In case of sickness

When my mother died, the terminal manager would not give me an empty trailer to deadhead home. His idea was that I could bobtail several hundred miles and bobtail back to his terminal after the funeral. I agreed to take a load towards home. I was an owner-operator. The load they finally gave me was more out of the way and more trouble than I would have had bobtailing. They have only a profit motive.

 

If you get sick in a truck, I would certainly have Crackers or something very bland, I was down in Texas last Summer and it was very HOT(I know I am from Arizona but I don't stay in the heat for very long) I was in a 2010 Pro Star that the A/C went out on, and because it was a Lease vehicle I had to get it to Dallas to get it fixed, well I got heat stroke in all of this, I ran with it, I was coming and going out of both ends, I had trash bags and TP and Baby Wipes and just did what I had to do, The truck got fixed and I went North where it was cooler, There was a point I thought I was not going to make it, I was very pale and I was not holding anything inside of me, I never told my family till I got home several weeks later. I cleaned up the truck after the #### stopped, I was very miserable, But it is water under the bridge. I wish you all wellness!

just go with it

 

I've been sick once since being OTR.
I was feeling bad, but was able to deliver my load. Then I headed for a truck stop.
I turned down pplans with the reason that I was sick and could not drive safely.
I also called my DM and let him know that I was sick, and would probably need a couple days.
He set my PTA out for a couple days and when I could work again I let him know.

We all get sick now and then. It shouldn't be a problem if you let them know.
But if it happens too often, it will raise a red flag - like with any job. And then you may find yourself walking home.
And in this line of work that walk will certainly be more than a few miles.

 

ha ha the runs....a drivers nightmare...well at least you dont work in an office the supervisor might yell because of all the bathroom breaks

 

I beleave all trucks should have some sort of open top 5 gallon trash bucket, why simple it holds all your trash in one place and allows you yo to keep your home clean and uncluttered, but even more useful is if you're human and like to stay clean you'll also have baby wipes and paper towels of some sort, myself I have a soft but so I also keep a roll or two of two ply charmin tucked away, now don't get me wrong I shower daily and prefer to take my time using the restroom, anyhow back to that 5 gallon bucket, first you should always have it lined with a plastic liner and have extras to change out whenever you're near a proper trash bin. And that bucket also becomes your best friend when sick I mean its a catch all can, puking is not a bad thing until you do it all over the cab, yes I know a guy that puked while driving all over his dash and gauges I believe some even got into the AC ducts cause that truck smelled horrible for months, and then theres the big one everybody gets grossed out on with that same bucket and hopefully a clean bag in it its your porta potty now some say they would only use a real ports potty but then you have that sealed tank ok nasty that you still have to removed and flush out which can be pretty nasty sometimes if you happen to forget you used it once a month back, so face it the. Bucket is your best freind if you're parked in the back lot and need to go at 2am or get the squirts 50 miles out from the nearest john, or have ever been stopped in the middle of I 80 in Wyoming during a white out w for 12 hours with no way to turn and no restrooms for miles, yeah yeah I know you're setting there saying theres no way I would want a bag of crap or puke stored in my truck to have to smell for hours, so as I leave let me ask one more question, would you prefer to smell a bag o crap, which by the way that smell will also remind you to empty the can at your earliest convince, or would you prefer to set in the nasty stuff and take a chance of it leaking down your leg and staining the floor and having to wipe it up, now thats nasty, I been driving for well over 26 years now and even when I was local working construction and hauling veggies off the farm I've always had. A 5 gallon bucket with me even in my day cab. Oh by the way that same bucket works great as a stool or a chair. So guess what this old guy that has never had to run for a head or the bushes think is one of the most important tools to have in a truck, oh yeah theres a plus, the bucket also can lug all your laundry gear with one hand. That's if you're like me and want your clothes to be soft and smell nice aswell, sorry I tend to ramble on about certain things I feel I could not work without. And for the records in my years as a driver I've been sick many times, but never missed or been late due to a illness and have never taken a sick day.

 

I have gotten sick on the road number of times. Bee sting which I am slightly allergic to, Not deadly but swell worst than most and got stung in the neck. Drop the trailer at the Petrol and bobtailed to the Hospital and got a shot but had to rush back before shot took effect. Kidney stone, Shipper took me to the hospital. Gout number of time that was so painful could not drive. and once blood count got deadly low, when I did get home I had 2 days to live.

All but the last I had no problem with the company. Last one I been asking to get home for a month, and was sent further away each time. Once they got a load heading back in Home direction I was to sick to really drive so I flew a friend out to meet me and he drove. I did get pulled over 4 min after leaving to go get the load and meet up with my friend by the NM DOT and my Log book was not up to date, I explained to him my dilemma and my appearance he knew I was telling the truth, so He did fine me but not shut me down. Once I got home the next day I was put into the Hospital and given 4 units of blood. I got a call from one of the owners asking me to go up to their office and sad I could not, I was in the hospital with 2 days to live, his reply was Oh, we thought u were lying about being sick.......

 

Anyone thought about using a actual marine "porta Potti" that a cuddy cabin boat would use? Small, actual potti with chemicals for the smell. Unclip the two clips, one on each side to remove from floor to empty. Might be a bit extreme but hey, ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Here are some. The lower url has some instructions.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/22084113?...12290110&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=45177928510&veh=sem

http://www.portapotti.com.au/portable_toilets

 

If I was on the road, I would def. buy one of those. Especially if I see the truck stop bathrooms with piss and #### all over the seats and/or floor.

 

that is a great idea .never thought about this .thank you so much

 

Ate at Carl Jr one day and went to a wind farm in Utah. Guts were killing me. Felt like a massive internal mudslide. Ran to the Porto John, it was full of various spiders. Did the squat between the drive axles routine. Nasty, I know, but a turdclipper can't hold back a mudslide for long.

after that, I made absolutely sure to keep a 5 gallon bucket and tall kitchen garbage bags ready. Thing is, those garbage bags don't do anything to stop that horrible odor, for those times where you can't get rid of the slide. So I also carry the ziplock gallon bags. Get done with the tall kitchen garbage bag, let as much air out before tying it off, and put it in the ziplock. Toss it at your convenience.

if I get to feeling really ill like the flu or something, I go to a liquor store for medication and check into a motel. Alcohol kills all germs.