Getting ready for the road

[blizzard2014]

With my rescue cat gone, a year or two before I had originally anticipated, I'm getting ready for my return to driving. I'm looking at some pretty decent used Penske Ford Transits. Very decent mileage and not too shabby a price either. I can put half of the asking price down and use credit cards to operate for a few months. At least I already know what to expect. I'm correcting my health issues as well. Just got home from Gallbladder surgery and have made a bunch of lifestyle changes. My body was telling me it's time to make some major changes before more organs start to go bad. I have changed my diet and no longer need insulin with my meals and am completely off all blood pressure medications. All I am taking now is my cholesterol med and my blood thinners. If I can make it through a surgery after being reversed off my blood thinners and no blood clots and no bleeding, I can most definitely handle driving again. I don't think being on those two meds will affect any aspect of my ability to drive or to pass a DOT. My blood pressure is 110/78 without meds. It goes a little high when standing, but I won't be standing much as a driver.

Now I have to find a company willing to take me back on. If not, I will have to go back to the multi-carrier model. I know some really good established companies that accept multi-carrier drivers. One of them is Express Logistics out of PA. I hope to find 1 large company to sign on with though and to remain there for many years. I don't want to continue to be a carrier hopper. I want to put roots down somewhere if I can. I'm gonna keep my van available for three skid loads and 72 inches tall. A sleeper area will be mine, for me to live in and to be separated from the cargo. I don't want to sleep in the back with the nasty cargo anymore. This time I will do it right with AC, generator, golf cart batteries, fridge. It won't be too expensive eating on the road these days with my 1200 calorie a day diet mostly consisting of fresh fruits and veggies. My diabetes is completely gone for now. A1C is 5.4 and highest blood sugar was 135. Just my two current meds and that's it. Who's ready for more competition? lol

 

[blizzard2014]

Nitetime is going to have to move off them tracks, a new freight train is coming! lol

 

[1expeditor]

With my rescue cat gone, a year or two before I had originally anticipated, I'm getting ready for my return to driving. I'm looking at some pretty decent used Penske Ford Transits. Very decent mileage and not too shabby a price either. I can put half of the asking price down and use credit cards to operate for a few months. At least I already know what to expect. I'm correcting my health issues as well. Just got home from Gallbladder surgery and have made a bunch of lifestyle changes. My body was telling me it's time to make some major changes before more organs start to go bad. I have changed my diet and no longer need insulin with my meals and am completely off all blood pressure medications. All I am taking now is my cholesterol med and my blood thinners. If I can make it through a surgery after being reversed off my blood thinners and no blood clots and no bleeding, I can most definitely handle driving again. I don't think being on those two meds will affect any aspect of my ability to drive or to pass a DOT. My blood pressure is 110/78 without meds. It goes a little high when standing, but I won't be standing much as a driver.

Now I have to find a company willing to take me back on. If not, I will have to go back to the multi-carrier model. I know some really good established companies that accept multi-carrier drivers. One of them is Express Logistics out of PA. I hope to find 1 large company to sign on with though and to remain there for many years. I don't want to continue to be a carrier hopper. I want to put roots down somewhere if I can. I'm gonna keep my van available for three skid loads and 72 inches tall. A sleeper area will be mine, for me to live in and to be separated from the cargo. I don't want to sleep in the back with the nasty cargo anymore. This time I will do it right with AC, generator, golf cart batteries, fridge. It won't be too expensive eating on the road these days with my 1200 calorie a day diet mostly consisting of fresh fruits and veggies. My diabetes is completely gone for now. A1C is 5.4 and highest blood sugar was 135. Just my two current meds and that's it. Who's ready for more competition? lol

Best wishes going back out on the road....

 

[BigStickJr]

Congratulations on the progress on the health issues.
And good luck on your return.
Multi carrier ?
Can you speak Russian ?

 

[BigStickJr]

Depending on interest rate you may want to put less down and use your cash to operate.
Credit Cards can be a terrible habit to get into.

 

[blizzard2014]

Drive

Congratulations on the progress on the health issues.
And good luck on your return.
Multi carrier ?
Can you speak Russian ?

I once drove 10,000 miles no naps back in Russia. It was very easy. I'm strong like ox. Like bull. Back in home country we play game to see if you are man. We take Egyptian Viagra and then fill paint bucket with concrete. If you can hold concrete bucket up on penis, you are man. If not, you are woman and live long life of shame! Drive 1000 miles no breaks. Please, this is child's play. I can do this with one eye closed. American driver are so weak. They drive 30 minute and already want nap. After visiting Siberia, having heater in van in winter time is waste of money. A real man can sleep naked in winter and not even get frost bites.

 

[DollarSign]

Wish you the best! It's late into the year for me and things are slow. I would start in March or April, that would be a good time to start in my opinion.

 

[blizzard2014]

Depending on interest rate you may want to put less down and use your cash to operate.
Credit Cards can be a terrible habit to get into.

I have 1 year no interest on three of the cards. They will be paid off before that time. I want to build four months of huge cash reserves by using credit to operate and then funneling the cash into a savings account. Then pay the cards off over the next four months while keeping the cash reserves untouched for future emergencies. We will see how it works. Credit is only good if you use it properly. Pay for your stuff every month (operating expenses) then pay the card in full the following month. Only leave big balances on the card if you have an emergency and have to use the card unexpectedly. Then pay the card down as fast as you can.

 

[blizzard2014]

Wish you the best! It's late into the year for me and things are slow. I would start in March or April, that would be a good time to start in my opinion.

It will be in April. I just hope a company will give me a chance. When you have health issues carriers tend to run from you, but I am completely stable on blood thinners. I have never had a bleed or another clot in 7 years. It's nothing to worry about at all. I have to use my arms to climb around the van, and climb stairs slow, but that is just a cosmetic issue. It will not interfere with my ability to get the job done. Getting the blood clots actually saved my life. I would haver never known I was getting diabetes and other health issues. It got these diseases caught early and now in remission. Most poor saps don't get diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure until may years have gone by and they already have major complications from the conditions. I am all good. No permanent damage and I will work to keep it that way. I used to come on here and say I will just eat myself to death. That has proven to be easier said than done.