Hi Master Driver Tom

[Cliff]

Hi,
I'm starting my CDL class A training on September 2: it’s a five-week course covering HAZMAT, tanker and doubles endorsements. I've already been given the go ahead by the instructor and passed my DOT medical exam with no restrictions. Will it be difficult for me (a 49 year old man with bpp) to find work driving a tractor-trailer? Do Trucking companies use their insurance coverage rules, as an excuse for not hiring guys like us? 20 years is a long driving history and I would be very interested in any information and thoughts that you could share. My e-mail address is cdiamondstein@yahoo.com
I hope to hear from you. Also, my yahoo group deals with the problem of compensation for people with bpp. To me the most important aspect of our disability is that it hurts our ability to find and keep gainful employment and yet at the same time there is not much available in the way of compensation. I'm trying "in my group messageboard" to define our problem in a way that will give us the ability to bring a class action lawsuit against the government. The ultimate purpose of the lawsuit would be to press our rights to serve our country and receive the same benefits as anyone who serves. In addition we should be compensated if we are forced into work that yields below average wages. If you are interested in reading more about this idea then please join my free yahoo group ERBSBPP. In order to join the group you will need to establish a yahoo e-mail address which is also completely free. If you already have a yahoo e-mail address the just sign in and click on “groups” and type ERBSBPP into the search field, press enter or click search. When you get to my groups home page, click the “join this group” button and then go to the bottom of the new page and click “send” or “submit” or something like that. Aside from the message board, there are a lot of links on the links page. I hope you will join my group and see what “actual disability” is all about. Either way I hope you can e-mail me. I’ve got tons of questions about driving a tractor-trailer for a living and you probably already know the right questions and answers. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Cliff]

Hi Again Tom - wherever you are,
I finished the training program and took the road test. I now have my CDL class "A" driver's license with all endorsements. I'm looking for a job long hauling, drop & hook. I hope you get to see these messages. thanks!