Bob Sleasman's Blog, Jan

Bob's Blog

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January 1 - April 30, 2009

I should have kept a log but I didn't, so the chronological order might be off, actually I know it will be off. I'm playing catch-up here so give me a break, I'll do the best I can, here we go.

Donna made it home around mid-morning on January 1. We had a very nice dinner prepared by The Old Woman, aka my mother. If I remember right Donna stayed home until Monday the 5th and then hit the road again.

Freight for the month was pretty slow but we managed to get by. Donna made it home for another weekend in January. I started to go to the chiropractor three times a week for my back; my chiropractor said he couldn't even make a guess as to when my back would be in any kind of shape for me to go back to work.

I'm dealing with the company that we have our work accident insurance with. They decided to pay me from November 26 through January 28, after which they will not pay me until they hire an independent third party company to gather the doctor reports, which I sent to the insurance carrier, and then have the third party company send me to an independent doctor to examine me. Then that doctor will send his report to the third party company who will review the doctor’s finding and the reports they had gathered. Then they would send their findings to the insurance company, who will then send the information to their review department, after which they will decide if I am well enough to work, or if I deserve, in their humble opinion, to be paid for the time I could not work, and pay me until I can work, or until my insurance runs out.

Confused yet? I'm not done yet. I was told by the insurance company that it would take up to 90 days for them to locate a third party company. Then that company will have to schedule me for an appointment with an independent doctor and that could take 60 days or more. So now we are up to about five months of waiting to receive benefits I have been paying for to this insurance company for over eight years. This company made sure they got their money every week I worked but they must sure hate to pay out when it’s time to. I believe their plan is that if they wait long enough I will go back to work and not collect the benefits due me. We will just have to see how this plays out. That about wraps up January.

February was cold, that I remember for sure. I'm still going three times a week to the chiropractor, my back hasn't improved any.

Donna has spent most of the month running the east coast, freight is still slow and driving solo doesn't help our bottom line. We have decided that we will find a co-driver for Donna. The month flew by with Donna spending just about all of it on the road. I contacted the insurance company; they had no answers to my questions about finding an independent company.

We are up to March, nothing much going on here. Donna thinks she found a female co-driver, which is a good thing. Freight pretty much sucks. My back is no better.

Donna hired on the female co-driver, we are hoping with a team in the truck she will get some longer mileage loads, therefore more money.

After getting the co-driver White Glove certified and getting her to the explosives and radioactive classes at FedEx CC things fell apart. It seems this woman liked to spend all waking moments in the truck stops with the guys. When it came time to work she was too tired to drive. Well let me tell you a thing, Donna is a person not to be messed with, because she will tell you where the bear do poop, and stick you in that poop. Let’s just say there was a parting of ways and Donna is solo again.

On a very bright note, my oldest daughter, Sherry, gave birth to a baby girl on March 25. The baby was pre-mature but healthy, and I assisted in the delivery. Mother, baby and grandfather are doing well.

We are in April. Donna is looking for a new co-driver, I'm doing the chiropractor thing three times a week and it’s still cold.

I forgot to say that in late March I received a letter from the independent company. I needed to sign a release form so they can request medical records from my treating physicians, which I signed and mailed, and faxed to them.

April 8 was my youngest daughter’s birthday, she is now 30.

I called the insurance company, they had a bit of news for me, I am scheduled for an examination by an independent doctor on June 8. See, what I tell you five stinking months just for the doctor’s appointment. No telling how long after that it will take them to make a determination if I deserve in their opinion any benefits.

Freight seems slower than ever this month. Donna has a lead on a co-driver. She was on the road over a month before getting home for a weekend. Little progress has been made with my back. I spend my idle time reading and posting on Expediters Online.

My grandson Corey came down and did some yard work for me. I try to visit the baby; her name is Alyssandria, after my chiropractor appointments.

Life goes on day by day. Money is getting tight and the bills keep coming in. I hope freight picks up soon. Donna is following up on the lead for the new co-driver.

We will survive these setbacks put in our path. We will not fail. We are strong. We will not be beaten. These are words I say each day.

This ends April. A new month begins. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page