Comments By Patrick

O.K. here goes. And to Errol V. it sounds like you are talking about that Jesus person, and I don't need the religious garbage. There other four and why I left them. Celadon- I was an owner operator with them and loved it. A brand new truck just weeks old. I drove for about a month and after one home time, I developed a depth perception problem while still in San Antonio. I informed my dispatcher and he told me to see my doctor, which I did that same day. My doctor fixed the problem, which was nothing more than a large buildup of wax that was effecting my depth perception. However the doctor refused to sign a medical release until I saw a specialist. My insurance had a deductible that I could not afford, so I was left unemployed. My doctor asked me if I could borrow the money from family or friends, for the specialist, and I told him that I did not have family or friends. Neither did my wife. Covenant Transport--I was with a team driver and we got along great, and then on one 30 minute DOT break I went into a truck stop to get a snack and as I was returning to the truck I slipped on some dirt near a tree, and strained my spine. Workman's comp sent me to a doctor in Gallup, N.M. and he said I needed a day of recover from the strain. Then for some reason Covenant decided that they wanted me to fly to Chattanooga to see another doctor. When I did my strain had already had time to heal, and I went back to see how to meet up with my truck to get with all my belongings. THEN I was brought into a conference room to be questioned about the circumstances surrounding the accident, which I completely understood. HOWEVER, they not only questioned me about the incident, they also questioned me about my job history, my marriage and my relationship with my wife, which I told them was non of their f......king business. I guess they did not appreciate my language because I was sent home. Navajo was the last company I worked for, and when I was finished with home time after being out for 3 weeks, I had a sudden loss of 70% of my hearing and informed the dispatcher. I saw my doctor and he sent me to a specialist, but that appointment wasn't for 2 weeks, so that ended my employment with Navajo because they towed the truck away. The specialist gave me a prescription and in just 3 days my hearing was completely restored. I found out it was due to an inflammation in my inner ear due to having the flu. However, when I faxed all the documentation to Navajo with the doctors letter and everything, they said I was not rehireable. I still don't know why.

Whoever the famous teacher was, I think he was mentally ill.

I told the company about this doctor and they did not care. And when SRT changed their minds in front of me 5 times, that tells me they are not reputable. I did not quit from SRT, I was sent home because of my sarcastic remarks about their decision making abilities. They changed me from solo, to 100 hours with a trainer, to 50 hours with a trainer, to 3 loads with a local driver, to two loads out with a local driver, to 1 load out............and that is when I verbally questioned their managements ability to make decisions in a supposedly legitimate company. They did not like my comments and sent me home. But allow me to give you two other examples: The first company was CR England after I passed my CDL test in July 2013. They teamed me up with a trainer who was verbally abusive. I attempted to call my supervisor to ask for another trainer, and was told they had no other trainers and did not know when they would have another one available. I was stuck on the truck for another week and began having anxiety attacks due to his verbal abuse and yelling at me. I got sick and they sent me home. That is when Schneider called me and said they would hire me as a solo driver. I was with them one week when my wife was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease and neuropathy. The doctor wanted me to come of the road and help my wife. And my wife has priority over anything else. Neither one of these were MY fault. In fact the next company was USA Truck and after 5 weeks with a trainer he showed signs of a mental breakdown and I had to report him to safety, and they were very appreciative I reported him. But they took so long getting me a new trainer that Celadon called me and told me they would hire me without a trainer.

Maybe the right solution is to give back my CDL, and then attend another truck driving school and start all over again with a company who has respect for their drivers, if there is any company like that. I drove for Swift for 3 years, from 2001-2004 and it was a very good experience.

I don't believe you are asking these kinds of questions. I trusted the doctor completely until the next day when I called the X-ray technician. I had the injury cranking the landing gear up on the second day of work. When the X-ray technician told me that the X-rays were all clear, I then checked the Texas Medical Board to see the doctors credentials. I then discovered 10 years of disciplinary actions against the doctor for alcoholism and drug addiction. Then I looked up the medication he prescribed for me, and read that people who are allergic to penicilin should NOT take it. I specifically noted on my papers when I filled out the forms that I was allergic to penicilin. And as far as who is my trainer, the entire matter was right in front of me, and so was the blatant lack of decision making ability. Don't ask me ignorant questions. Workman's comp should have known the history of the doctors it sends drivers to.

And if you think that companies are perfect in every way, then you are in need of therapy. I will give you two examples. What would you do if you had an injury, and workman's comp at your company sent you to a doctor who had a history of alcoholism and drug addiction, diagnosed you with an infection you did NOT have, and gave you a medication that you were allergic to, and if you took it, it would kill you. Would you be able to trust the company and continue working for them? And what would you do if a company brought you on as a solo driver, and during the orientation assigned you a truck. then when orientation was over told you that you did not have quite enough solo experience for them, so they are going to put you with a trainer for 100 hrs................and in the course of the next 12 hours, changed their minds 5 times. Would you question their business decisions and be able to drive for them. These are only two examples of Arnold and SRT.

IF you really think that trucking companies can do no wrong, then you are in the wrong industry

In March of this year Navajo Express hired me as a solo driver, even though I worked for 8 trucking companies in the past 2 years. Then in April I lost 80% of my hearing on one ear, and knew it would be illegal to drive, and dangerous. I found out it was from an ear infection, and a prescription from a hearing doctor cleared it all up in 3 days. But even though I have documentation Navajo will not hire me back. I was only gone from them for 2 months. Now I am poison to most trucking companies. I either have to leave the trucking business for a while, or find a trucking company that puts more importance on my totally clean driving record and no DWI's or accidents or tickets. Can anybody suggest a company who will listen to me and know that I am a good driver and I am looking for a home with a reputable company.

I would like to know if there are any trucking companies out there that don't care how many companies you have worked for, as long as your driving record is totally clean. I drove for Navajo for a month, and they took me on despite the fact that I worked for 8 companies in the past 2 years. They only cared that I have never had a DUI or a DWI, and never any felonies or reckless driving, and my CSA score is 0. I left Navajo due to losing 80% of my hearing, and found out it was due to an infection in my middle ear. It is now completely restored, but Navajo will not take me back, and I don't know why. I was always on time for them. Now I have to find a company who doesn't care how many companies I have worked for, as long as I am a good driver.

I have just been hired by a company that has the governor set at 72 mph. How many miles per hour should I figure with when I figure out how many hours It should take me, v. how many long the company is giving me to get there?