Profile For Drew D.

As far as the medical card goes, Ruan's compliance department is just doing what any major corporate entity does best: unnecessarily complicate a cup of coffee.

I'll give a brief run down because its been quite a story.

Got hired in and sent for routine physical at the urgent care clinic the company uses. Exam goes well but they detected trace protein in my urine sample. [I've been doing hardcore keto/carnivore for a couple months to lose weight so it didn't really surprise me or my personal doctor]. Anyhow, they issue me a 3 month card and tell me to see my GP.

Fast forward a month or so as his appointments are booked and I waited for my medical to kick in. I goto my doctor and he immediately says that they [the urgent care nurse practitioner] is crazy. Tested my levels, everything is fine. Mind you this little trip cost me about $400 between losing a day of work and cutting into my overtime for the week.

I call primary health to let them know that I followed their instructions and received the all clear from my personal doctor. The actual doctor who answered then looked at my original test and literally told me over the phone that the levels of protein detected at my first visit were within normal levels and I never should have been hit with a 3 month card. He asked me to come in and he would issue me my one year [I have controlled high BP] and all would be well. I do exactly that. Sat and waited for about two hours, but I got the card.

I submit my new card to my terminal manager and all is good right? Wrong! Ruan's compliance department sends me an email and told me that, even though I followed the directions of the doctors THEY sent me out to, I would have to complete ANOTHER exam despite having a fresh one year card because their 3rd party company has to screen it out or something. I know this comes off as a first world problem, but the original nurse's mistake has literally cost me way too much personal time and money. My annoyance is more about the principle and redundancy than anything else.

Drew says:

However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

What seems to be the problem with your medical card? Usually your medical is ok or it isn't. Can you put more light in this?

Heyo, been awhile.

Got something to throw past you guys.

I am currently working for Ruan out of Idaho and are contracted to run all of the state's liqour to various stores and contract stores all over Idaho. Its been an absolute blast and I am actually really enjoying the solid mix of driving, delivering, and building relationships with my various customers. After my foot surgery, I went back OTR for a bit because I didn't want to risk excessive wear on my freshly healed foot, but after gaining weight, I decided it would be better to get back to some physical activity with work. Plus, my buddy who did local beer delivery with me at Molson Coors out of Boise is an assistant manager and really prodded at me for months to join up.

Anyhow, this comes with a fair share of downsides that I assume come with working for any higher profile company. Up until now, I have mostly worked for smaller operations. With the larger scale company comes your corporate trained managers that have little to no knowledge when it comes to what really goes into trucking and what things are like in the trenches. Yes, I know that tale is as old as time. That said, we were just told today that everyone in the fleet is now suddenly required to have double/triples endorsements in order to continue working for the company. Our operation only makes $26 an hour plus per diem for layovers at hotels with some decent overtime. When asked about having our pay raised as a result of pulling additional trailers at much higher risk, the response was "no raise but you get to keep your job" which naturally put a bad taste in my mouth.

I really do genuinely enjoy the work that I do, but is it worth pulling doubles for no additional pay? These guys also have a clear lack of understanding when it comes to winter conditions. I am particularly cautious on snow and ice as I am a native Floridian. And while I have yet to be involved in any sort of collision in my person or commercial vehicle, I don't particularly want to start now. The 95 that runs from i84 from just east of Ontario to Coer D'Alene [the main road we will be driving] isn't particularly known for its good weather either.

Anyhow, what are your thoughts? Should I give an ultimatum? Or just deal with it? I cannot express in words how detached from reality this guy is when it comes to our world of driving.

I had to return to my former OTR company due to an injury that took me out of work for four months. Doctor cleared me to drive but can't do much more. Needed money due to dwindling savings so I didn't have any options. Had to resign from throwing beer which sucks because I was making really good overtime and money doing that gig.

All that said, this is my first week back out and I'm not impressed. I thought I could easily rack 12k+ miles per month with this company as I have before. That is no longer the case. But I was given 4 days to make a delivery from Twin falls, ID to Carthage, MO. I drove for two days before already taking a 34 at Bosselman and then running the remaining the day of delivery. Fortunately, I know this facility and they allow overnights so there is that. I have a reload in Arkansas tonight that runs out to Phoenix. And most of my company freight is out that way. So I'm hopeful that I won't be doing too much more in the way of sitting. But its clearly an industry wide issue. I met up with a company driver here last night that wouldn't stop talking about how bad things have gotten within the company in the last year since I left.

My personal opinion is that it seems trucking is starting to become less and less worth it unless you are okay with being out for indefinite periods of time to make up for your personal shortfall due to being fluffed out on loads. I did what I had to do in the sense that I need SOMETHING to supplement my income while I am slowly cleared for activity, but I'll say this: everytime I hear rotting oatmeal brains in the White house, his token pick of a VP, or that Frankenstein creation press secretary bob and weave their jaws about the economy being great, I feel myself develop an ulcer followed by the unshakable urge to vomit. And the sad part is, I have doubts that any incoming administration will be able to undo the damage caused by all branches of government. We have been sold out to the point where we are well on our way to the 3rd world and its extremely depressing. I hope I'm wrong of course, but I digress.

I'll just keep it simple. I'm at least grateful to be working again even if the money isn't quite what it should be at the moment. Once I recover, I will probably return to local work. I'm thinking one year.