Sent Home Over Depression

Been here for little while and if you look back, I was in talks with Roehl for employment and everything was good to go.

Or so I thought.

I disclosed on my medical card when I needed my permit that I have been diagnosed with depression. I had everything cleared by my Doctor and there were no problems. When I got to Wisconsin on Monday, they tell me that I need to do my physical again.

They took us to a Chiropractor's office, did my drug screens and then I saw the Doc. Again, since I told the Doctors about my depression before and I got the one year valid medical card (instead of two), I decided honesty was the best thing to do here. I told him I'm diagnosed with depression. Suddenly, he wants to know if I've ever attempted suicide, if I'm violent in any way, if I am cleared to drive a CMV , why am I not taking medication, etc. etc. But he doesn't want to hear any of that from me, he wants to hear it from my Doctor. He then gives me 2 post-it-notes of questions, no official forms or anything and I then spend the next two days on the phone with these Doctors trying to get the information he wanted only to be told that my psychiatrist can't disclose some of the information he wanted to know. Like the bits about suicide and whether or not I'd be safe driving a CMV.

Chiropractor says that it's Federal regulation and they need to know. Psychiatrist is confused as to why they immediately assumed I'm suicidal or have ever been suicidal, and can't disclose whether or not I'm safe to drive a CMV because he says this is something he can't attest to.

Then, I got the people at Roehl who don't even want to listen to my side of the story or have a conversation with me. Not once did anyone from safety or the trainers try to have an actual sit down to try and figure this out, nor, upon request, were they able to provide actual federal documents with these questions on it.

I try to come up with a solution "There's a hospital not even a mile from the hotel. Let me talk to the VA and see if they will help set me up with another psychiatrist and we can do a mental health fitness test or something and as part of the bargain, I will agree to submit to these like drug screens if employed."

I was shut down as soon as I said it.

Needless to say, at this point, I was fed up. NO official documents were requested, both Doctors refused to have a conversation with each other, Roehl refused to talk to me about any of this, I got one instructor who threw his hands in my face saying he doesn't want any details or information from me on what's going on...all of this was blood boiling.

OH, but it gets better:

Instructor says they will pay for the bus ticket home and pay me for the days I was actually there. He then hands me a card with $174 on it and information on when the next bus is landing in Tomah. I ask him if this was a receipt for the bus ticket and he says 'No, the money is on the card.'. So I ask "So, I'm the one paying for the ticket?" "No, we're paying for the ticket." "Okay, so where is that money?" "It's on the card." "So you're not paying me for the time I was here." So, the amount for the ticket back was actually $176.50, I could only withdraw $160 off the card and I paid for the rest of the ticket out of pocket.

He takes me back to the hotel and on the way back he tells me that 80% of veterans have to be sent back for one reason or another and he tried to throw all of the blame on the VA. This ****es me off even more. When I get out of the van to go get packed up, he says "If you get this straightened out, you can always come back."

I got two words: Fk. That.

As soon as I landed back at my apartment in Pittsburgh yesterday, I called Werner. Hopefully I'll hear back from them and hopefully I'll be able to get to work soon.

If ANYONE else has gone through something similar or has ideas or knows where I can documentation to close the gap between doctors, please!! I need your help.

Ok, this is a fairly common occurrence. I saw a very nice and competent veteran from Iraq get sent home from TMC orientation under a similar situation - he had been diagnosed with PTSD, and the physician that TMC works with didn't like his medications, even though his personal physician stated that he was cleared to operate a CMV. These companies have every legal right to decide who they want to hire and how much risk they are willing to accept by hiring folks who have some sort of history that they aren't comfortable with. They are allowed, and often do, go above and beyond what the D.O.T. requires them to check on the physical.

I'm sorry it happened to you, but I can assure you that what took place is Roehl's loss. Look, I completely understand your frustration, in fact I was sent home from TMC on the same bus with the veteran I just told you about. In fact I was rejected three times in a row by prospective trucking companies before I ever got my first shot at this career. I helped that veteran land a job at Schneider by just making a few phone calls, so I know that you can still be employed. Now days that I am established as competent professional who gets it done out here, all the folks who passed on me in the past are now courting me constantly - but it's too little too late at this point in my career.

Djwaglmuffin, don't let a little bump in the road stop you. I had a very tough start in this career, so I know what I'm talking about. If you want to do this, you can. You've just got to keep at it. There is a big rig out here with your name on it, you've just got to keep up the search - you will find it.

