dee-bees

Just got an email saying my Day 2 of class, the first in-person day, time has changed from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on the 31st. I don't know if that's true for everyone but thought I'd throw a heads up just in case.

It looks like 130/90 based on the papers. I was just barely under it.

Oh, I know. I've always been fascinated with the trains and the system, and never thought I'd have the opportunity to work in them. I knew going in starting it would be almost like a boot camp of sorts, and a real commitment to the work in especially the first couple of years, but I've been prepping for it all ever since I took the test four years ago. A lot of it still feels daunting but I'm sure it comes with the time, learning, and effort like anything else.

Thank you. Yeah, looking at it all as of now, it looks like my best option is bus-PATH-N train should get me there a little past 6:30 and we have to be there by 7. Means I have to leave the house at like 4 am but I kind of expected it. Good thing is I've worked 12 hour shifts for about ten years so I'm used to the long days.

Thanks. I'll be sure to do that if it comes up. Don't know if they would accept that for the Jersey bus and PATH I'll have to use, but at least the subway would be covered.

That's my biggest worry coming from Jersey since it means I have a couple extra trains to worry about being on time than just the subway. Trying to plan it so I get there at least 30 minutes before start time for a little leeway.

Only by a hair on the blood pressure did I pass medical so I'm in for the class on the 30th. Got a long commute to do each day coming from Jersey but I knew that coming in to it. Now I just have to constantly stress out about passing the training. lol

Thank you. Yeah, I was going to buy the bananas and other stuff and realized taking in carbs all of a sudden might bloat me and shock my system which could throw off the other readings, and the main thing raising my blood pressure is the anxiety of doing this paperwork and the medical, which I don't think the food will help with. My usual reading are about 124/82, but this stuff seems to send it up to 138/92 or so. I'll do the best I can today since I have less than 24 hours now before the exam. Eat a lot of baby spinach and I have a good amount of vitamins I take every morning for blood pressure. Bought some beetroot powder to mix into tea and have some of that right before the exam, which supposedly having a cold drink immediately before the reading helps lower it too. Also downloaded a deep breathing app and I'm just going to focus only on that in the waiting room. My BMI's about 32 and my neck is less than 17" last I checked so this is really my only potential trouble point, and as a guy with no primary doctor or medical insurance, I don't know what I could do if I get put on hold. Now I have to get a money order and tackle this paperwork. Thank god it says in the instructions "do not get the pension forms notarized" because I read those forms first and started worrying about finding one today.

Yeah I basically do all my keto stuff with homecooking. The pre-made stuff is just too much. And I just got the email to go in for medical this Thursday to be considered for the Aug 30th class. And of course the nervousness of that and the paperwork is making my blood pressure spike like I'm sure it will be in the waiting room that day. I'm debating breaking keto and picking up some bananas and other foods that are supposed to help with blood pressure just for these next few days.

Thanks for letting me know. That helps a lot. Didn't want one more thing to be paranoid about, though I'm still debating having a couple bananas or something the night before to maybe cover my bases. I'm hoping they call me in before the end of this week just so I can get this over. The diet's been pretty good. Been on keto for a little over two years and have lost about 100 pounds. It's basically become a way of life anymore. I've been plateaued for the last little while so I'm trying to add in bouts of fasting and different exercises to maybe give it a boost now.

Hey guys, I've got a hopefully quick question. I was just wondering what exactly are they measuring in the urine test for diabetes during the medical? I was googling just in case I get the notice for medical this week and saw that sometimes they look for ketones which signals stuff with insulin potentially or they measure actual blood sugar levels. I've been following the keto diet for a while and would hate to get false flagged due to the ketones which come with the diet and delayed on starting.

Did the drug test yesterday. Took about five hours to show up and get out, and that's with me getting there before the lines got really long so I don't know how long the other guys were there for. Sat for over two hours just waiting for them to process my paperwork. The actual drug test took maybe 25 minutes. Looking at the sign in list, it seemed like there was a ton more bus operators that day than train operators. As far as dressing up for it, most seemed to be in slacks and button up shirts, but there was a good amount of people dressed like they just woke up for the day. lol

I'm sorry man. That sucks. That's exactly what I'm afraid of happening to me. My BMI's hovering around 32-33 roughly, which is right under the wire. Figure I got a week or two to try to shed some pounds to help it. My blood pressure's right at the edge too, hovering between 120/75 to 135/95. Need to get that down too. I've been prepping for this medical for a couple years now, losing almost 100 pounds so far and staying active but even with that I'll be able to slide by only if I'm lucky it looks like. Hope they let you take your shoes off before weighing you. lol

Thank you. I sent an email saying thank you for letting me know and I'll definitely be there for the appointment. It also looks like my new license will be in the mail today so I just have to update my paperwork and email it to them tomorrow, and I'll bring a printed copy just in case to the appointment. As long as all that works out, that's at least some anxiety relieved.

