Trucking with back problems?
 

Hi,

I am active duty in the US army, and I am currently deployed to Afghanistan, in support of OEF 7. As such, it's not easy to make calls to recruiters, and normally the best I can do is email. I'm getting out of the Army in May of next year, and I am interested in driving a truck.

The biggest problem I have is that I have a serious lower back condition. If any of you are familiar, I have Spondylolisthesis with two bulging discs. I have a tough time lifting heavy things repeatedly, and because I can't stand up for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, I'm limited in what I can do. I can normally sit as long as I want, provided I have a seat with adjustable lumbar support, or a small pillow or something to stick back there. The only problem I'd see, at the moment, would be loading and unloading, therefore I'm trying to find a carrier with mostly no-touch and drop and hook.

I'm currently leaning towards Roehl. I've been in touch with Rob, one of their recruiters, and he tells me that they can schedule me to go to their driving school right after I get out, and that they'd likely hire me.

Is my back going to get in the way of this? What about the DOT physical? I'm very healthy overall, with the exception of my back. Is finding a carrier where I wouldn't have to lift heavy stuff out of the back of a truck unrealistic?

Thanks!
Tom

Back Trouble
 

I'm getting out of the Army in May of next year, and I am interested in driving a truck. Will you be back to the World before May? Or out of A'stan and back to the World at the same time. Might be a little soon to be contacting recruiters, not to soon to research training and companies.
Spondylolisthesis Had a spinal fusion when I was fourteen to take care of that. Learned how to lift smart before I got into the Navy. Did 31+ years USN then flatbedding. I have a tough time lifting heavy things Define heavy. As in pulling a kingpin lock? Figure as much as 200# of force, ditto moving boggies. therefore I'm trying to find a carrier with mostly no-touch and drop and hook. When you talk to a recruiter, ask how many loads a day the company does, then multiply that number by the "touch" loads they have, then figure your odds of getting that load. Ex: 2000 loads/day. 95% "no-touch", that means 5% "touch". 5% of 2000 = 100 "touch loads. Do you feel lucky?

I'm currently leaning towards Roehl. I've been in touch with Rob, one of their recruiters, and he tells me that they can schedule me to go to their driving school right after I get out, and that they'd likely hire me. Going to the school and getting hired are not the same thing. You may have to pass Roehl's physical too. Do they do a "Work Well" screening? Ask him to send you a letter on company letterhead indicating they'll hire you right now, no "conditional" stuff.

Is my back going to get in the way of this? Probably. Much may depend on the discharge/VA disability physical results. What about the DOT physical? Maybe. I'm very healthy overall, with the exception of my back. If your back isn't healthy, you're not "very healthy overall". Is finding a carrier where I wouldn't have to lift heavy stuff out of the back of a truck unrealistic? Yes. Even flatters have to mess with tarps and tie-down gear, ditto curtainside for tie-down gear. BOL

Did you inform him of this back issue? Lower back problems and trucking are not a very good mix! If you dont have one the chances are that you will eventually have some back problems in this industry. If you already have problems, they will only get worse and the chances of re-injury are pretty good. Back problems are expensive and most companies will shy away from you. There are some pretty good truck seats out there and even the cheaper ones have air lumbar, but that still doesn't keep the spine from getting the heck banged out of it. I have been doing this for over twenty years. I do not have any major problems but after a mishap in our lot, I had to get Xrays and they found then that I have arthritis in my back and will eventually be a bad deal.

Look before you leap and get medically qualified and or released before setting one foot into a door of a trucking SCHOOL!

Thanks for the quick replies!

Good advice; I am definitely getting medically qualified by whoever says they'll hire me before I go to school. Even at the Roehl school, which is fairy cheap, tuition is about $2800...waay to much to spend on something that I have a shadow of a doubt about.

I can do most anything, as long as it's not constant. Pulling a 5th wheel latch is something I'm sure I could do, I just couldn't keep doing it time after time, dozens of times per day. Same with lifting things. If it's necessary, fine, just as long as I don't have to do it all day. The VA will definitely handle all health care costs for my lower back, so I would hope that trucking companies wouldn't consider that a problem, as it shouldn't cost them or their medical insurance a dime. I'm also more than likely going to get disability, probably around 50% through either the Army or the VA.

I want to drive a truck because there isn't much that I figure that would be easier on my back than sitting in a comfy chair and driving most of the day. On top of that, I love to drive, and I love travelling. I figure if I can't do this, I'm not sure what else I can do. Not real sure.

I get back from Afghanistan in February, then after 90 days, I'm getting out of the army, so I do have some time once I get back state side to get things set up. I simply refuse to sit back and wait and not have a plan, that's why I'm trying to set things up now.

