I've been sent home as "permanently medically disqualified" by the company. Reason: A motorcycle accident 35 years ago resulted in a skull fracture. Since there will be no records for that, the company assumes the worst and assumes I will suffer seizures.
The problem with that line of thinking is that I had to prove to the FAA medical staff that I would not have seizures while flying airplanes. That process took 2 years and $10,000 back in the early 1970's. And I flew passengers for years, getting medical exams emery six months until I went to work for the FAA.
Oh well. It is what it is. Now I have to develop Plan B.
Showing posts with label academy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label academy. Show all posts
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
January 9, 2012; In class at Stevens Driving Academy
Day 1 of my experience with Stevens Transport happened today. After a very early start - a 5:30 a.m. departure from my hotel in Mesquite, Texas - 51 other "newbies" and I arrived at the main headquarters. We spent the day filling out paperwork for school and the hotel. We are not yet employees, so we did not have to complete any tax information, but no matter. There were plenty of other forms.
We learned about Stevens policies on all sorts of things. For example, it is against company policy to consume or possess alcoholic beverages of any kind ANYWHERE except your home of record when you are off. So, asks one student, does this mean I cannot drink a beer while I am on a vacation at Billy Bob's Saloon in Ft. Worth with my family if I live in Wyoming? Answer: Right. And if you have a problem with it, consider this: If Stevens learns about your drinking while you are on vacation, you will be terminated. And consuming alcoholic beverages of any kind at any time while a student at Stevens Driving Academy is absolutely forbidden.
Wow. Powerful stuff. As you can imagine, there was a lot of grumbling about it. But they've had some alcohol-related problems in the recent past, so if adults won't be responsible and, well, adult about their consumption, the company will.
Which made what happened just a few minutes before I sat down in the evening, in my hotel room, and started writing this VERY disturbing. One of my classmates knocked on my door by mistake, looking for another room.
He was carrying two cans of Bud Light beer. Guess he missed that part of class. My guess is he will be gone soon. And not missed.
We have an interesting cross-section of people from a variety of states: Texas, North and South Carolina, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and even one fellow from Alaska (no, not me!) just to name several.
And there are some who follow directions and some who don't. There are those among us who appear not to know they are the driver applicant when asked to sign a medical form and given two choices: "Driver Applicant Signature" or "Medical Provider Signature."
I am looking forward to the next three weeks, assuming I make it through Wednesday and the very kind day tomorrow. We start at 6:00 a.m. doing our DOT physicals and will get the results not later than Wednesday.
Oh, the day tomorrow ends at 9:00 p.m. with a mandatory study session for Texas CDL written test preparation. So, Dear Reader, because I have to get up very early tomorrow, I will close this chapter with one final thought:
I am amazed at how quickly I have put "FAA" out of my mind. I would have thought something I did for more than 25 years would have lingered a whole longer. But no. It's gone. Gone. Gone.
We learned about Stevens policies on all sorts of things. For example, it is against company policy to consume or possess alcoholic beverages of any kind ANYWHERE except your home of record when you are off. So, asks one student, does this mean I cannot drink a beer while I am on a vacation at Billy Bob's Saloon in Ft. Worth with my family if I live in Wyoming? Answer: Right. And if you have a problem with it, consider this: If Stevens learns about your drinking while you are on vacation, you will be terminated. And consuming alcoholic beverages of any kind at any time while a student at Stevens Driving Academy is absolutely forbidden.
Wow. Powerful stuff. As you can imagine, there was a lot of grumbling about it. But they've had some alcohol-related problems in the recent past, so if adults won't be responsible and, well, adult about their consumption, the company will.
Which made what happened just a few minutes before I sat down in the evening, in my hotel room, and started writing this VERY disturbing. One of my classmates knocked on my door by mistake, looking for another room.
He was carrying two cans of Bud Light beer. Guess he missed that part of class. My guess is he will be gone soon. And not missed.
We have an interesting cross-section of people from a variety of states: Texas, North and South Carolina, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and even one fellow from Alaska (no, not me!) just to name several.
