Let me move forward with what I was writing about a post ago. You’ve been injured on the road. And frankly, this applies to any job, not just trucking. I do find it interesting, however, that when I’ve been in the many doctors offices that specialize in heart and joint issues, I meet a proportionately greater amount of truck drivers, than I do, let’s say salesman or lawyers.
In adjacent rooms to mine, when I had my knee surgery, was a Volvo mechanic and a fellow truck driver. The rest of the folks were old. Did you read that 90+ year old, former astronaut, John Glen, just had a knee replaced? When I say old, I’m referring to the 70+ year old crowd. The average age of the blue collars workers, including truckers, was about 56.
I’ve told you that one of the most important things you have to do, when signing on to a new job, is get SDT – short term disability. If you can afford the additional coverage that a company like AFLAC offers, get it. I don’t care how healthy you are or how awesome your abs look, the chance of your getting injured on the job, as a truck driver is high, very high. If you pull a parking lot or flatbed or do any kind of specialty hauling, you’re at even greater risk. But don’t be fooled, I’ve personally witnessed more OTJ – on the job – injuries – on the dock, when a box or reefer is being unloaded, then with any other type of trucking.
Do I need to remind you that a forklift is one of the most dangerous “machines” on the planet? The people that operate them safely, are in the minority. Remember, I told you that you can go into a T/A and get a DOT medical card “kit”, sign it and you’re good to go. Well, it’s even easier to be a “certified” forklift operator. I can “grant” you that “status” in a about five minutes after I printout one of twenty phony certifications available on line. Add a cell phone into the mix and that Toyota lift becomes a Indy racer that can kill you. Listen, a forklift coming off a 53 ft. box with a high heavy pallet – if one of those solid wheels runs over your foot, you could be crippled for life. In happens thousands of times a day, in thousands of DC’s (distribution centers) and warehouses around the nation.
I’m not going to dwell on the legal aspects of all this. I complained to one shipper that their entire loading operation was unsafe. “She” told me, “they” don’t care and will do what they want because they’re an LLC – a limited liability corporation. Besides, she adds, what do truck drivers know? I looked at her.
We here in Tampa have a large “venue” where concerts are held. It’s right off I-4 near the Florida State Fairgrounds. It used to be Verizon or Microsoft stadium or something. No more – the huge high lighted numbers and letters on top of the structure say 1-800-GARY. He’s a personal injury litigation attorney. He just loves when someone gets run over by a forklift and the company responsible says their an LLC. Can we all say: punitive damages? But, I’ll leave the details about personal injury and OTJ accidents to the experts.
OK, something has happened to you and you can’t drive a truck. Maybe it’s temporary, maybe it’s permanent. You were smart and signed up for STD – short term disability and have been receiving a check every week. That should go on for about 12 weeks. If you work for a Fortune 500 corporate or are under a union agreement, you might just have more time and the benefits will continue. Figure the STD check will be about 65% of what you used to earn weekly OTR. It all depends on what your company benefits manager has negotiated with the insurance people. But know that there are many trucking company that do not offer STD and if that is the case, you might have to get it on your own or be screwed.
Smarter owner-operators and some company drivers do set aside a few cents or more per mile to cover their maintenance costs or unexpected emergencies and getting injured and covering your bills when your out of work recovering certainly applies. You might want to separate the two and have a dedicated “nest-egg”, if you do not have STD. I know that when living paycheck to paycheck, it’s hard to think about “what-if’s” when every dollar is accounted for, but trust me, if it can happen, you need to plan for it.
Be safe out there, watch those forklifts, don’t jump off your trailer or out of your truck. More tomorrow.
PS/I just got off the phone with Oklahoma unemployment. You never call unemployment on a Monday or a Friday, because you will NEVER get through. After about 45 minutes on hold, I got through. Lucky me. It seems my claim is being held up because of “an unresolved issue based on your separation for your last employer.” Seems that’s the standard bureaucratic line that most new applicants get. I need clarification. I got none. What I did get was an arrogant bureaucrat who told me I to wait 3-5 weeks for a” resolution”. I asked, so what do folks do about eating, purchasing gas and paying their bills for 3-5 weeks! She began her answer with “Well, I’m not you but.” That’s when I lost it. Sorry, but I did. It got me no where, but neither was being nice.
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