Company Sponsorship Or Paid CDL Training W/Pet-FRIENDLY Policy?

Don does have a medical background......you'd be quite surprised to know this is a 2nd career for most people. They've gotten burned out and wanted a change. Read through What did you do before becoming a truck driver and you'll be surprised what you see. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, corporate management, you name it we've likely had people pass through here just wanting a change. Your reaction in my opinion shows that Don's assessment is accurate. There are many laws regarding your health records that do not apply in trucking. In the event of a serious accident lawyers WILL find what you've tried to hide and depending on the severity of the accident is possible you'll go to prison along with steep civil penalties. That's before we even consider the penalties for lying on a federal form. The laws and such for a majority of jobs don't necessarily apply to trucking. I understand you're in a really tough spot but what is your real reason for wanting to drive? Is it just for a place to live, or is it something you genuinely want to do. If you're not 100% in it you'll wash out very quickly. The rate of people not making it past training is quite high. Many more quit before their first year due to the long hours and stress involved.

Something to consider, doesnt PAM require you to team for your first 6 months? Trucks are already pretty cramped before you add in animals. It'll be much more difficult to get him proper exercise when that truck rarely stops moving. We want you to succeed but you need to understand due to being a safety sensitive job many laws to prevent anybody crying discrimination don't apply in trucking.

No, but I was a Registered Nurse for 32 years, working in E.R. and Public Health settings.

Having your DOT physical card is only a first step. As Rainy stated, companies do their own physicals and have their own parameters that must be met. The company will also go deeper into your past and if they determine you misrepresent or omit any aspects of your physical or psychological history, such as your "suicide watch," I will assume you will be out the door. Your mention of lawsuits also are an indication of a lack of emotional maturity. I will again assume, a company would rather deal with someone in civil court over a civil lawsuit, rather than find themselves in a future criminal lawsuit due to the actions of an emotionally unstable driver they hired. What strikes me in this thread is your refusal to listen to the sound advice experienced drivers are giving you. I realize people can be like children who do not like to hear "no" when they want something, but you obviously need it pounded into your head. I am just coming right out and stating that based soley on what I have read, I am left with the impression that you are no where near ready emotionally or psychologically to start a career driving a truck! A company is going to tire of what I believe is your needy personality and unreslistic expectations and requests based on your "support dog." Don't come back in a few weeks after you get sent home, whining how "a company did you wrong, and you are going to sue them." Good luck with that.

Wow, you're a Doctor? What's a Doctor doing driving a truck?

If you are a pre-law undergraduate, I would imagine you could use that Pre-Law Undergraduate degree to open doors to a career in the Judicial system. I do not envy your current situation and wish you well, but I reiterate my previous opinion, and agree with Rob's statement regarding Federal law and driving a semi-tractor. I will close with saying Good luck.

Having your DOT physical card is only a first step. As Rainy stated, companies do their own physicals and have their own parameters that must be met. The company will also go deeper into your past and if they determine you misrepresent or omit any aspects of your physical or psychological history, such as your "suicide watch," I will assume you will be out the door. Your mention of lawsuits also are an indication of a lack of emotional maturity. I will again assume, a company would rather deal with someone in civil court over a civil lawsuit, rather than find themselves in a future criminal lawsuit due to the actions of an emotionally unstable driver they hired. What strikes me in this thread is your refusal to listen to the sound advice experienced drivers are giving you. I realize people can be like children who do not like to hear "no" when they want something, but you obviously need it pounded into your head. I am just coming right out and stating that based soley on what I have read, I am left with the impression that you are no where near ready emotionally or psychologically to start a career driving a truck! A company is going to tire of what I believe is your needy personality and unreslistic expectations and requests based on your "support dog." Don't come back in a few weeks after you get sent home, whining how "a company did you wrong, and you are going to sue them." Good luck with that.

Im a pre-law under graduate. How many law classes have you taken Mr. Doctor?

Based on your professional diagnostic review of me being unfit to drive a truck, must mean I'm also unfit to drive a vehicle or hold a valid license as well as work period? Perhaps I should go mooch off social security then based on your professional diagnostic review and live off your tax dollars? What should I do Doctor, tell me.

Well...

Looks like this one has gone off the rails.

We're 5 pages deep here - in experienced drivers giving you the 411.

Yes, I get that you have/require a service animal for whatever condition you say you have.

YOU don't seem to get that 99.9% of NEW TRAINEE POSITIONS are going to require you to be out for a period of time, IN SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUCK. And that, rather than attempt to accomodate YOUR NEEDS, they are simply going to TAKE A PASS. This is not about you "elbowing your way in", waving ADA laws in their face. No one OWES YOU (and your dog) a seat in THEIR TRUCK.

As sympathetic as we may be to your plight - (as least) I am getting the sense that this might not be the industry for you. Not even because YOUR ATTITUDE HAS SHIFTED to passive/aggressive towards people that are only trying to HELP YOU. But because, in our experience, the NECESSITY OF PROVIDING AN ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUR SERVICE ANIMAL IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HOW COMPANIES TRAIN NEW ENTRANTS.

So - let's just AGREE TO DISAGREE. And you come back (3 or 4 name changes later), when you have COMPLETED TRAINING AND ARE SOLO - and share with us your experience - SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS in a similar situation.

Rick

Rick wrote this...

Well...

Looks like this one has gone off the rails.

We're 5 pages deep here - in experienced drivers giving you the 411.

