Illness on the Road

September 27, 2022

You quite literally are living out of your truck and get sick on the road. What now?

Whether it is a common cold, or you got hit with the flu, it’s not fun!

The topic of getting sick on the road is not discussed near as much as it should be. Many drivers don’t want to stop driving because they won’t get paid. Your health is more important than pay!

It is important to take care of yourself and know your limits. Make sure you continue to keep yourself hydrated when you start to feel sick. When you are away from family and in a rural location, there isn’t always a doctor or someone who can take care of you.

Below are a few tips on what to do if you encounter illness on the road as a truck driver.

Pull over if you are feeling too ill to drive. If possible, find a truck stop so you have the amenities if you need them. For your safety and others don’t drive when you can’t fully focus on the road.

Assess if you need to get help. Are you experiencing an illness where you need to see the doctor? Reach out to your dispatch and let them know you are going to see a doctor. Often you can get a taxi from your location to a doctor’s office. If you are too ill to drive yourself, take an ambulance. Call for help if you need it. It is better to be safe than sorry!

Carry medicine on your truck. It is safe to say that you will get ill on the road at some point during your time as an over-the-road driver. Be prepared and keep common cold medicine on your truck. Do not carry medicine that will make you drowsy or impaired. Know the rules on what medications are safe and legal for you as a commercial driver. It is best to not use nighttime medicine at all when you are on the road in case you would accidentally take them during your drive. In addition to carrying medicine, keep cleaning supplies on hand. Clean daily when you are sick with sanitizing wipes.

It is safest to park it when you feel ill. Putting yourself and others on the road at risk is not worth it!

Join the discussion in the comments below!

What have you done when you got sick on the road?

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Dave

October 18, 2022

I have used walk in clinics. Doctors in small towns are easier to get into
Jillian Diebel

October 18, 2022

Twice I've been sick enough to stop driving. The first was somewhere in the southwest of the US and I had something of the flu. I spent three days at a truck stop, in my sleeper until I felt well enough to drive. I was driving for CR England at that time and don't remember how I told my driver manager I was taking time.
The second time I had what I thought was a kidney infection. I was driving for the US division of Celadon and stopped at an urgent care clinic in Kitchner, Ontario. I had to pay to be seen, but the doctor tested me and it turned out to be my back.
I drive a day cab now and will take time when I need it. I am lucky enough to have savings in case I don't work.
Colin

October 18, 2022

If I’m able to drive, I drive. If not, I rest until I feel well enough to continue. This basically holds true in a general way. My trips are at least 4000 miles start to finish. It’s not often I’m up against imminent deadlines.
Mike

October 18, 2022

When ill at home all I want to do is sleep. In addition to the tips above I get in the bunk and snooze until I feel well enough to get back on the road.
Regina Davis

October 18, 2022

Sick on the road was thing I worry about most but I was always prepared myself for that time ,I always kept medication for every thing because fear getting sick in the middle of nowhere,, ans once it did happen to me but me my co driver pull it off cause we slipseat ,I only got up until we come up to the scales,, Cause if I had check in a E.R. ,I just knew I was gonna stay in that city and I didn't want that. I want be in my home hospital,, My co-driver did all the driving from California to Georgia none stop only to fuel , I was so sick I couldn't walk ,and once we reach home ,I was in hospital for 2 weeks and had to have emergency surgery !
James Pounds

October 18, 2022

I was having pain in my lower back so bad that I had to pull over and call 911. My office call MO State Hwy Patrol is cone off my truck because they kept me over night. I ended up with kidney stones and was under a load and had to get back to Omaha, NE to have surgery.
I was on pain pills and couldn't drive until I was released from the Dr.
I'm an Owner/ Operator and am leased to a company. They wanted me to take another load before my surgery and the day after was sending me loads. Companies need to understand the we are people and not machines.
MIMI

October 18, 2022

Www.myprotectionplan360.com is the email I received to file a claim. Is this correct. Filing replacement claim RKING930 MONO BLUETOOTH HEADSET
Matthew

October 18, 2022

Suck it up buttercup
Randy A. Francisco

October 18, 2022

I just wokred thrugh it till I got home
Rodney Andersen

October 19, 2022

I pull over somewhere safe and take over the counter meds that i carry with me and go to bed no fun driving and holding a trash can been there done that very short distance finding someplace to park
Rodney Andersen

October 19, 2022

I pull over somewhere safe and take over the counter meds that i carry with me and go to bed no fun driving and holding a trash can been there done that very short distance finding someplace to park
Michael

October 20, 2022

Well this is probably going to be an unpopular or unwanted answer. But I found a secret remedy for all cold based ailments. It's worked for me for a very long time. Booze. A little context one day I got the flu a fairly nasty one. With a fever of 104*F and as I lay there shivering (because room temperature with 104*F fever feels very cold) I had no traditional items to try and treat it. So I figured 8 just have to tough it out. So as I was laying their toughing it out. My brain deduced a possible treatment. They use alcohol to sterilize medical equipment. They also in a pinch use it to clean wounds. So it kills viruses and bacteria. If you drink enough it should kill the bugs inside you too. But what is enough that will kill the bugs but not you. Well I only had enough to get feeling tipsy so well let's see if that's enough. So I proceeded to drink well not sure of the terminology so the small bottle but not the shot glass sized bottle of southern comfort. I was worried it wasn't going to be enough so we'll it also depends on how fast you drink it on how well it'll work so I slammed it. It got me nice and tipsy or well buzzed. Then I turned up the heat mostly because I was freezing and bundled up I woke up a few hours later in a pool of sweat and felt pretty good no more fever no more chills still a bit tipsy but that's ok it's better than feeling like death. So that's how I fight my colds if they persist and become a nuisance.
Michael

October 20, 2022

Well this is probably going to be an unpopular or unwanted answer. But I found a secret remedy for all cold based ailments. It's worked for me for a very long time. Booze. A little context one day I got the flu a fairly nasty one. With a fever of 104*F and as I lay there shivering (because room temperature with 104*F fever feels very cold) I had no traditional items to try and treat it. So I figured 8 just have to tough it out. So as I was laying their toughing it out. My brain deduced a possible treatment. They use alcohol to sterilize medical equipment. They also in a pinch use it to clean wounds. So it kills viruses and bacteria. If you drink enough it should kill the bugs inside you too. But what is enough that will kill the bugs but not you. Well I only had enough to get feeling tipsy so well let's see if that's enough. So I proceeded to drink well not sure of the terminology so the small bottle but not the shot glass sized bottle of southern comfort. I was worried it wasn't going to be enough so we'll it also depends on how fast you drink it on how well it'll work so I slammed it. It got me nice and tipsy or well buzzed. Then I turned up the heat mostly because I was freezing and bundled up I woke up a few hours later in a pool of sweat and felt pretty good no more fever no more chills still a bit tipsy but that's ok it's better than feeling like death. So that's how I fight my colds if they persist and become a nuisance.

Illness on the Road

Join the discussion in the comments below!

What have you done when you got sick on the road?

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