Driver found dead behind wheel, co driver in bunk

I am in my mid 40's now. I am actually in better shape spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally and financially now than when I was in my 20's and 30's.

I don't think I could of done this in my 20's and 30's... I was too restless and active. Even now in my mid 40's there are days when I want more activity than driving. I am flatbedding, so a least I do get to tarp and untarp, I love those days, but those days in between when you are just collecting miles, those days can get pretty long. I try to get what exercise I can, I usually get a walk or two in each day. I am certainly more able to handle the down time in the bunk reading, writting or whatever more now than I would of been able to in my younger days. When I was younger I would not have been able to handle all the time on the road away from my family, friends and activities like I can today in my 40's.

To each their own, but I don't think of trucking as a young persons career, to me, it is more a middle aged or older career.

 

And here I thought the discussion would be more about the POS co-driver who just drove off after ...

 

What would you expect him to do?
Conduct a memorial service on the side of the road?
Take time off to grieve at the Pilot?
If he was released by the authorities, there was really nothing else for him to do.

 

Of all the heart attack survivors I have spoken with, nobody has the same experience.
And I have known of cases over the years just as your husband's friend.
My arm started getting numb that morning after I left my first stop, maybe four hours earlier.
I thought it was just a cramp or I had slept on it wrong. Not that noticeble while I was unloading the next stop and didn't think too much about it.
I was at my fourth stop by lunchtime and the numbness had spread to my fingertips and there was a dull ache in my left shoulder and left side of my neck.
I almost drove off, but had a feeling something was terribly wrong.
The kicker is I never had any chest pains. Some people don't.
In addition to the symptoms I mentioned, I felt weak and a little groggy.
Never dreamed it could be what it was. Maybe I couldn't accept the fact it could be happening to me, especially at my age.
I called my boss and he told me to get my butt to the hospital.
When I walked into the office there, everybody just got quiet and stared at me. Then a guy grabbed my arm and hustled me into a van and scared me even more driving like a maniac to the ER.
They told me later I was completely pale when I walked in and they knew right away I was in bad shape.

I hadn't been to a doctor in years and had never been checked out. I thought I was in good shape, but never had a clue what my cholesteral level was. My arteries had plaque buildup with a 90% blockage that almost shut me down. Also had a 60% blockage.
Preventative care could have prevented what happened.
The most common reaction I heard was "You're so slim. You don't look unhealthy"
Weight is indeed a factor, but it isn't the only one.

 

At least he died doing what he wanted to do. We have a friend that runs up to El Paso with dad an older guy maybe 50,s 60,s not sure on exact age. He runs fast in the left lane. But when he's tired he'll stop. Im sure when his time comes it will either be in the sleeper or at home.

 

A 30 year old man can have a heart attack behind the wheel just as well as a 70 year old man can.

 

That's right. My dad had a massive heart attack at 34 yrs old. He wasn't a driver but he worked extremely hard 16 -20 hours a day. He had no idea he had health problems till he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

 

And it really doesn't matter what he is driving at the time either.
An automobile plowing into a crowd of people on a sidewalk is just as deadly.

 

I've read this entire thread and I all I can say from the negativity expressed by most of these posts you can plainly see why the general public views us as scum! We deserve itl.