Yes, I get that you have/require a service animal for whatever condition you say you have.

YOU don't seem to get that 99.9% of NEW TRAINEE POSITIONS are going to require you to be out for a period of time, IN SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUCK. And that, rather than attempt to accomodate YOUR NEEDS, they are simply going to TAKE A PASS. This is not about you "elbowing your way in", waving ADA laws in their face. No one OWES YOU (and your dog) a seat in THEIR TRUCK.

As sympathetic as we may be to your plight - (as least) I am getting the sense that this might not be the industry for you. Not even because YOUR ATTITUDE HAS SHIFTED to passive/aggressive towards people that are only trying to HELP YOU. But because, in our experience, the NECESSITY OF PROVIDING AN ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUR SERVICE ANIMAL IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HOW COMPANIES TRAIN NEW ENTRANTS.

So - let's just AGREE TO DISAGREE. And you come back (3 or 4 name changes later), when you have COMPLETED TRAINING AND ARE SOLO - and share with us your experience - SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS in a similar situation.

Rick

*like

Welcome back Rick!

For all future readers....

What you need to take away from this thread is that trucking is unlike most jobs. A typo in an email never kills anyone but a dog jumping in the air or barking and distracting the driver absolutely can. Companies CANNOT be forced to put public safety ahead of personal safety as it is not "reasonable" to accommodate that. I knew a trainer who had to remove their fish tank from the truck because it distracted the student.

As truckers we are held to a higher standard for safety and that is evident by blowing a .04 as a DUI instead of the national .08 for cars and "normal" drivers. Any alcohol in the system puts you out of service. Everything about our job involves safety. We get inspected, have our hours limited and must provide documents and drug tests upon request. Our disabilities CAN limit our opportunities, our medications CAN cause us to be rejected by companies, and our medical and mental history as well as work history IS required and NOT protected by HIPAA (Health Information Portability & Accountability Act). If you refuse to supply information, you will be rejected. If you lie and omit information you can be rejected, and even blacklisted as no company will trust you.

It is contradictory to state "I am not asking for special treatment, I only want to use their normal pet policy"....."but I need my dog at orientation and throughout training, during which I do not want to be OTR". None of that is normal in trucking. It is also selfish and inconsiderate to want your needs met without caring about the needs of others. Such as the trainer, room mate or company.

We went through this whole conversation about depression and suicidal tendencies for nothing. It is quite possible he will get rejected for lack of work history. However, the suicidal tendencies alone would be enough to prevent him from getting a CDL.... Which is a PRIVILEGE not a right.

BTW.... I have degrees in Political Science/History and Human & Social Services. And i tend to get information from experienced truckers and company management over someone who hasn't even been to an orientation yet or held a key of a truck in their hands.

I appreciate you being open and honest, albeit a bit gruff in the mornings, but I respect someone who can speak their mind.

As for working in legal or paralegal field it's really not my cup of tea. I got that education as a supliment to apply to a business that I'd be interested in working for. In other words that education combined with my business courses is an asset I seek to apply to a corporate business. To coincide with Rob's question, I love driving. While I enjoy being punctual and having good communication during work, I love driving. It's as simple as that. And it's much higher pay than working as a paralegal at the courthouse. I've never had any problem getting a job anywhere with my work history and educational background, and I don't intend to start now. While I don't have a degree, my education is something most employers would jump head over heals for. My communication courses, my business courses, and my legal courses are all universal courses that can be applied anywhere to any job. If I didn't want to do trucking, I wouldn't be doing it.

Well...

Looks like this one has gone off the rails.

We're 5 pages deep here - in experienced drivers giving you the 411.

Yes, I get that you have/require a service animal for whatever condition you say you have.

YOU don't seem to get that 99.9% of NEW TRAINEE POSITIONS are going to require you to be out for a period of time, IN SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUCK. And that, rather than attempt to accomodate YOUR NEEDS, they are simply going to TAKE A PASS. This is not about you "elbowing your way in", waving ADA laws in their face. No one OWES YOU (and your dog) a seat in THEIR TRUCK.

As sympathetic as we may be to your plight - (as least) I am getting the sense that this might not be the industry for you. Not even because YOUR ATTITUDE HAS SHIFTED to passive/aggressive towards people that are only trying to HELP YOU. But because, in our experience, the NECESSITY OF PROVIDING AN ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUR SERVICE ANIMAL IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HOW COMPANIES TRAIN NEW ENTRANTS.

So - let's just AGREE TO DISAGREE. And you come back (3 or 4 name changes later), when you have COMPLETED TRAINING AND ARE SOLO - and share with us your experience - SO WE CAN HELP OTHERS in a similar situation.

Rick

Will do.

I found out yesterday that anyone going with Pam Transport who has a pet, has the option to pay about $500 to Driver Solutions for a single-occupency room in the pet-friendly hotel (no pet fees for your pet to stay in lodging).

So you can bring your pets with for Pam Transport training through Driver Solutions, but you will need to find a boarding facility for 2 weeks after Driver Solutions because Pam Transport requires you to team-drive for 2 weeks with a Pam Transport trainer.

This is the best solution I've found that truckers can use who have pets! If anyone finds a better deal, feel free to share to help future pet owners going into trucking; thank you, and I take my leave now.

P.S. I will be doing a diary of my training in the diary section you can follow up on too. Thanks, and everyone have a great week!

So, how do you survive for at least two weeks without your ESA?