Hurt Knee, Now What?

I switched to dedicated from OTR before I finished my first week of solo OTR driving. I really like the switch because I was asked what kind of loads I wanted and I got to exercise unloading the trailer. I got 3 solid weeks of solid pay and loads but it all went down hill after I went to the doctor.

After I came back from an appointment with the optometrist, which I made sure they knew about 2 weeks in advance, the loads have been all over the place and it seems they would like to have me unload every day(I originally asked for two unloads a week, long and short run). I tried to just roll with it not really knowing much about the trucking world.

This pay week I was working out to unload 3-4 times but I ended up getting hurt on my second unload. I went to the doctor and was told I hurt a ligament in my knee, to take very good care of it for a month and come back for a check up. Now I'm not sure what I want to do after this problem heals(which I'm really hopeing for) and during the healing process.

Anybody here have experience with workers comp for swift or any of the process? Switching to light duty(not going to be unloading a trailer for a while) and/or what options I get? Things to do with a hurt knee?

I really like unloading the trailer for the exercise but if they are going to start trying to give me more and more unloads a week, I might want to switch back to OTR. I rather not damage myself any more then I have already overworking my body (back problems).

Thanks guys.

I originally asked for two unloads a week, long and short run).

Unity, there is no way you can reasonably expect for them to just take a rookie driver like yourself and bend over backwards to give you exactly the kind of loads you want to do. I have a very unique job and even I can't expect anything like that.

The shots are called by the customers. They have customers that need all kinds of loads taken care of, and the way one succeeds in business is to take care of that customer's needs. The way a driver succeeds is to take care of what his driver manager needs. The driver does what needs to be done so the customer is satisfied.

You are trying to measure your satisfaction with a job based on a few short weeks experiences. You're going to have some weeks that are to your liking, and some weeks that don't have a nice ripe cherry on the top. That's the way it's going to be no matter what type of trucking job you're doing.

You obviously can't continue with the unloads or you risk exacerbating your injury. I think you answered your own question as you posted it.

Thanks for the reply mate. I was rolling with it because I felt it was reasonable to do so for the things you mention besides other reasons. I would like to however point out I was called to switch over by them and they specifically told me I get to choose the type of loads I get if I switch over.

When I talked it out, we agreed two loads a week and they gave me a pay number to work off. I wouldn't get the same stores all the time so the numbers weren't going to be exact every week. I find what you say reasonable but the thing that really bothers me isn't that I've been getting some bad weeks, it's more that I get the really strong impression they don't intend to ever bring me back to the type of schedule I was told I would get. On top of this, the pay difference I've been seeing is not small. I would essentially have to work ~2.5x harder for roughly the same or less pay then what I was told coming in. It is not a small difference and I don't like being mislead. The loads I would need to match what I was promise are there btw, they simply got more drivers and now give the long loads to O/O's. They told me they have to be fair which is fine if they ignore the fairness of telling me one thing and giving me another.

It's one thing for me to go to them and go in with the understanding it can be all over the place. Getting called to join and being told x when I get z seems like a bait and switch that doesn't sit well with me at all.

All that aside, I've overwork my body for many companies and while I've built great relationships with some, I've been taken advantage of by others. Unloading 3 trucks a day every day when we are suppose to switch out people. Finishing 9 hours of work in 3 and my boss trying to let go of another employee so I can do the job of two people...

I know bad weeks, but I've also started to be more mistrusting of people. Your right I've just started and a couple weeks ain't so bad but it only takes a sec to damage you're body and I've given people that "benefit time" enough times that I'm starting to worry about my health when I get older. I just don't want to be taken advantage of and end up all damaged to "enjoy" my retirement...

Sounds to me like you need to be doing OTR with plenty of drop and hooks.

As much as I enjoyed unloading twice a week, I might have to make the switch back. Called injury number and they are going to have me see another doctor. I hope I get my leg back to 100% soon.

Sounds to me like you need to be doing OTR with plenty of drop and hooks.

So the new doctor I went to after contacting my employer says it's not work related and I'm fine to continue unloading trailers right now. I'm sorry but what the hell is going on here?

Got off phone with the person taking care of my claim and I explained to her I do not feel comfortable unloading a trailer right now and want an MRI/x-ray for peace of mind. Was basically told my status is I'm good to work and I can talk to someone about it but not much I can do.

I'm sorry but if someone is going to tell me I'm fine and then refuse to give me an MRI/x-Ray, I'm not trusting there judgment. If my ligament is actually damaged and I end up hurting it more, I'm the one who has to suffer through it for the rest of my life and/or get surgery.

Called my DM and was told he has nothing to do with it and I have to take care of it and get back to him. Called my primary doctor and he'll get back to me later today.

Not only did she say I'm fine, she said it's not work related.... I was on duty doing my post trip, how is it not work related?

Thought it was from unloading trailers? How did you hurt your knee doing a post trip?

I don't know, I was walking around inspecting my truck when I felt a pain in my knee and attempted to squat down to figure out where it was exactly. I got 1/4 to 1/2 way through and it hurt enough that I had to use my left leg to get back up.

After I got in my truck, I bent and extended it a bit and heard loud pops. I tried to get up from a sitting position but I couldn't so I started using only my left leg to bent down a bit and haven't used my right knee since.

After my doctor told me to baby it, I've made a much stronger effort not to use it under force. He told me specifically not to squat but that I could walk around. The next doctor asked me to squat so I swifted as much weight as I could to my left leg and got about 1/4 down and told her I feel a pop around there, then got back up. I wasn't about to try going all the way down with weight on it when my primary doctor specifically told me not to squat.

Thought it was from unloading trailers? How did you hurt your knee doing a post trip?

So now my primary doctor is saying he told me to take care of it for a week and then go back to work if it doesn't hurt....

I'm flabbergasted right now. I remember he specifically told me a month and to baby it, there is NO question. He never mentioned even the word week or going back to work after that.

I asked if he can schedule an MRI for me but the lady on the front desk is telling me I need to go through workers comp first because of insurance reasons.

I'll be talking to someone else at my job about my issues again tomorrow.