Sick On The Road
 

What do you do if you get sick out on the road? I'm talking about something you feel is serious enough you need to visit a doctor. You obviously are not going to be able to visit your regiular family doctor.

You just pull into the next stop and start thumbing thru the yellow pages for physicians? Does your company provide you with a list of preffered doctors covered by thier insurance? How does insurance handle it? Are all doctors covered as "in network" or our do you have certain preffered doctors your insurance deals with.

Thanks!

Most insurance plans will give you a list of Dr.'s nationwide. You can always pay cash and get reimbursed by your insurance. However, they might not reimburse the full amount if it's not in the network.

I had food poisoning on trip from Jax, Fl to Miami, now i know food poisoning might not be the worst thing to happen, but when you're in a truck it definately isn't a walk in the park. This case of food poisoning made me think i was going to die, it was absolutely horrible, but my DM didn't seem to care, i even sent a message over the qualcom that i did not feel i was capable to go another mile, but they figured since i was so close to the receiver i just needed to keep running it, i was new, and uninformed so i did. I got straight to the Pilot after i delivered and got a hot shower, and hoped like hell i felt better by morning. I made it home the next day, went to the doctor, and made sure i got a doctors note verifying my reason for needing to go home. Anyway, i'm sure this doesn't really answer your question, just one of my life experiences, but good luck if you do get sick, and if comes to the point where you don't feel capable of safely driving, don't be stupid like me, get yourself to a hospital or doctor, and let the DM figure out how to handle the load.

walk-in clinics, hospital ER's will break your bank
 

Pensacola, Florida for a prostatitis flare-up, Sunday afternoon.

Sheridan , Wyoming for a nasty bout of sinusitis, Monday morning.

Both paid for by ME, no reimbursement. Prescriptions, never a problem. Both were less than the deductible, paid by ME.

When you feel bad enough to seek cure/treatment, it's money well spent.
Each visit including scrip were just over 100 bucks, and were worth every penny. One of those two ailments historically visits me every 16-18 months. I just never know where I'll be when they choose to visit.

If you really need to see a doctor then park the truck, call a cab (or ambulance if bad enough) and go to the local hospital. (Or see if there is a clinic in that town)

A few truckstops do have walk-in clinics in the truckstop or next door, but sadly not enough.

As far as insurance goes there is no way to answer that. Insurance polices are as varied there are Dalmations in a Disney movie.

when i worked fo those swift b#*tards i sprained my ankle and after a long wait they took me to the clinic.i spent 5 days in my truck at the lewiston terminal parked right in front of the window.i never asked them for anything after i got a ride to the doctor.they gave me an alnight run to sacramento and i got my experience and moved on.never make threats just do it.

You do your best to stay healthy out there.
I got sick once, fought it for two days and finally went to a "walkin clinic" that I was referred to by the locals. I paid for a shot {$35 extra} to get me back on the road. Being sick sucks...

Re: Sick On The Road
 

a lot of insurance company's have a number you can call for out of state doctors they will give you a doctor or "stat care" place that is in network. obviously the larger your insurance company the bigger your network. also since trucking company's hire all over they probably use and insurance company that has a vast network.

Most insurance companies will point you towards a 24hr walk-in clinic. If you are really sick, try and notify someone besides your company to your exact location and have them check in with you a couple of times a day with instructions to call local police for a welfare check if you do not answer your phone. This is especially important if you are taking a medication that you have never done so before, allergic reactions can happen any time. Sadly, so many drivers have passed away in their trucks with no one noticing or caring for several days. :sad:

If I'm sick enough on the road to seek out a doctor, I get myself to the nearest emergency room - easy enough generally to call a cab when you get to a major metro area.

Being sick
 

Ten years ago I drove a 20', 6-wheel box van for a small co. in Il. It was 90 miles south of Chicago on US24. I had to pick up air freight at O'Hare and at import warehouses all over the city.
I got sick and tried to tough it out. Wrong move. One day at home base I could barely get up in the box to unload. I didn't ask them; I TOLD them I'm going to take the rest of the day off to see a doctor.
Good move on my part as I definately had pneumonia. When I got home I called in and told them the news. The only thing they asked was "Are you going to pick up that load tomorrow?"
Yeah, I'll get right on it. Know what? That load was still there when I got well enough to drive.

If the carrier is telling you that the load must go on, no matter if you're sick or not, point them towards this little DOT regulation:

§392.3 Ill or fatigued operator.


No driver shall operate a motor vehicle, and a commercial motor carrier shall not require or permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle, while the driver's ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become impaired, through fatigue, illness, or any other cause, as to make it unsafe for him/her to begin or continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle. However, in a case of grave emergency where the hazard to occupants of the commercial motor vehicle or other users of the highway would be increased by compliance with this section, the driver may continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle to the nearest place at which that hazard is removed.

[35 FR 7800, May 21, 1970, as amended at 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995].

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...ction_toc=1803

The interpretation:

§392.3 Ill or Fatigued Operator


Question 1: What protection is afforded a driver for refusing to violate the FMCSRs?

Guidance: Section 405 of the STAA—Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (49 U.S.C. 31105) states, in part, that no person shall discharge, discipline, or in any manner discriminate against an employee with respect to the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment for refusing to operate a vehicle when such operation constitutes a violation of any Federal rule, regulation, standard, or order applicable to CMV safety. In such a case, a driver may submit a signed complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

If you are sick you don't need to be out on the road driving. If you are away from home park it in a truck stops somewhere. If a company insists you drive while ill, you need to let them have their truck back. You don't want to be involved in an accident because you drove when you were ill.

I spent almost 3 years OTR and was sick once. And it was a lame outer ear infection. It was difficult to sleep, but I managed to not crash. I made it from Salem, OR to Tremonton, UT and finally found a place to park where I could see a doctor. They gave me the antibiotic ear drops and I was finally better when I got to Indiana.