Swift Transportation My HIPAA rights were violated Gary Indiana
To any of those who are considering a career with Swift Transport; I ask you to simply read this first before considering that position.
After a rocky start with a particular con artist of a trucking company in Cedar Rapids, IA, I was excited to see that Swift Transport was interested in taking me on as a fresh, out of trucking school prospect. I was not thrilled about having to train in Gary/Scary, Indiana; mind you; but I figured that was all part of the game.
I boarded my bus in Danville, IL at 0900 on a Sunday morning and did not make it to Hammond, IN until 1700. I called Swift; like I was instructed to do upon arrival; and was told someone would be coming for myself and another recruit.
We waited until 1830 and there was no shuttle driver to pick us up. Luckily the C.R. England driver who was there; waiting for other recruits for his company; gave us a ride to the dump that is the Majestic Star Hotel and Casino (that is another story in itself).
The next morning before boarding the shuttle to the Swift training facility; we were offered a Continental breakfast of store-bought muffins, and juice. I had one blueberry muffin and one glass of Cranberry juice.
When we arrived to the facility there was a lot of hurry up and wait. Line up here; fill this out; etc. After a couple of hours of filling out forms, getting pictures taken, and standing in line, I was finally able to urinate for my drug screen.
When the Nurse Practitioner was testing my urine for sugar (something I was completely unaware of) she immediately stated (in what could only be her "professional" opinion) that I was diabetic.
She then tested my blood pressure with a regulation sized cuff (I am 6'3" and 350 lbs., a thigh cuff should have been used on my arms). She stated my blood pressure was too high and she claimed I was "a walking heart attack waiting to happen".
I was sent to the other Nurse Practitioner who then stated I was suffering from Hypertension (if you were big and/or tall and sat in a crammed Greyhound bus for hours on end would your legs not be suffering from poor leg circulation as well?) and sent me home for "high blood pressure".
I was then sent to "Vanessa"; who gave me paperwork to be filled out stating I was a diabetic. My blood work from the previous year showed "high side of normal" but not even borderline diabetic.
But I played their game. I came back home, had an appointment with my doctor, had my blood pressure taken again (118/62 with a thigh cuff compared to 161/112 with regulation cuff), and had extensive bloodwork done; clearly showing I WAS NOT diabetic.
At this time Swift was calling previous employers and references to verify my information on the application. When my future in-laws (and employers at that time) were contacted; they were told that "he will not be coming back to be hired because he is diabetic".
According to the Office of Civil Rights: "A major goal of the privacy rule is to assure that the individuals' health information is properly protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and promote high quality health care and to protect the public's health and well being".
My rights were violated; plain and simple. Under no circumstances should anyone had told my in-laws that I was denied employment due to a medical condition I did not have!
But I needed a job; so I faxed my results in, as well as brought any and all records (sleep apnea, bloodwork, I even went on Lasix to make the Nurse Practitioner happy) back up to Gary two weeks later.
This time I fasted from the evening before to that morning;showing I was not diabetic. I presented my information to the first nurse practitioner who told me "I don't care to see what you have". I also enclosed a copy of my initial Sleep Apnea report, as well as a letter from ym doctor stating it is "unnecessary for (my name; aka J.W.J.) to have another sleep study performed; he is clinically responding well to the use of his CPAP Machine".
To add insult to injury the Nurse Practitioner suggested Gastric Bypass surgery to reduce the risk of continuing my "morbid obesity". You know; it never crossed my mind I was fat and could get surgery to make it better. It never crossed my mind in the skinny obsessed world we live in that I could cut my stomach to the size of a golf ball and lose excessive amounts of weight. Amazing!
I thanked her and informed her that in order for me to get the surgery I need insurance; which co-incedes with having a job; which I could not get because they have a hard-on for sending me home.
The Nurse Practitioner once again sent me home because she stated I still had high blood pressure. Even after showing them all of the tests and the bloodwork results I still apparently did not have a leg to stand on. I told them that that was "bullshit", I was handed papers for my doctor to fill out regarding Sleep Apnea (something he just did beforehand), and was escorted out of the building.