And there are some who follow directions and some who don't. There are those among us who appear not to know they are the driver applicant when asked to sign a medical form and given two choices: "Driver Applicant Signature" or "Medical Provider Signature."
I am looking forward to the next three weeks, assuming I make it through Wednesday and the very kind day tomorrow. We start at 6:00 a.m. doing our DOT physicals and will get the results not later than Wednesday.
Oh, the day tomorrow ends at 9:00 p.m. with a mandatory study session for Texas CDL written test preparation. So, Dear Reader, because I have to get up very early tomorrow, I will close this chapter with one final thought:
I am amazed at how quickly I have put "FAA" out of my mind. I would have thought something I did for more than 25 years would have lingered a whole longer. But no. It's gone. Gone. Gone.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Less than two weeks more
Today is December 17, 2011. As of yesterday, I have two weeks of full-time federal employment remaining and I am as happy as I hoped I would be. Seeing the end of a pretty long career, with all the stability such a condition holds, could have been stressful and filled with negative anticipation and worry. But my decision to retire from federal employment was conscious and made with the right thoughts in mind.
Besides, very soon after retirement from one career, I will hopefully start on the last one of my life. I have been accepted into the Stevens Transport Driver Academy and will being training as the driver of an 18-wheeler on January 9, 2012. Becoming a truck driver is one of those "bucket list" items that I've had for a long time and am happy to begin the process soon. Of course, there are some worries, not the least of which is my blood pressure. The Department of Transportation'a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations state a maximum BP for a full 2-year medical card and Stevens Transport uses that maximum as a hard standard. So if when I get there my BP exceeds 140/90, I will be returning home until it is at or below the max. I have been working on it since July by eating right, watching my sodium intake, and walking 30 minutes each day. I hope my "numbers" play out right.
I plan to keep this blog active so a reader will get a picture of what I am doing as I transition from full-time "career" employment to full-time "bucket list" employment. The nice thing about this is I will have a pretty good pension to pay for the mortgage and other expenses, so my trucking income doesn't have to be the same as others for whom it will be their primary income.
It will be tough and stressful. An over-the-road driver's life is not easy and is definitely not one of a set schedule. I have been doing that for the 45 years of my previous work life and I know the transition will not be all fun all the time. But it is a conscious choice and I do have a pretty good cushion, so I hope those factors will make the journey a bit easier.
Stay with me, readers. I promise you open, honest thoughts and words. I might - no, probably will - miss days or even weeks at first, so don't expect daily updates. I do promise you enough to have the picture of my journey into the last part of my life. I hope you enjoy reading.
Besides, very soon after retirement from one career, I will hopefully start on the last one of my life. I have been accepted into the Stevens Transport Driver Academy and will being training as the driver of an 18-wheeler on January 9, 2012. Becoming a truck driver is one of those "bucket list" items that I've had for a long time and am happy to begin the process soon. Of course, there are some worries, not the least of which is my blood pressure. The Department of Transportation'a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations state a maximum BP for a full 2-year medical card and Stevens Transport uses that maximum as a hard standard. So if when I get there my BP exceeds 140/90, I will be returning home until it is at or below the max. I have been working on it since July by eating right, watching my sodium intake, and walking 30 minutes each day. I hope my "numbers" play out right.
I plan to keep this blog active so a reader will get a picture of what I am doing as I transition from full-time "career" employment to full-time "bucket list" employment. The nice thing about this is I will have a pretty good pension to pay for the mortgage and other expenses, so my trucking income doesn't have to be the same as others for whom it will be their primary income.
It will be tough and stressful. An over-the-road driver's life is not easy and is definitely not one of a set schedule. I have been doing that for the 45 years of my previous work life and I know the transition will not be all fun all the time. But it is a conscious choice and I do have a pretty good cushion, so I hope those factors will make the journey a bit easier.
Stay with me, readers. I promise you open, honest thoughts and words. I might - no, probably will - miss days or even weeks at first, so don't expect daily updates. I do promise you enough to have the picture of my journey into the last part of my life. I hope you enjoy reading.
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