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. 

8 minutes ago, Harlem said:

What does your blood pressure have to be under?

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

1 minute ago, Schecter said:

Think of the pros more than the cons leave at 4am and end up with an exciting career not a job but a career.

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. 

27 minutes ago, Jericho said:

Assuming you're heading to Herald Square, I would check the schedule and ultimately the MyMTA app on which Delta (25th Ave), Nancy (Ave U) or Fox (Ave U) you can catch to make it down to PS 248 on time. Try to be on the platform about 5-10 minutes before the train is scheduled to arrive as the midnight crews tend to operate fast to make up for any flagging they might get along the way and are used to operating fast. The Fox has the worst walk to the school with about a ten minute walk max, but at least you're down there. I live along the Fox so it was still the easiest for me to get to 248.

Edit:  Going to the union hall. you can take the PATH to WTC and catch the 2/3 at Park Place for the Borough Hall stop.

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. 

1 hour ago, Schecter said:

If you're ever late due to a train delay write down the car numbers on the train and give it to the at ps248 when you're at the school or to your assigned tss during school car don't make up random numbers because they will find out best of luck on your new adventure

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. 

1 minute ago, beanz said:

You'll pass...it really isn't that hard if u put in the effort. The hardest part is getting to work on time. 

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

17 hours ago, Harlem said:

Eat high potassium foods for the next few days, or, take a little potassium and magnesium if you can. Cut the sugar (bananas) and salt if you can, they make you retain water. Drink as much water as you can up to two days day before the medical and then drink as little as you can on the day before the medical. That way on the morning of the medical you won't be carrying a lot of water. The water really makes my pressure shoot up. Breathe from your stomach while you're there and especially when they take your blood pressure. 

Good luck. The worse that will happen is they'll have you lay down in a dark room for a little while and then test you again. You'll be fine.

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. 

1 hour ago, Harlem said:

I'm almost certain they are not testing for ketones. I did the medical before and it seemed like a sugar test. Uncontrolled diabetes means sugar in the urine. I was in a state of ketosis when I did the medical and I passed. How's the keto diet working for you?

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

21 hours ago, kev2112 said:

Medical today took 6 hours. Passed all exams including neck size. But I have to get a sleep study due to my BMI being too high. 

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

12 hours ago, Schecter said:

 

Yeah respond saying you've got the email if not she'll call you and leave you a voice mail so respond saying you received it

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. 

50 minutes ago, JoeBro0993 said:

Remember people there is an august class, congrats to the guys getting in now though, that's a huge step.

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.

17 minutes ago, AngelQ said:

Hey guys for those who sent in their canvass email do I need to full out page 2 which has to do with the appointment?  I'm asking because I never received an appointment to come in yet so do I skip this page?  Also page 3 is the drug screening notification and asks me for the effective date which would be??

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.

7 minutes ago, Embalmman said:

You will be a ok. Good to go 

you can drive in New York with a New Jersey license, therefore it is valid in New York.  They ask for an abstract from states other than NY. They can be ordered online

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. 

4 minutes ago, STtoMTA said:

Okay so I just read the NOE (notice of examination). It says NY residency is not required but by the LAST DAY OF THE APPLICATION PERIOD for the exam that you must have a valid drivers license in the state of ny 

http://web.mta.info/nyct/hr/archives/pdf/7604.pdf

 

use this for reference

 

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.

Just now, STtoMTA said:

I could be wrong, but you should be able to change it “by time of appointment” being that that’s what they said when they started the test.  However, I’d send your license in right now because you don’t wanna omit anything. 
 

Can you specify please you got a call FOR canvassing???

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.