DOT Physical Requirements For Women

To reitertate.

When I walk in for my DOT Physical (not at a COMPANY - at my clinic) - I stand on one foot (shows balance), touch my toes. Doc has me push his hands up/down/in/out - and checks my grip.

There is NOTHING in the DOT requirements - that says anything about weight lifting, pushing or carrying weights, or anything of that nature.

DOT Physicals are 100% related to being able to drive a truck. Not loading/unloading or athletic ability.

Everything else is a COMPANY PHYSICAL - which can make you do the log walk, flaming hoops, clean and jerk - nd some of the other weirdness we see around here.

You may WELL BE ABLE TO PASS A DOT PHYSICAL - and yet FAIL A COMPANY ONE.

Try as I might - I can't "duck walk" without touching with my hands, or putting a knee down. But I can get under any trailer to do a pre-trip. But some companies require you to duck-walk.

Folks just need to understand the difference between DOT & COMPANY.

And again - since both are usually done at the SAME TIME - there would be no reason to NOT ISSUE A DOT MED if you pass that - and still FAIL YOU on the company-agility-side and not get a hire because of that.

Members here can relate what each particular company requires.

I've heard Prime requires a 100lb weight for their flatbed and wants everyone to lift it - even if they aren't going FB.

I can GUAREN-DAMN-TEE you that I will NEVER GO FLATBED (EVER - and that's not to say there's anything wrong with it - just that I know my physical limitations and have no desire to challenge them). And I probably wouldn't do the 100lbs lift - because my hernia surgeon tells me I shouldn't.

You need to be able to yank a kingpin lock, a tandem slide lock - and sometimes these can be pretty stubborn. For us lazy folks, there are "mechanical helpers" that take a lot of the strain out of it.

Some of these olympic style tryouts, just have me wondering what the heck they expect of you - if all you plan on doing, is dragging a reefer/dry behind you. Neither do I care about the $25 I can get by unloading/assisting - here's a comcheck - where are your lumpers?

Rick

I already know I can't do 100 pound ANYTHING and do not want to pay for DOT physical plus my CDL permit which school requires I have prior to reporting to school only to possibly FAIL that and be out of all that money. I'm starting to wonder if I should even attempt this. I ruled out flatbed when i read you need to handle 100 pound tarp. How can a company expect ladies to do 100 plus pounds? We're not built to be that strong

To reitertate.

When I walk in for my DOT Physical (not at a COMPANY - at my clinic) - I stand on one foot (shows balance), touch my toes. Doc has me push his hands up/down/in/out - and checks my grip.

There is NOTHING in the DOT requirements - that says anything about weight lifting, pushing or carrying weights, or anything of that nature.

DOT Physicals are 100% related to being able to drive a truck. Not loading/unloading or athletic ability.

Everything else is a COMPANY PHYSICAL - which can make you do the log walk, flaming hoops, clean and jerk - nd some of the other weirdness we see around here.

You may WELL BE ABLE TO PASS A DOT PHYSICAL - and yet FAIL A COMPANY ONE.

Try as I might - I can't "duck walk" without touching with my hands, or putting a knee down. But I can get under any trailer to do a pre-trip. But some companies require you to duck-walk.

Folks just need to understand the difference between DOT & COMPANY.

And again - since both are usually done at the SAME TIME - there would be no reason to NOT ISSUE A DOT MED if you pass that - and still FAIL YOU on the company-agility-side and not get a hire because of that.

Members here can relate what each particular company requires.

I've heard Prime requires a 100lb weight for their flatbed and wants everyone to lift it - even if they aren't going FB.

I can GUAREN-DAMN-TEE you that I will NEVER GO FLATBED (EVER - and that's not to say there's anything wrong with it - just that I know my physical limitations and have no desire to challenge them). And I probably wouldn't do the 100lbs lift - because my hernia surgeon tells me I shouldn't.

You need to be able to yank a kingpin lock, a tandem slide lock - and sometimes these can be pretty stubborn. For us lazy folks, there are "mechanical helpers" that take a lot of the strain out of it.

Some of these olympic style tryouts, just have me wondering what the heck they expect of you - if all you plan on doing, is dragging a reefer/dry behind you. Neither do I care about the $25 I can get by unloading/assisting - here's a comcheck - where are your lumpers?

Rick

I already know I can't do 100 pound ANYTHING and do not want to pay for DOT physical plus my CDL permit which school requires I have prior to reporting to school only to possibly FAIL that and be out of all that money. I'm starting to wonder if I should even attempt this. I ruled out flatbed when i read you need to handle 100 pound tarp. How can a company expect ladies to do 100 plus pounds? We're not built to be that strong

Janet actually reads the info!

Thanks so much that helps out a lot. I was eye balling Swift b/c the training can be free after driving w/them 2 yrs. I also like that they'll hire you after training which eliminates job searching.

A lot of people skip over/miss this part. Thanks, Janet, for pointing the out. If you can stick with them, Swift is the only company I know of that will pay you back your entire tuition. And don't think this is "slavery" because for those two years you are making decent money as well.

The thing about training -> getting hired works for any Company-Sponsored Training Program. A lot of the pre-hire work is done before you are admitted to the school. And having a job already arranged means you can focus on getting the school done.

Thank you Errol V

I already know I can't do 100 pound ANYTHING and do not want to pay for DOT physical plus my CDL permit which school requires I have prior to reporting to school only to possibly FAIL that and be out of all that money. I'm starting to wonder if I should even attempt this. I ruled out flatbed when i read you need to handle 100 pound tarp. How can a company expect ladies to do 100 plus pounds? We're not built to be that strong

Oh yeah - ya'll are built that strong. We have women flatbedders that don't necessarily look like Rhonda Rousey.

What you need to find out, is what the physical requirements for the company you are signing onto are - as far as agility/weights.

