Start CDL School For Stevens Transport Mon. 6/6/16 (Whew, Glad That One Is In That Date!!)
Topic 14714 | Page 7
That sounds great. That Dr. sounded like a DH. I bet everyone was nervous and shaking a bit. Some of us aren't 21 and bullet proof. Hope tomorrow is better. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow. It has been years since I have been to one. I want to make sure there is nothing I need to get under control for a DOT physical. Looking forward to hearing tomorrow that you are cleared for takeoff. 
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.
6/28/16 (Tuesday) Third Day of Four Orientation Days at Stevens
Not sure that I really want to post this, but the whole idea of doing a training journal was to relate the complete story of the training experience, both good and bad. Well, I saw the doctor again today over our lunch break and he is still all tweaked out that my hands shake a little bit. Please...I'm 60 years old, not twenty!! He wants some kind of full neurological work-up for my hand tremors. First of all, like I said yesterday, I did my normal routine today and checked my hands right before I went in to the clinic and they were totally normal. Then I went in and the anxiety set in again as I have a lot riding on this. I tried to remain as calm as possible, but there was a slight difference, a little more noticeable tremor with him staring at me. He would not listen to any reason at all, even though he even had to admit that there was quite a difference today. And...now he wants the sleep apnea test now too since I have to get this done.
I have to admit that Don Voight, the Recruiting Manager, was very helpful and supportive. He assured me that this is just a hiccup and that we will get me back into orientation as soon as possible and that I will definitely still work for Stevens Transport. I would love to believe that, but with all of the stories on here of recruiters' lies, I have to wonder. I told him that my health care is through the V.A., he asked if we could get it done down here as that way he would be able to keep me in the motel (I had told him that I had given up my rental as I would be gone for at least three months and would not be able to cut the grass and take care of the place, etc). So now I have no place really to go as I have no family or anything which makes this job perfect for me to begin with as I never have to need home time. He told me to stay in close contact with him and let him know what I find out from the V.A.
I have placed a phone message and a direct e-mail message with my V.A. doctor stating the urgency of the matter and hope to hear something tomorrow. I talked to a V.A. nurse at the medical center about it and she said that it would take at least 7 to 10 days to transfer all of my records to the Dallas center! Plus my doctor is amazing, so I am hoping he can do something to expedite all of this. It would be more than worth the drive to Denver if I could get all of this done right away.
I already have my CDL and my medical card (1 year due to the Diabetes) and I have to wonder about applying to other places as time is critical to my finances if I have to dump a bunch of money into lodging for the next little while. I would, of course, be totally up front about this situation with them as it would do me no good at all to find myself in the same situation elsewhere and cost me even more money. Also, it would have to be a company that would take over the terms of my school financing as that is complete. I know Chickie Monster drives the kind of equipment I am wanting for Trans Am, and there is always Prime and Swift, but my heart was really set on Stevens for a number of important reasons.
Anyway.........here I sit in limbo......any advice, y'all? 
DSTURBD
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.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
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 would say try to stick with it there. Good luck. I don't know your financial situation. It seems to me that with no rent all you have is debt. Debtors can wait a bit. Try calling them and explaining your situation. I hope it all irons itself quickly.
DSTURBD I can certainly understand why you are frustrated, who wouldn't be! But think about how many times we have heard in here about the bumps and thumps everyone takes getting started. You've had pretty calm waters so far, so something was sure to pop up to baptize you into trucking. Nobody seems to get to choose the issue, they only get certainty that it will be something. And that it won't be the last thing either. Congratulations, sounds like you've gotten your official welcome to this industry.
One of the cardinal rules (advice) in here is to stay the course when the storm comes.
Instead of sitting there, is it possible to drive back to your VA Doctor to move it along quicker. Hotel stay either way, just some gas money is the difference. The company is obviously wanting to get you started, and you have already set yourself apart from the crowd there.
They do have liability for their drivers, and so need to cover all their bases in case the the unthinkable happens. They don't want to get their head handed to them because they put someone out there without their butts being covered.
My Wife has a benign "familiar tremor" in her hands. Slight shake but not noticeable at all unless she gets nervous or has caffeine. It's a gene she inherited from her grandfather.
You've done awesome dude, stay the course your almost there.
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.
DSTURBD I can certainly understand why you are frustrated, who wouldn't be! But think about how many times we have heard in here about the bumps and thumps everyone takes getting started. You've had pretty calm waters so far, so something was sure to pop up to baptize you into trucking. Nobody seems to get to choose the issue, they only get certainty that it will be something. And that it won't be the last thing either. Congratulations, sounds like you've gotten your official welcome to this industry.
One of the cardinal rules (advice) in here is to stay the course when the storm comes.
Instead of sitting there, is it possible to drive back to your VA Doctor to move it along quicker. Hotel stay either way, just some gas money is the difference. The company is obviously wanting to get you started, and you have already set yourself apart from the crowd there.
They do have liability for their drivers, and so need to cover all their bases in case the the unthinkable happens. They don't want to get their head handed to them because they put someone out there without their butts being covered.
My Wife has a benign "familiar tremor" in her hands. Slight shake but not noticeable at all unless she gets nervous or has caffeine. It's a gene she inherited from her grandfather.
You've done awesome dude, stay the course your almost there.
Thanks for your support man, it means a lot, really! I know that you are right, it's just so frustrating to come to such a sudden stop when I made such an effort to be more than prepared going in. I had my CLP and all of my endorsements, and my DOT Medical card heading into CDL school, scored the top GPA of all of the Stevens students at that school, and had gotten very positive feedback from the instructors here. Talked to one of my classmates last night and the instructors were able to get all of the classes caught up and they will all be getting their assigned trainers today! Very disappointing for me, but I have no choice but to hope that there is some reason unknown to me for this to have happened. I've experienced it before, so I do know that sometimes it can be good in the long run that something changed plans that were seemingly going just as planned. However, that does not make me feel any better today!!! LOL Now I have no choice but to wait to hear from my doctor. It would do no good to drive13 hours to Denver until I get some kind of an answer. For all I know, he may be able to set up the test to be done here without changing where my care is based out of. Actually, that would make a lot of sense as what do other vets do when they need care while traveling and such? So for now, I will try to be patient and keep my phone closer to me than my own skin!! ha ha My doctor is usually really good about getting back to me, but he is very busy as a general rule, so I just have to wait............. 
DSTURBD
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.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
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.
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.
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.
I'm in your corner. Hoping you get on the roap ASAP. Good luck.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Update: I just got confirmation of my place in the next orientation class beginning on 7/3/16. I also got a call from a nurse in neuro at the V.A., but since there is no documentation of my hand tremors in my file, I have to see my doctor first and get a referral to neuro. That's all fine but I just don't know yet if it can happen fast enough to make that next class. Probably the next one at the earliest. Anyway, just sittin' here waiting for a call from my doctor or his nurse. After that, I will have a much better idea of what will happen.
DSTURBD
Glad to hear. All the poisitive thinking in your corner seems to be helping. Continued good luck.
Glad to hear. All the poisitive thinking in your corner seems to be helping. Continued good luck.
I hope you're right, Big Scott. We'll see.
DSTURBD
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Thanks Big Scott!
I'm sure you are right. Just a little frustrated after today, but maybe it's already turning around. A room-mate just walked into my motel room and it turns out that he is a trainer and says, "Maybe I'll be your trainer." That would be a pretty amazing coincidence!
DSTURBD