I've Been Sick This Week

Last week I ran a typical work week for me. It was in excess of 3,300 miles. I wasn't feeling all that well and it has gotten worse this week. I actually refused a load, trying to explain to my dispatcher that I wasn't well and needed to take a little break.

After taking a 34 hour break and continuing to feel weak and lethargic, my dispatcher insisted on putting me in a hotel. He has continued extending my stay until I give him the go ahead. Five days now, and I'm starting to feel better. I've had symptoms for about ten days now. This morning I requested one more night, and told him I'd try to run a load this weekend.

It's very much against my nature to ask somebody to help me. I feel bad about being non-productive and being on the company's teet during that time. My dispatcher knows how I am, but I still tried to apologize about it this morning. His reaction was priceless, and I just had to share it with you all.

We use sports analogies all the time when teaching others about trucking. My dispatcher assured me he was not concerned about me being a leach. I'm sharing his sports analogy with you to help illustrate how these guys think and feel about drivers who "keep them in the money." Here's a slice of our conversation via text messages...

He calls me Super T. Coming from him, I wear that nickname proudly. We've been working together on this account for 6 years now. We understand each other and we get along great.

I'm fairly certain I've been dealing with Covid 19. I've been on my ass for a week now, but I'm getting better. I'm gonna start working this weekend. I'll update you guys when I can.

Oh, MY, good sir. Rarely does ANYTHING get you down.

Your rapport with your dispatch is TOTALLY AMAZING, as it should be. That's the testament (and the bomb diggity!) right there, O/S. I love the sports analogies; too bad sports are 'messed up' this year; NO OSU FOOTBALL... (killing me.... and the NY Baseball teams, dang.)

Sure will be keeping you in thoughts and prayers here, from Ohio; wishing you a speedy recovery, for sure. Wow, a touch of the virus...that sucks. Tom thinks he went through it in late February; was like a really bad flu. He took a vacation week to stay in bed.. I'm so glad they are accommodating you, as well ~!!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep us posted, good sir.

I wish and pray you well, man.

With love,

Anne

That sucks man! You and I and many others on this website are alike in that we always strive to be highly productive in our lives. We thrive on a challenge and get the most we can out of life.

Nothing is more difficult than sitting around doing nothing!

We've had about the hottest, most humid summer on record. The heat finally got to me a bit, and I wound up being a little overtrained. My coach told me to take three fulls days of rest. That's the first time in 2 1/2 years of training with him I've even taken two fulls days in a row of rest!

Three days of rest? People were genuinely concerned for my sanity.

If a high-level coach wouldn't have directly ordered the rest I very much doubt I would have considered that, which leads to overtraining for a lot of athletes. Like my coach says, "You don't have an off switch. You always think more is better."

Well, yeah!

So I know being sick is miserable, but doing nothing makes it far worse. I wish you the best for a strong, fast recovery from here and keep us posted!

Sorry to hear this OS. Keeping you in our prayers for a full speedy recovery.

Been there man, it's almost worse when they're so nice about it to, makes me feel even worse.

I have to say though, the mention of possible Covid has got me concerned. I don't think that virus knows who it's messing with, I'm very concerned for its safety!

😁 I'm sure you'll kick it's ass whatever it is.

Brett Aquila- I’ve read that you climb mountains, hike. Do you do iron mans, triathlons?

^^^^ He probably does, Scott.... haha~!!

Old School, and future truckers (and current drivers!) I've just gotta mention, this is 'exemplar' of how a company ... a FINE company like Knight (which IS NOW affiliated with SWIFT~!!!) treats their drivers.

Above and beyond goes both ways. Two fine companies. Merged. O/S's starter company (Western Express) set HIM up for success... for sure.

(Kudos to your AMAZING dispatcher , O/S.) Hope things look up, soon!

ps: What hotel / TS are you at? I'd send you this, good sir:

Just us Buckeyes;

Anne & Tom ~ ;)

Best wishes OS

Fight, fight, fight the cowardly virus! You're going to be back in the saddle this weekend, no doubt. Hang in there, Old Timer.

Wishing you the best. To paraphrase Turtle’s Chuck Norris joke.

Old School came into contact with COVID-19. The virus will now need to be be in quarantine for 14 days.