I emailed the Roehl recruiter about my back problems, more specifically I asked if the seat had adjustable lumbar support. He told me that it wouldn't be a problem, and that the seats are adjustable. That's all I got out of him; I think I need to inquire about that physical, too!

By the way, if I get one of those loads that isn't no-touch, will most companies pay for a lumper? If not, and if it weren't common, I'd be willing to pay for one out of my own pocket, if necessary. I'm also looking at driving for one or two years, until the VA can do something about my back. Do any of you think I'd have a probem in that amount of time?

Thanks for all the help!

I all honesty, the back could cause you a problem with most companies without getting a medical waiver from a physician. As long as you can pass the physical, it may not be a problem. Most carrier's will pay for a lumper. You won't be able to afford to pay for one out of your pocket, nor should you. Make sure you get everything in writing from your recruiter before you sign any paperwork. I would be upfront with them. It sounds as though you have already told them about your back. The major concern carrier's have in this type of situation is a workers comp claim. Some of these walk in clinics can do a DOT physical. It should cost you around $60 at the most. If you can pass the physical, you can probably get past their medical qualifications issues. Good luck.

VA Health Care
 

"The VA will definitely handle all health care costs for my lower back" Don't count on it, VA clinics and hospitals aren't in every locale. If possible, get your back fixed before you get out. BOL

Roehl's physicials are done by a licensed chiropractor if you go to the home terminal in Marshfield, WI. I am sure that he will be able to advise you about your condition. I happen to know this doctor very well after spending 20 years in the chiropractic profession myself as a doctor. I have seen individuals with spondylos and disc problems do remarkable jobs. Depends on degree of the spondylo, how your discs are bulged and how your take care of yourself (weight control/exercise).

I am in the van division and I have not had to do any unloading of any load in 9 months that I have been with them. Majority is drop/hook or live load or unload but you the driver does not touch the freight. Roehl will pay for lumpers when needed. We are drivers not lumpers.

Of course after driving for 11 hours your lower back might be sore unless you get out of the seat every few hours to stretch. Also I have found taking 10 minutes every morning to do some head to toe stretching and limbering up helps hours down the road with aches and pains. If you can sit for long periods then you should be ok. Some of the older trucks don't have the best seats but I have found that if you growl a bit they will replace the seats. If you are lucky you might be assigned a new truck. A recent lady grad drove an older International for one week and then was issued a new Freightliner when her International was rotated out in the current upgrade of equipment currently going on.

Roehl has a good 3 week program if you think you can learn on a fast track. They have a good training program designed to get you into the driving seat and out making a living in good time.

I am willing to share with you info on Roehl. Just pm me you questions. I have personally spoken with Rob and he knows that I speak with people interest in Roehl.

Soladad (aka: Deb #3452)

TomB, this is off-topic, but thank you for serving our country.

Good luck with the trucking; I hope it works out for you.

Thanks!

I have a very bad lower back, old horse riding injury. I manage fine, not pain-free, but I manage.

can't believe you're there with that bad of a back problem.
but anyway I hope you've been going to a medic about it where it's documented and when you get out go to your nearest VA-Register and get your Card and then RUN to the Service Officers and File a Claim.

The only reason I'm here is because I'm with a unit that doesn't require me to do much lifting and stuff like that. When I was at Orthopaedics before I came over, they asked me how comfortable I was with the unit I was going with, and if I felt that they wouldn't ask me to do something I couldn't do. I said I was comfortable with it, and they don't ask me to do stuff they know I can't.

I'm already registered with the VA, as I went down to the VA hospital in Syracuse to consult with Neurosurgery, and they had me register there. Since the VA should handle all costs related to my back, would employers still see this as a problem?

Don't you believe it. Sitting for long stretches and being bounced around a truck cab are NOT exactly the best things for one with a bad back. Many people who don't have bed backs develop them after a few years of trucking ( I am one of those). If you already have a bad back, trucking will likely make it worse, not better.

The long periods of sitting actually weaken already weak back muscles, and the constant bouncing motion tends to compress disks after many years of that. That combination is almost a guarantee that you will be giving the majority of your retirement savings to doctors, chiropractors, and massage therapists.




Heh heh, remember that when you are sitting in gridlock on the Dan Ryan in Chicago at 4 in the afternoon, knowing that you are not being paid to sit in traffic.

You'd better go and actually try out those seats in person - recruiters are notorious for not knowing what in the hell they are talking about, since most of them have never actually been inside a truck.

most will. Some won't.

Really? You'd be willing to blow upwards of $250 of your own money just to have your trailer unloaded? I have seen lumper costs of as high as $400 for an entire trailer.

