Old School

You said you have been off the road this year. I hope it's nothing serious. Will you be driving again? Best wishes to you.

Thanks Bruce!

I suffered a retina detachment last year while in Connecticut. It took me several days to get back home and then it took a few days for my eye doctor to get me into a specialist. During the delay my retina tore into several pieces and was just a real mess to repair. I have had six eye surgeries over the past year. I have regained some of my eyesight in that eye, but it is not up to D.O.T. standards.

I am just waiting to see if I can drive again. I can get a vision waiver and do intrastate work. I am considering my options.

The FMCSA is also working on a program that allows drivers with impaired vision in one eye to drive OTR under a system similar to the one allowing insulin dependent diabetics to drive.. They are going through all the processes of making rule changes for this now. Unfortunately their wheels turn rather slowly.

I hope to get back on the road, but in the meantime I am continuing my efforts at helping new drivers learn the ropes and be successful at this rewarding career. I have been working on a book that should prove to be a great help to new and experienced drivers. I will do my best to get back at this and will also let you guys know when the book is available.

Here's an interesting little side note to all this...

Knight Transportation has kept me listed as employed all this time. They are still paying my insurance premiums and I am still considered an employee of theirs. They insist they want me to come back, and are doing everything in their power to make sure I do return. Recently I was doing some searching for intrastate jobs and found something in Texas that was being offered by Knight. I responded to the ad which sent my request into their recruiting department. Somebody in that department realized I was an employee and forwarded my request to my driver manager. Within a matter of just a few hours I got an email from my driver manager saying this...

What do you think you are doing? You are not a local driver! We want you back on this dedicated account. All the operations people know who you are and what you can do. There is no way we are going to let you go work on that intrastate gig. Hold your horses. We are working on a plan to offer you a way you can stay intrastate and still deliver for us on this flatbed account. It is going to take a little work on our part, but you just sit tight. There are some big players here working on this plan. We hope to keep you on this account and are willing to take some temporary measures until the FMCSA can get these rule changes pushed through.

So... we will see what develops out of all this. Those folks at Knight sure have treated me like a king. I have always enjoyed my association with them, and it looks like I will continue it at some point in the future.

I hadn't realize this, Old School, and I'm sorry hear. All the best for your continued recovery and for the options you want to continue to open up for you. I'm sure the waiting is hard.

That's encouraging to hear how Knight is working and advocating on your behalf. More fruits of your hard work and dedication over the years! In the meantime, I know I and countless others benefit from your insight and replies on this website. A book from you would be tremendous, so do keep us posted!

Take care and be well.

Thanks Bruce!

I suffered a retina detachment last year while in Connecticut. It took me several days to get back home and then it took a few days for my eye doctor to get me into a specialist. During the delay my retina tore into several pieces and was just a real mess to repair. I have had six eye surgeries over the past year. I have regained some of my eyesight in that eye, but it is not up to D.O.T. standards.

I am just waiting to see if I can drive again. I can get a vision waiver and do intrastate work. I am considering my options.

The FMCSA is also working on a program that allows drivers with impaired vision in one eye to drive OTR under a system similar to the one allowing insulin dependent diabetics to drive.. They are going through all the processes of making rule changes for this now. Unfortunately their wheels turn rather slowly.

I hope to get back on the road, but in the meantime I am continuing my efforts at helping new drivers learn the ropes and be successful at this rewarding career. I have been working on a book that should prove to be a great help to new and experienced drivers. I will do my best to get back at this and will also let you guys know when the book is available.

Here's an interesting little side note to all this...

Knight Transportation has kept me listed as employed all this time. They are still paying my insurance premiums and I am still considered an employee of theirs. They insist they want me to come back, and are doing everything in their power to make sure I do return. Recently I was doing some searching for intrastate jobs and found something in Texas that was being offered by Knight. I responded to the ad which sent my request into their recruiting department. Somebody in that department realized I was an employee and forwarded my request to my driver manager. Within a matter of just a few hours I got an email from my driver manager saying this...

What do you think you are doing? You are not a local driver! We want you back on this dedicated account. All the operations people know who you are and what you can do. There is no way we are going to let you go work on that intrastate gig. Hold your horses. We are working on a plan to offer you a way you can stay intrastate and still deliver for us on this flatbed account. It is going to take a little work on our part, but you just sit tight. There are some big players here working on this plan. We hope to keep you on this account and are willing to take some temporary measures until the FMCSA can get these rule changes pushed through.

So... we will see what develops out of all this. Those folks at Knight sure have treated me like a king. I have always enjoyed my association with them, and it looks like I will continue it at some point in the future.

Sorry to hear of the medical difficulties, Hopefully it clears up soon. Comforting to know that Knight will do everything they can to take care of you. Again, though it is like you always say, you have proven to them that you are a top tier driver and they in turn will go to most any lengths to take care of you. In the short time Ive been with them, I already see them doing things for me that other drivers dont necessarily get done because Ive followed your advice and keep working on establishing my reputation as safe, on time and easy to work with. So your experience with them confirms and validates that advice.