Probably stupid question: Do we have to respond to the email to let them know we're planning on coming in for our appointment, or do we respond only if we needed to decline it?

List no. 18XX and I got the email and phone call to attend drug testing for August 4th less than five minutes ago. Super stoked, but kind of freaking out still since I'm still waiting on my new ID to come in the mail. All I have right now is a piece of paper as an interim license. It's been a full week since going in for it and I still have three mailing days to get it before my appointment, which I'm assuming I can bring in the updated paperwork with it when I go in that day, but if it doesn't come I'm not sure what they'll do. It also says in the email "if applicable bring CDL License Class B with passenger endorsement" which I'm assuming is meant for Bus Operators and not train ops since that was never stated before but it threw me off at first.

Filled out, scanned in, and emailed my canvassing paperwork just now. Anxious as hell that I messed it up, or something will get screwed up when I get my new id next week, but hopefully that's just me overanalyzing. It'd be awesome to get as quick a response as the last round of guys but probably not. We'll see.

I'm really hoping that since they're asking for paperwork now for the next group of numbers means there'll be classes in the fall too but I guess we'll see. I'm 186x so I don't think I'd get into an August one but I could see getting into a September or October class if they have them.

Those questions came up in the track worker thread last month and people were told you can leave them blank since there is no info for it right now. It's something they can fill in when they make the appointments later I suppose.

Oh most definitely. If I could ever help anyone like this place has already helped me, I definitely will.

Thank you so much. You have no idea how much that eases my worry. haha Luckily the state we moved from is easy to instantly get the abstract for a couple bucks. I'll just have to turn in what I have for now and resubmit the updated ones in a few weeks. I haven't even changed my address yet with them for the test because I wanted to have it match my ID just in case this happened. I'll wait to submit that change of address until I have the new ID to turn in too. Thanks everyone again! This forum's been my go-to for years now for info and it's all been so helpful.

Thanks. I really appreciate it. I've been aiming my life for years now to get this position and now that it's in view I'm so anxious about screwing it up. I did see this posted after a quick search in a bus exam thread on here where someone had a similar question "2) Your driver's license must be VALID in the State of New York for a minimum of three years before you are hired! a) If you can operate a motor vehicle with a license issued from the United States state/commonwealth of insert name of state/commonwealth here in the state of New York for the past three years, then your license is valid in the state of New York." I'm hoping that means I'll be fine. I'll have to turn in my paperwork with my ID now from the state we just moved from, and then re-submit it with my Jersey license and my driving transcript once I get it. Hopefully that'll be good.

Thanks. I had asked about that back when I took the test and they had told me that the wording meant that it had to be a state issued license for whatever state it's from for New York to consider it valid. And I have to imagine there's operators now with Jersey licenses. Really hoping I haven't screwed myself by settling in Jersey.

Thanks. Yeah I'll send what I have now, but even when I get my new license it'll be for the state of New Jersey since that's where I'm living. The way it's phrased in the email reads as though it has to be a "New York" license which I'm incapable of getting since my residence is in Jersey, but maybe I'm misreading it. And yeah, it was for canvassing with paperwork due by the 22nd.

I literally just got the call and email for canvassing for train ops. I'm list #18xx. One thing that worries me in the email is that it says "Submit a copy of your Driver’s License All other states must transfer license to New York and have Motor Vehicle Driving Record not older than 30 days from date of appointment. A Motor Vehicle Driving Record for states other New York and New Jersey must be submitted, the record must not be older than 30 days from the date of appointment" I'm living in Jersey, and even then don't have a Jersey license yet because I've been waiting on an appointment to get it changed for months now since we moved back to the area (finally getting in on the 23rd). Do I have to have a NY license in order to get in, or is Jersey accepted? I thought it would be from everything I've been told beforehand, but that phrasing makes me worry.