FAT people are Discriminated against at prime

i seen the pictures on the favorite company side the cheerleader put on of the million dollar lounge and those prime drivers are huge!!!
they real "smart businessmen" though."they dont go home" they "keep that left door shut" and "drive super slow"

 

Just my own 2 cents on the subject. I think Prime is perhaps setting a precedent, something you may soon see more and more. I think what they are doing is responsible. I also think the government will be stepping in soon on this as well, as in something mandated.

Here's why I think these things. BMI "can" be an indicator of obesity. Before all you big guys (and gals) out there chime in, please "hear" me out. And I know there are a lot of big truckers out there, it has in many ways been the image of a trucker (aka professional driver). I know there are countless drivers out there who are big and healthy and/or have a work out program in their routine. More so, just the nature of an occupation that can lend itself to less than desirable eating habits.

I don't work for Prime, but I have researched them (ongoing), and am strongly considering them, if they will have me. From my understanding, if their BMI tests indicates an issue, they offer the sleep test.

Here's the important part folks: a sleep test could save your life (maybe even the lives of others). This is pointedly an issue when driving an 80k lb (or heavier) vehicle. How so? by indicating sleep apnea. I am not gonna get into a big lesson of what that is here, other than to say it usually means the end result is that you are not getting the amount of oxygen you NEED while sleeping, in your blood and to your brain, and you are not getting completely rested (re-energized).

Sure you can go on for years and years like that, often times unbeknownst to yourself. If folks have told you you snore loudly, that COULD be an indicator. Usually what happens is you stop breathing at night, over and over, for various periods of time...all night. Do you ever wake up gasping for breath? If you feel tired or lacking energy a lot, that COULD be another indicator. Energy drinks are NOT the answer to this problem.

To continue, sleep apnea often leads to hypertension (high blood pressure), sometimes VERY high (heard of stage 4?). These two things often go hand in hand with being overweight or obese. That's why it is so important, in my opinion, that this issue be addressed, BEFORE someone get behind the wheel of a vehicle in which they will be spending a considerable portion of their lives operating on populated highways.

One other thing, the result of this combined, often undiagnosed trio (sleep apnea, hypertension, and obesity), can lead to increased ocular pressure which can impair your vision. Please, take a moment and think about all that together, a driver who is at risk of falling a sleep at the wheel, or worse case, having a stroke while in control of a truck, or at the least having trouble seeing, perhaps in inclement weather...all dangerous scenarios.

Again, to my understanding, Prime will work with you if needed, to get you a CPAP (google it please) or BIPAP machine based on your sleep test results. I really have to commend them on this stance. I would not even think a company would go through the trouble to begin with. Perhaps the owner's at Prime have first hand experience knowing someone with such severe troubles who was an excellent driver, and was at risk of losing their career, but was able to get the help the needed and continue driving. I don't know, but I have to imagine that this policy is saving lives.

Now I know BMI test can give false impressions, especially for those who work out, but I also do not think Prime is being prejudiced against "fat" people. Please, all drivers. take the time to learn about sleep apnea, perhaps you know someone who might have it? Perhaps yourself? It is the professional driver's in this country who keep America "moving", so by all means, stay safe out there, always.

 

It's going to be industry wide, when I returned to the smaller company where I'm at now, I had to go through an "ISO kinetic" test. Basically the clinic has a weight machine hooked up to a computer, and you exercise individual limbs, and the machine changes resistance, and you have to pass it or you get sent home it's quite a workout! Lol.... It really woke me up as far a my needing to get myself in better shape this year. Not to mock the heavier set, but I'm seeing more and more people walk into the truckstop building, and having to stop and take a breath when they get in the doorway, sweating an panting like they are going to have a coronary right there on the spot. I mean seriously! Would you want to be on the road and the guy passing you, or whoever your passing to have a heart attack (or one of those sudden ones where the victim is dead before they hit the ground, or even worse, there's the aortic dissection. It's where the big artery coming out of the heart and runs along the spine splits open, and your blood pours out into the body cavity... And it's an extremely painful way to go, it happened to my uncle, and he was in the hospital already for a heart attack. He was still under heavy sedation when he woke up screaming from the pain. Scary!!!) and drive INTO you?? I see some of these people out here and can't help but wonder how in the hell they pass a physical.

Expect the DOT to pass regs soon regarding all of this, and the industry(both small companies like I work for, and a few of the biggies like prime) to start regulating fitness of drivers and screening them more closely when they apply for a job. "Fat and happy" just ain't gonna cut it anymore if a driver drops dead at the wheel and takes a few people, maybe a whole family with him.

 

I was in great shape before I became a trucker! No one to blame but myself for slipping. We all know how to be healthy: right diet and exercise. No sense blaming employers - good health is surely a personal responsibility and its own reward.

 

Good, one less driver to park at the fuel island for 45 minutes so they can go stuff their face with donuts and diet Mountain Dew.

 

Hmmm.... Donuts, and a diet Mountain Dew.... Sounds like that should cancel each other out lol.

 

factual statement above.there are two types that block the pump and almost over whelmingly are overweight.guess the other "type" that eats at the pump.these two types are the overall majority of pump blockers without fail.

 

Like that guy I seen at a pilot once... He had to have 2 bags worth of Arby's stuff sitting up on his steering wheel, just literally shoving food down his gullet... He was there from the time I fueled and pulled the truck forward, and after I got the receipt, came back out and was pulling out of there to get back on the road he was still sitting there chowing down.

 

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Truck drivers, cleaning-service employees and mechanics are among the most obese groups of workers, new research contends.
Not far behind are health-service workers and administrative and clerical personnel, the study out of Washington state found.
The multiyear survey didn't draw a direct causal connection between types of jobs and excess weight. And the results apply only to Washington state.

http://www.philly.com/philly/health...k_Drivers_Top_List_of_Overweight_Workers.html

 

I can't believe this thread still has legs. Short, fat legs, but legs all the same. Pass me another donut.