My truck is having some work done on it, and it may involve nationally backordered parts. Before I even knew that, I got a call from my terminal manager offering me a rental car, pay and a loaner truck from one of our other terminals. As far as I understand if loaners are available they usually get priority to owner ops and lease ops. There's other drivers here who will be sitting out of work for a while as there are a limited number of trucks avail. She made it a point to see to it that she keeps me working and rolling. Im very grateful and impressed.

I agree an Old School story needs to be told. Maybe Kearsey could write it. While Old School’s story is, in general, a common occurrence in this profession, what makes Old School different is the perseverance when others would give up AND the no-nonsense advice.

I sincerely hope you get back behind the wheel soon. But, whatever route your journey takes, you’ve smoothed lots of rough roads for the rest of us. THANKS!

I had a detached retina in 2009. Yours sounds more extensive than mine, but there is hope. It took me about a year to get any kind of normal vision back in that eye. I still have large floaters in there, and my vision is pretty bad in that eye...but with glasses I can pass a DOT vision test obviously. Give it time to heal, it takes forever, or so it feels!

Thanks Bruce!

I suffered a retina detachment last year while in Connecticut. It took me several days to get back home and then it took a few days for my eye doctor to get me into a specialist. During the delay my retina tore into several pieces and was just a real mess to repair. I have had six eye surgeries over the past year. I have regained some of my eyesight in that eye, but it is not up to D.O.T. standards.

I am just waiting to see if I can drive again. I can get a vision waiver and do intrastate work. I am considering my options.

The FMCSA is also working on a program that allows drivers with impaired vision in one eye to drive OTR under a system similar to the one allowing insulin dependent diabetics to drive.. They are going through all the processes of making rule changes for this now. Unfortunately their wheels turn rather slowly.

I hope to get back on the road, but in the meantime I am continuing my efforts at helping new drivers learn the ropes and be successful at this rewarding career. I have been working on a book that should prove to be a great help to new and experienced drivers. I will do my best to get back at this and will also let you guys know when the book is available.

Here's an interesting little side note to all this...

Knight Transportation has kept me listed as employed all this time. They are still paying my insurance premiums and I am still considered an employee of theirs. They insist they want me to come back, and are doing everything in their power to make sure I do return. Recently I was doing some searching for intrastate jobs and found something in Texas that was being offered by Knight. I responded to the ad which sent my request into their recruiting department. Somebody in that department realized I was an employee and forwarded my request to my driver manager. Within a matter of just a few hours I got an email from my driver manager saying this...

What do you think you are doing? You are not a local driver! We want you back on this dedicated account. All the operations people know who you are and what you can do. There is no way we are going to let you go work on that intrastate gig. Hold your horses. We are working on a plan to offer you a way you can stay intrastate and still deliver for us on this flatbed account. It is going to take a little work on our part, but you just sit tight. There are some big players here working on this plan. We hope to keep you on this account and are willing to take some temporary measures until the FMCSA can get these rule changes pushed through.

So... we will see what develops out of all this. Those folks at Knight sure have treated me like a king. I have always enjoyed my association with them, and it looks like I will continue it at some point in the future.

Old School, you are the bomb diggity ....in my mind, heart, and everywhere. Knight has a gem, and they are KEEPING him. Blame 'em??

Steve L., why would Kearsey write his story... he is & has! ;) Not a bad idea, but she needs to heal too...LoL!

I won't be the 'spoiler' .. but the FORWARD to OS's book.. is EPIC (so I hear, .. haha!)

I'm OUT of COMMISH even TYPING with a torn rotator cuff.. similar to Brett's snowboarding injury.

Looking at a few months (MORE?) of healing, as well.

PackRat, I'm really trying...... really am. Laura, you know it.

WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE A LINK TO THE BOOK, GOOD SIR???? Amazon works WELL for me, haha! I've gotten all DaveW.'s !!! Read them...anyone know of a book club,?!?!?

Thanks for STILL being on HERE, for us, YOU!!!

~ Anne & Tom ~

ps: CONTINUED prayers for your full recovery...however; it seems like your 4 daughters (oh wait..one is your wife and I always get that wrong!) love having YOU. Ohio drop ins anymore?!?!?

As I've been told (Thanks to Christopher L.) sometimes the Higher Power, PUTS US in our own way.

Godspeed & love.

Need the BOOK !!

WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE A LINK TO THE BOOK, GOOD SIR????

Anne, I'm not finished yet. Still going through the editing process and finalizing a few other details. I will definitely let you guys know when it is ready for consumption.

Ohio drop ins anymore?!?!?

My daughter from Dayton came to see us last week with her two children (third one is on the way!) My daughter from Colorado came also with her little girl, and a second one on the way for her as well. My other daughter lives 20 minutes away and she was here of course. She has a two year old and an infant. We had a full house last week. When they all left my wife and I slept a whole day I think!

We all had a large time!

Put me on the waiting list for that book. I read every word you post and you have contributed in a big way to my education. Your teaching style reminds me of the lyrics to Dan Fogelberg's classic song "Leader of the Band"