I rule out flatbed - because it actually resembles manual labor. The climbing can be dangerous, the tarping is a PITA - and you have to do it rain or shine/winter or summer.

Just not my cup-o-tea - but I have the greatest respect for friends that do work that segment of the industry.

I think you're reading way too much into this. Most companies aren't looking for women that are ready for the Miss Universe contest.

But you can't be nearly wheelchair bound either.

Rick

I was the lady who said i didn't have to lift any weights on a DOT physical, but I also told her about how flatbed drivers have to lift tarps etc.

My company is almost exclusively no touch freight. We are to NEVER even restack a pallet. We drive the truck only. The only thing we touch is having to knock out wood bracing on forklift loads. A 30lb sledgehammer works well but often guys working at the forklift dealers we deliver to gladly do that task for us ladies lol. I do it when i have to and don't ask for help since west side pays me quite well to do it, but they just jump right in and help. It can be a challenge to do as they nail that bracing completely through the floor of the trailer. I use a 30 lb sledge and a 4-1/2' prybar that i lean into for leverage.

Basically we have a very routine DOT, and before the end of orientation, safety will take us out to the yard and teach us how they want us to climb in the back of a trailer. Honestly, the only way I do it is by walking inside a trailer from a loading dock.

Have I said I love my employer? We don't have a cdl school, we don't offer tuition reimbursement, but they do take new cdl-a holders with no experience. The pay is excellent. . Not so much during training, but as a solo driver its awesome. If you have less than 6 months experience, you go with a trainer. If you have more than 6 months, you immediately go solo.

Janet actually reads the info!

Thanks so much that helps out a lot. I was eye balling Swift b/c the training can be free after driving w/them 2 yrs. I also like that they'll hire you after training which eliminates job searching.

A lot of people skip over/miss this part. Thanks, Janet, for pointing the out. If you can stick with them, Swift is the only company I know of that will pay you back your entire tuition. And don't think this is "slavery" because for those two years you are making decent money as well.

The thing about training -> getting hired works for any Company-Sponsored Training Program. A lot of the pre-hire work is done before you are admitted to the school. And having a job already arranged means you can focus on getting the school done.

No its not slavery. ITS A FANTASTIC DEAL!!

Janet, just to make it easier for people to read your replies. After you quote a previous post, make sure to move the cursor below the last line before you start your reply. It looks something like this. <\blockquote>

It will then be seperate from the post you are quoting.

OK...to clear.something up.here about prime...they do NOT make tanker/reefer candidates lift the 100 pound tarp. They told.me to, then realized I wasn't flatbed.

I had to climb three rungs of a ladder several times, did have to lift a crate with weights and move it ten feet. Then had to lift two.more crates of increasing weight. If the crate was too heavy, it wasnt a fail. The agility test sorta guages your being radius and balance. I saw people I thought who did poorly but they still passed. It was.more of an assessment of your ability than a pass fail thing. That is my take on it.

Also, primes school program requires only $155 upfront. As long as you work the one year contract you pay NOTHING. I never had one dime taken from my check for schooling. The $155/ is for background check and permit. Now, if you quit or get fired before the year, my contract had me on the hook for $70 per week that could be taken from my next employer and paid directly to prime.

I'm pretty sure Sam the Wrestler's company was the same...no money required unless the one year contract was terminated.

OK...to clear.something up.here about prime...they do NOT make tanker/reefer candidates lift the 100 pound tarp. They told.me to, then realized I wasn't flatbed.

I had to climb three rungs of a ladder several times, did have to lift a crate with weights and move it ten feet. Then had to lift two.more crates of increasing weight. If the crate was too heavy, it wasnt a fail. The agility test sorta guages your being radius and balance. I saw people I thought who did poorly but they still passed. It was.more of an assessment of your ability than a pass fail thing. That is my take on it.

Also, primes school program requires only $155 upfront. As long as you work the one year contract you pay NOTHING. I never had one dime taken from my check for schooling. The $155/ is for background check and permit. Now, if you quit or get fired before the year, my contract had me on the hook for $70 per week that could be taken from my next employer and paid directly to prime.

I'm pretty sure Sam the Wrestler's company was the same...no money required unless the one year contract was terminated. Thank you. Makes me feel better. Im studying the CDL training on site and need an eye exam w/ new Rx before I do anything else. My eyes need to wait until March so I have plenty of study time. I'm like 99% sure I'm going to try for Prime. Its the best financial deal out there. I don't mind working for same company that trains me. I think its only fair since their investing their time and money. Very fair deal

OK...to clear.something up.here about prime...they do NOT make tanker/reefer candidates lift the 100 pound tarp. They told.me to, then realized I wasn't flatbed.

I had to climb three rungs of a ladder several times, did have to lift a crate with weights and move it ten feet. Then had to lift two.more crates of increasing weight. If the crate was too heavy, it wasnt a fail. The agility test sorta guages your being radius and balance. I saw people I thought who did poorly but they still passed. It was.more of an assessment of your ability than a pass fail thing. That is my take on it.

Also, primes school program requires only $155 upfront. As long as you work the one year contract you pay NOTHING. I never had one dime taken from my check for schooling. The $155/ is for background check and permit. Now, if you quit or get fired before the year, my contract had me on the hook for $70 per week that could be taken from my next employer and paid directly to prime.

I'm pretty sure Sam the Wrestler's company was the same...no money required unless the one year contract was terminated. Thank you. Makes me feel better. Im studying the CDL training on site and need an eye exam w/ new Rx before I do anything else. My eyes need to wait until March so I have plenty of study time. I'm like 99% sure I'm going to try for Swift Its the best financial deal out there. I don't mind working for same company that trains me. I think its only fair since their investing their time and money. Very fair deal C