One more thing... Get with your physician and try to get him to put a letter together that covers some of the concerns that Roehl wanted to know about. It is always best to have that stuff already in your hands when you go to an orientation, that way if the physician has questions, you already have answers. It shows that you have taken a pro-active approach and you want to get past these issues and be a professional driver. Some of us have more "stuff" that we have to deal with when acquiring a driving job - best approach is to acknowledge our difficulties and face them head on, that's the best way to handle it. You did the right thing in being honest, keep that up and face down your fears - you'll be in the driver's seat before you know it.

Been here for little while and if you look back, I was in talks with Roehl for employment and everything was good to go.

Or so I thought.

I disclosed on my medical card when I needed my permit that I have been diagnosed with depression. I had everything cleared by my Doctor and there were no problems. When I got to Wisconsin on Monday, they tell me that I need to do my physical again.

They took us to a Chiropractor's office, did my drug screens and then I saw the Doc. Again, since I told the Doctors about my depression before and I got the one year valid medical card (instead of two), I decided honesty was the best thing to do here. I told him I'm diagnosed with depression. Suddenly, he wants to know if I've ever attempted suicide, if I'm violent in any way, if I am cleared to drive a CMV , why am I not taking medication, etc. etc. But he doesn't want to hear any of that from me, he wants to hear it from my Doctor. He then gives me 2 post-it-notes of questions, no official forms or anything and I then spend the next two days on the phone with these Doctors trying to get the information he wanted only to be told that my psychiatrist can't disclose some of the information he wanted to know. Like the bits about suicide and whether or not I'd be safe driving a CMV.

Chiropractor says that it's Federal regulation and they need to know. Psychiatrist is confused as to why they immediately assumed I'm suicidal or have ever been suicidal, and can't disclose whether or not I'm safe to drive a CMV because he says this is something he can't attest to.

Then, I got the people at Roehl who don't even want to listen to my side of the story or have a conversation with me. Not once did anyone from safety or the trainers try to have an actual sit down to try and figure this out, nor, upon request, were they able to provide actual federal documents with these questions on it.

I try to come up with a solution "There's a hospital not even a mile from the hotel. Let me talk to the VA and see if they will help set me up with another psychiatrist and we can do a mental health fitness test or something and as part of the bargain, I will agree to submit to these like drug screens if employed."

I was shut down as soon as I said it.

Needless to say, at this point, I was fed up. NO official documents were requested, both Doctors refused to have a conversation with each other, Roehl refused to talk to me about any of this, I got one instructor who threw his hands in my face saying he doesn't want any details or information from me on what's going on...all of this was blood boiling.

OH, but it gets better:

Instructor says they will pay for the bus ticket home and pay me for the days I was actually there. He then hands me a card with $174 on it and information on when the next bus is landing in Tomah. I ask him if this was a receipt for the bus ticket and he says 'No, the money is on the card.'. So I ask "So, I'm the one paying for the ticket?" "No, we're paying for the ticket." "Okay, so where is that money?" "It's on the card." "So you're not paying me for the time I was here." So, the amount for the ticket back was actually $176.50, I could only withdraw $160 off the card and I paid for the rest of the ticket out of pocket.

He takes me back to the hotel and on the way back he tells me that 80% of veterans have to be sent back for one reason or another and he tried to throw all of the blame on the VA. This ****es me off even more. When I get out of the van to go get packed up, he says "If you get this straightened out, you can always come back."

I got two words: Fk. That.

As soon as I landed back at my apartment in Pittsburgh yesterday, I called Werner. Hopefully I'll hear back from them and hopefully I'll be able to get to work soon.

If ANYONE else has gone through something similar or has ideas or knows where I can documentation to close the gap between doctors, please!! I need your help.

Hi djwaglmuffin, I have a learning disability, and i was not sure if i would be cleared to drive, so i went to my Doctor to get a clearance letter, just something saying that i was competent enough to do the job safely, i was honest and told the company Doctor, gave them my clearance letter the doctor then just asked if i was taking my meds and proceeded to pass me with no issues. Hope this helps Good luck :)

Been here for little while and if you look back, I was in talks with Roehl for employment and everything was good to go.

Or so I thought.

I disclosed on my medical card when I needed my permit that I have been diagnosed with depression. I had everything cleared by my Doctor and there were no problems. When I got to Wisconsin on Monday, they tell me that I need to do my physical again.

