First Day of Orientation

The first day of orientation is done. The usual stacks of papers to sign.

Took the drive test in a brand new Prostar. That was one nice truck! The test consisted of pre-trip, coupling a trailer, driving for 30 minutes or so around city streets and a bit of I 75. There was one set of tracks where I had to demonstrate a proper hazmat crossing. Then back to the terminal to do a back and then un-couple.

Then it was more papers before going off to the work test and physical.

The work test was very rigorous. It consisted lifting 25, 50, and 75 pound boxes repeatedly to a shelf that was waist high and back down. Then lifting the 25 pound box on to a shelf shoulder high a bunch of times. Then pushing and pulling, both horizontally and vertically, a device that measures strength. Then it was back to the boxes. I had to carry the 25 and 50 pounders 53 feet 5 times each, followed by the 75 pounder 3 times.

The last trick in the show was to put my foot on a shelf about 32 inches high and reach a bar that was at the top of my reach. Then, step/pull myself up on the shelf and back down 5 times.

During all of this I was wearing a heart rate monitor and I had to stay below a rate that they calculated for me based on my age. He said that if I go over then I would have to stop and show that it would recover in 30 seconds. I didn't go over but it did get me going. Last was the actual DOT physical.

If this is the future, then let this be notice. There were a lot of guys who went home because they were in such bad shape they couldn't do the work. Many of them complained about it and some made plans to go to a doctor for help. In the group I went over with, I was by far the oldest at 58. I have always been bothered by the condition I see some drivers in. My advice is, if a driver wants to stay eligible to drive, rather than complaining about the changes coming, they should start working on their health. They need to do it with some urgency too.