Question:
I graduated from a PTDI driving school Friday, the 3rd. On the second day of our schooling the school brought in an MD who gave us our DOT physicals and drug screens. I was a little bit nervous as I had just been introduced to a 9-speed that morning and trying to understand it all. So, the doctor giving the exam noted that my blood pressure was almost unacceptable at 156/78 and my blood sugar was registering 200 mg. The doctor said he would give me a medical certificate good only for 3 months which would allow me to continue in driving school but that I should get with my family physician soon and get the problems checked out.
I saw my own doctor Friday and he said I hadn't had a history of high blood sugar in my annual physicals and that if I had been under stress at the time then that would sometimes elevate the readings. He advised me he could get my readings good enough to pass DOT requirements within 2-3 weeks.
My concern is:
(1) I'm afraid the small driving skills I have learned thus far will leave me if I'm not in a truck for three weeks. What do you think? Can I return to the cab of a prospective employer's test truck after 3 weeks and still be able to give a good driving test?
(2) Ideally, I should start with a trucking company tomorrow but I don't see how I can do that with just a 3-month medical card. Do you think 3 weeks is too long to wait between driving school and a driving job? Will the carriers be sympathetic? Any ideas/advice on how I should proceed.
P.S. I'm already pre approved for orientation with several companies.

Answer:
"the school brought in an MD who gave us our DOT physicals and drug screens"
Neither of those really mean a whole lot. The company you decide to go with will have their doctors give you a physical and you will get a new drug test. Some company physicals are a joke but most are thorough. You need to be able and know you will pass a company physical before proceeding with the apps..
My answers to your questions.
(1) Shouldn't be a problem. You will not have forgotten much in a few weeks. Most companies you go to already know you can't drive a truck yet. The intro driving exam is very simple. After road training you will be better at it and the test will be a little harder.
(2) As I said above. Your medical card doesn't mean much because you will have to do a company physical and drug test anyway. As far as waiting a couple or 3 weeks it is not bad. Most companies will accept that. It is when the wait gets longer and you have no varifiable income for that period of time that they begin to worry.
Just get yourself straitened out first so you can pass the physical. Then you shouldn't have a problem.
Good luck
"There is just something about fresh winter snow and a river. The day is bright even if it is cloudy, the water is friendly even if it is cold and the fish are there even if they are not biting."

Answer:
3 weeks is not that long. It was 3 weeks between the time I graduated from school and the time I started training thanks to a series of snow storms that kept closing down the highways.
As Stuffs said most companies are not looking for perfection just basic knowledge and skills during the initial driving test. They are looking for just a few things. Are you apprently safety minded, can you get the truck moving without too much trouble, can you make a trip around the block once or twice without killing anyone or tearing up the equipment.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
hell i didnt drive for over a year,got in a Mack drove,shifted fine,blew a few gears but recovered ok, and didnt kill anyone. If they would have given me physical that day my BP would have been sky freakin high. and it will probably be like that Tues. when I go back out there with a trainer. Relax you will be fine. Good luck and be safe.

Answer:
Thanks for the comebacks everyone. You've helped put my mind at ease. Think I'll just relax for a couple of weeks before beginning OTR training. See you on the road...