Will I have time to see doctor?

yep, work out your DR appts with your dispatch. Plan on getting home the day before you appt and let dispatch know that it's for a DR appt. Also let your DR know that you are a truck driver and you may need to reschedule from time to time. That should help.

 

Most truckers don't see doctors regularly. Haven't you heard stories of all those trucks idling at truck stops for days and when someone finally goes to check out the truck, the driver has been dead for a week?

Most truckers don't seek medical help, we drive until that one fateful day.

 

I scheduled my hometime around my doctor appts and they are usually good getting you home that way. It's a good way to get home everytime. Just tell them you have a doctor appt even if you don't, lol.

You get up in age or have a bad family history, you need regular doctor visits.

If you do have an emergency like chest pains, don't let anyone jack you around. I've seen and read many stories of drivers being cohearsed into running just one more load. Well, they never made it. Some dispatchers are lower than life.

I just cheated a heart attack and possible death by a day or two. I had 99% blockage. I had about 2 weeks notice. Your body will usually give you warning signs. Don't ignore them.

 

You gotta take care of youself because nobody else is going to do it for you. I don't care how well or poorly your dispatcher get along with you, their job is to get you miles and try yo get you home on time. If you need to see a DR on the road do it, just communicate before you go. Do not drive the truck after seeing your doc until you are cleared to drive by the company. But back yo my point, take care of yourself. If its not safe to drive for whatever reason park the truck and communicate to dispatch.

 

Scheduling your appts well in advance is the best way to do it. But just realize that whenever you have to be home at a specific time, it is usually a revenue decreaser. If you hope to get appts on the times you just happen to be home, none will be available, or the doctor will be gone on vacation.

 

I've found the best way to work an appointment into your schedule is to schedule it at the start of your work week so you start work one day late. The temptation is to make the appointment for the end of the week while on the road and expect to make it at the end of the week. Murphy's Law will guarantee you will get caught in a June snowstorm if necessary to miss that appointment.

This plan will also kill your miles for the week since you get out of sync with dispatch and freight.

"all medical emergencies will be scheduled to occur on the drivers off-duty time"

 

Most doctors will work with you,just tell your doctor what your new job is and he will understand,my doc. when I call him he will work me rite in or if he cant he will call me in a prescription if is a cold or flu.