Back
 

"would employers still see this as a problem?" Yes.
"companies pay for a lumper?" If the receiver has lumpers on site, probably. And what of the load delivered to a receiver in East Cornfield, Iowa where there are no lumper services?
Why can't you get your back fixed before you get out, even if it means a medical hold? BOL

want excitement, urban problems, folks out to rip you off, lots of defensive driving, home every day, good money? drive a taxi in any major city.

Re: Back
 

Unfortunately, my condition is considered permanent. The only way to "fix" it would be spinal fusion, and that isn't a good option. At my age (I'm only 21!), there is more of a potential to make it worse than there is to make it better. There's one option, but it's a new procedure and it would take the better part of a year to work that through the system, and my doctor recommended I persue it through the VA when I get out.

I don't think driving a truck would be so much of a problem because I already have to do exercizes to keep my back strong, and I'll have to keep doing them probably for the rest of my life. As long as I keep up with that, sitting down doesn't bother me much, as long as I have an actual seat to sit in; can't use benches at all.

At this point, I figure it's worth a shot, and if it doesn't work, I'll either find a local driving job, where I wouldn't spend so much time on the road, or I'll find something else to do.

Thanks for all the input!

Back
 

Comprendo, got your PM and roger unit integrity and complete the mission. Just stand up for what you're due. BOL

bad back and trucks go together
 

When you have a bad back it is a toss up as what to do you have pain and it will occur at rest or activity. Too much rest hurts and too much rest hurts I have had the fusion titanium rods bolts screws I have recycling value and I find that driving helps my back the seats in a truck are so ergonomically advanced that the only thing they require is a tee shirt on them to keep germs off of me. Change the tee shirt weekly. When I have to drive a marathon I have started to have pain in my joints so to remedy this I wear knee pads these trap the heat and it helps I have less pain.
Besides you are supposed to stop and clean the window every now and then check tires we get to drive trucks because of the freedom right so stop “what’s the hurry they will still need the product when you get there”.
There is a new dimension to my world of transportation I have a folding bicycle it affords me the opportunity to get fun exercise. The bike is rated at 200 lbs capacity but my weight of 320lbs has made it to where I need to get stronger tires I will put them on when I’m on my next trip will let y’all know what the outcome is. Now there is more of a choice when it comes to eating for instance. My goal is to reduce my weight to 250 lbs I have found that I can loose weight fast as long as I make sense ie eat right and exercize.
When in Biloxi x44 pilot I-10 I assembled the bike got out my head lamp and red blinking light “it was dark” then rode my bike to the long john silvers yum fish mac and cheese.

A couple of suggestions:

1) Try to drive a smoother truck, such as a volvo. There's a huge difference in ride quality, you wouldn't want a rough truck!

2) Some new trailers now have a valve system for the bogeys, all you do is pop out this little button. "manual" bogeys could be very taxing for you if they were rusty.

I have had back problems for years (too many years of hard manual labour) some days sitting in the seat for hours really bothers my back, some days I can hardly get out of bed in the morning, and I'm only 29 years old.

My doctor gave me some back exercises to do, they are suposed to help strengthen the lower back muscles. I also got myself a better mattress for the truck, seems to help a bit

Tom, first of all Thanks for your service.

I am a Disable Veteran and drove for 4 years till I lost my last job in Nov 2000 due to being sick.. Burned my self out to much and my reward was Your Fired..

Many Truckers does become disabled cause of their back just driving a truck. I know of 2 from my home town. But with the PRoblems you mention, Driving can still be done. I have Dejentive Joint Arthritis from the Neck down. I had pulled Flatbeds, Reefers and Dry Vans. Hardest part was with the Flatbeds, With Tarping, and another Company I had to unload the Cargo, which was fun, but it became to painful for me. As for the Dry Vans and Reefers, If you do get a Driver Unload, you can hire a Lumper.

As for the VA Hospitals, Get the work done before you get OUT!!! Make sure you get the highest Precentage for your Disability BEFORE YOU GET OUT!!! I been fighting the VA since 1996, and only gotten up to 60% from 20%. I am currently on SSDI also, 100% on one item of my VA Service Connected DIsabilities. But the VA only has me at 30% for that one thing.

All VA Hospitals are Not Equal. Some are Better than others. Example, The VA Hospital in Augusta Georgia is Great. THe Hospital in Atlanta, Sux!!!! The Atlanta has even thrown Veterans out into the Street when they went there for medical Help. Your better off going robbing a bank and getting medical help than Serving the Country and putting you life on the line. When I went through Boot Camp, we had this march Song we would sing near the new Recruits. Forming Don't Be Blue, Our Recruiter Scewed Us Too.. You were promoised the World to serve, but when you go back to take them up on that Promise, you have another Battle on your hands.

Good Luck and stay Safe.

Note about VA Medical. True The VA Hospitals are spread out thin, but they are now building clinics closer together for out patient medical care. Closest Hospital from my home is 80 miles, closest clinic 35.