They took us to a Chiropractor's office, did my drug screens and then I saw the Doc. Again, since I told the Doctors about my depression before and I got the one year valid medical card (instead of two), I decided honesty was the best thing to do here. I told him I'm diagnosed with depression. Suddenly, he wants to know if I've ever attempted suicide, if I'm violent in any way, if I am cleared to drive a CMV , why am I not taking medication, etc. etc. But he doesn't want to hear any of that from me, he wants to hear it from my Doctor. He then gives me 2 post-it-notes of questions, no official forms or anything and I then spend the next two days on the phone with these Doctors trying to get the information he wanted only to be told that my psychiatrist can't disclose some of the information he wanted to know. Like the bits about suicide and whether or not I'd be safe driving a CMV.

Chiropractor says that it's Federal regulation and they need to know. Psychiatrist is confused as to why they immediately assumed I'm suicidal or have ever been suicidal, and can't disclose whether or not I'm safe to drive a CMV because he says this is something he can't attest to.

Then, I got the people at Roehl who don't even want to listen to my side of the story or have a conversation with me. Not once did anyone from safety or the trainers try to have an actual sit down to try and figure this out, nor, upon request, were they able to provide actual federal documents with these questions on it.

I try to come up with a solution "There's a hospital not even a mile from the hotel. Let me talk to the VA and see if they will help set me up with another psychiatrist and we can do a mental health fitness test or something and as part of the bargain, I will agree to submit to these like drug screens if employed."

I was shut down as soon as I said it.

Needless to say, at this point, I was fed up. NO official documents were requested, both Doctors refused to have a conversation with each other, Roehl refused to talk to me about any of this, I got one instructor who threw his hands in my face saying he doesn't want any details or information from me on what's going on...all of this was blood boiling.

OH, but it gets better:

Instructor says they will pay for the bus ticket home and pay me for the days I was actually there. He then hands me a card with $174 on it and information on when the next bus is landing in Tomah. I ask him if this was a receipt for the bus ticket and he says 'No, the money is on the card.'. So I ask "So, I'm the one paying for the ticket?" "No, we're paying for the ticket." "Okay, so where is that money?" "It's on the card." "So you're not paying me for the time I was here." So, the amount for the ticket back was actually $176.50, I could only withdraw $160 off the card and I paid for the rest of the ticket out of pocket.

He takes me back to the hotel and on the way back he tells me that 80% of veterans have to be sent back for one reason or another and he tried to throw all of the blame on the VA. This ****es me off even more. When I get out of the van to go get packed up, he says "If you get this straightened out, you can always come back."

I got two words: Fk. That.

As soon as I landed back at my apartment in Pittsburgh yesterday, I called Werner. Hopefully I'll hear back from them and hopefully I'll be able to get to work soon.

If ANYONE else has gone through something similar or has ideas or knows where I can documentation to close the gap between doctors, please!! I need your help.

Hi djwaglmuffin, I have a learning disability, and i was not sure if i would be cleared to drive, so i went to my Doctor to get a clearance letter, just something saying that i was competent enough to do the job safely, i was honest and told the company Doctor, gave them my clearance letter the doctor then just asked if i was taking my meds and proceeded to pass me with no issues. Hope this helps Good luck :)

Like I said, though. My psych is telling me he can't say I can drive a CMV...he's hiding behind HIPPA. That's why I was looking for an official document or something he can fill out or even go to another doctor to get that letter taken care of.

And, Old School: Thanks for your information. I appreciate the support.

Djwaglmuffin, Your Doctor has all the information he needs to evaluate if you are capable of doing the job. It is his responsibility to evaluate you if he says otherwise he is wrong since he is your prescribing Doctor. My Doctor did not use an official form, he just needed to state if i was capable with medication to safely do the job.

Djwaglmuffin, Your Doctor has all the information he needs to evaluate if you are capable of doing the job. It is his responsibility to evaluate you if he says otherwise he is wrong since he is your prescribing Doctor. My Doctor did not use an official form, he just needed to state if i was capable with medication to safely do the job.

I think I'm missing why he would say he can't say that. I kind of want to go to a new doctor anyway.

I do not understand why your Doctor is saying he cannot he knows it is his responsibility. You just have to sign papers releasing your medical information to your company. the Doctor cannot give your information without your authorization. I would go to another Doctor if he continues to refuse. Good Luck djwaglmuffin

Just like joining the military. You answer NO to everything.

Hope Werner works out for you.

Djwaglmuffin's Dr is lazy:

My psych is telling me he can't say I can drive a CMV...he's hiding behind HIPPA.

You are in control of your medical information. HIPAA prevents others from getting hold of it without your knowledge/permission.

There are medical reasons for your Dr to release the medical information on your request for your bona fide use.

If he feels it should be direct from him to a the third party (your company's physician), then tell him to mail or fax it himself, or hand you the letter in an envelope. (Dr offices pass on medical records as a patient changes doctors all the time.)