Profile For Terry M.

Thank you for all the replies. Great advice from all. Investigating diet changes (less salt, more greens, etc...) I get plenty of exercise at my present job and I'm not overweight so I'm hoping just a diet change will do the job. Being in a Dentist's chair I think would raise anyone's blood pressure slightly so I'm gonna start monitoring it closely. Again, thank you for all input. This is a fabulous forum and I always learn something when I visit.

There will be blood....pressure that is. Gearing up to go to one of the company sponsored driving facilities (Prime, Swift, Jim Palmer, still weighing options) and have just came back from the dentist. All he did was a routine cleaning but my blood pressure was taken and it was 150 over 80. That top number was a "little" high I was told. Could this be a big factor during a CDL physical or does that fall within "standards"? What can I do to lower it? All my dentist could recommend was a good fluoride toothpaste. But then. he would. Looking forward to all responses.

ReynR & OtrEscapeArtist thank you very much for your suggestions and insight. OtrEscapeArtist I've read your account of training and found it very useful. One question I hope you or someone else could answer....How long did it take to get your first real paycheck and (ok, two questions.) was it what you were expecting? I know there will be a period of no income possibly for a month so we are prepared for that. Any info is a tremendous help.

Sounds like a pretty common sense thing to me....

Thank you everyone for the kind responses and well wishes. 2 of the companies I've mentioned (Prime & Jim Palmer) have facilities in Springfield Mo. that would be extremely convenient as my wife and I live in NE Oklahoma. I believe Swift nearest is in Texas so I'm leaning more towards Prime and Jim Palmer. I was hoping to hear from people who've been through the training and have been on the road for a few months. I'm positive training from each company would be comprehensive I just want to be sure that when the rubber finally meets the road the company I decide to go with will be there when rookie mistakes are made and wont be to quick to judge.

I stumbled upon the forum a couple of years ago when I was working at a job close to 30 years that I had come to absolutely hate. Each day for 3 months I would read the forums and do the practice CDL tests. Just when we were about ready to pull the trigger, we find out my wife has cancer. Yup, sometimes life gets in the way. So I continued with my job and even got a second one with benefits to take up the slack. 2 months ago the doctors and oncologists pronounced her cancer free. Praise the lord. During this period I had quit my day job of thirty years as the owners son had turned it in to a toxic atmosphere and had to declare bankruptcy. Present day: working 4 days a week but with no financial responsibilities apart from mortgage and car payment which we've negotiated to a manageable payment. Will be 56 the 8th of February and (thanks to my 4 day a week job) am in great physical condition and seriously considering trucking again. Through research I've narrowed my considerations to 3 companies that offer training, they are Jim Palmer, Swift, and Prime. I know Trucking Truth has reviews of these companies and they were a big factor in my decision but I would love to hear from people out there who have gone through the training and have good or bad opinions on the companies. This is a HUGE jump for me and my wife and I have no doubt I'll land on my feet but I gotta be sure....so, please, help. Looking forward to all responses and will all ways respond in kind. Again, I'm very grateful for any and all help.

May 4th...official nerd holiday.

Kinda get the feeling this guy shows up with a briefcase whereas everybody else shows up with work gloves. This may not be the career direction you want to take.

Thank you for all your responses and insight. This forum has been an invaluable resource. Rainey, in answer to your concern, my wife is fortunate to have both our families very close by and ready to spring into action at a moments notice (something they've had to do on occasion.). Turtle, you are absolutely correct that good attitude goes a long way. Love and positive thinking have gotten her through some very rough patches (as well as myself) during this sometimes bleak period. Old School, I love reading your posts and look forward to new additions and I always leave either a smarter person or someone who has changed his thinking. Keep it up guys and gals, you've got fans out here.

Discovered TT about a year ago after learning that the owner of where I currently work is handing over the reigns to his son who is fresh outta the army and wants only his friends working here (yup...25+ years gone). Anyway just as my wife and I started getting serious about this impending career change, we found out she has cancer. Sometimes life gets in the way, so we've been getting through this and I've been putting up with my own version of "Horrible Bosses". Prognosis is good and Doctors are very confident about a great outcome after radiation (chemo is done and results were better than expected). All through this she has remained strong, confident and as healthy as can be besides the hair loss and minimal tiredness. She has even continued to work, though lite duty and scaled back hours. I could not have asked for a better partner through life. All this being said the real question I have today has to do with bankruptcy. Medical bills combined with our current debt will pretty much wipe us out and bankruptcy looks like the only alternative we have to protect our most basic assets such as home and car. Is this something potential employers are going to look at in this industry? Will this be a hindrance as to places that provide training, etc? Any advice?