on. This week started with straight line backing. After we got pretty good at that, we moved to 45 degree backing and then 90 degree backing. I was not a fan of 90 degree backing. It took me about a day and a half to finally get it, but I got it. Also threw some off set backing in on us as well, yesterday afternoon and today i was nailing everything almost perfectly. Not getting, ****y but I am getting more confident each time. Tomorrow one other guy and myself will be doing the same things while the others in the group need extra practice on the 45, 90 and straight line backing.

Week 7: School is closed all week for the 4th of July, so I will update in two weeks about week 8.

Welcome to the brotherhood. Like parrothead said, good company. I've been with them almost 2 years

What kind of stuff do I need to take with me to orientation? I wasn't provided with any information yet but I have heard that I need to show up with at least collared shirts. Is that true and what else do I need?