The next day I went back to my doctor; had them fill out the same thing but now with their fancy letterhead; and faxed it back to them. I waited three days (calling and leaving voice mails every hour; on the hour during their business hours of operation) only to be told that I needed to spend another $2,000 that I do not have on a sleep study.
I called the clinic where the nurse practitioner worked and informed her that my doctor; who is a doctor of medicine and not a nurse; someone who trumps nurses; gave his professional medical opinion that I was clinically safe enough to operate a commercial vehicle. After the Nurse Practitioner became rude and spoke to me as if I were a second class citizen; I was hung up on.
My fiancee', also a state employee, called back to speak to this nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner spoke horribly to my fiancee', claimed that I spoke to her in a "threatening manner," and assured I would never work for Swift. I ended that conversationwith my calling the nurse practitioner a "b***h".
Swift is what it is; it's one of the top 5 worst companies to work for (under CRST, J.B. Hunt, Schneider, PAM Transport). Gary, Indiana is what it is; an economically depressed area with sub-par residents whose only survival consists of the casinos in the area. I am now more thankful now than ever I found employment with a local outfit; as opposed to a commercial fleet company.
I'm not knocking anyone who works for Swift. We all have to bring food to the table somehow. I am just informing everyone of the horrible experience I had with them and suggesting to those who may consider employment with Swift to really weigh out all of their options. but I am certainly knocking on how unorthodox Swift's Gary, Indiana facility is with the handling of their Nurse Practitioners and the handling of sensitive information.
J.W.J.
West Central, Indiana
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Swift Transportation
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Proud Swift Trucker Team
Sacramento,California,
U.S.A.
a little advice
#8UPDATE Employee
Sun, September 07, 2008
while most of what i have read here on this site by other people is crap...you i believe....gary isnt the greatest period neither is the swift term there! but all of swift isnt like that... yes you were violated...you can sue or whatever you feel should be done! ( i worked in health care prior tot trucking) i do want you to understand that at terminals besides phoenix they have 1 person doing several jobs...so ex...1 person can be your Dm, your orientation teacher, safety coordinator, and a "NURSE PRACTIONER." they cannot deem from that urine test what you have or dont have...other than drugs in systems(that is definite) but as far as diabetic...NO!!! our sugar was elevated due to the muffin and juice! they dont supply the best nutritious food! but then again its the hotel serving the food. you having to wait was most likely the hotel if the had a shuttle or swift not telling you to get a cab...swifts fault! i wish you best of luck!
Brian
Hutchinson,Kansas,
U.S.A.
worked and trained for this company and worked out of the gary terminal
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, February 12, 2008
with personal knowledge of how swift operates and of the majestic this can happen,
of what this man has said but I doubt all the facts are in. We cannot control what is said about other's although as a person of integrity we try our best we, all do as people .
this man I'm sure can neither boast he is a man of integrity or a saint, though he may try OOPPSSS he called the nurse a what..... I know swift is not for everyone the rules for swift are meticulous and sometimes not easy and sometimes very frustrating. but,
it a company and i repeat a company that is not for everyone but, the majestic does it's best to take care of swift drivers and still make a profit for itself. it's not a bad place for being in the middle of nowhere if your life is about what tomorrow brings you and what
is on tap for you and swift.
I enjoyed working for the company for almost 2 years as a driver and trainer.
but for I moving to an area that is difficult for Swift to allow me to come home I had to leave. although a solution was tried we just couldn't make it work.
Darryl is one of the finest terminal managers i have ever had the pleasure to work for
and the fleet manager Don is a tremendous asset and also a pleasure to work with
I wish nothing but the best for those that work for the company.
If anyone has a problem touch base with Mrs jerry Ballard at the terminal in gary
she will do her best to help as well as anyone of the afore mentioned people
but always remember to avoid this person at all cost Tonya Smith driver manager at the gary terminal she will destroy i always recommended that she be avoided like the plague.
your career with Swift and your aspirations of what you want to gain with the company.
as a whole to work with swift and all the rules and everything about swift if your a fast learner give yourself about 6 month's if you cannot invest that much time in your
career with swift then don't go because it takes that long just to understand the player's, the mover's and the shaker's. Swift is a career choice they invest alot of time and money in you so give that to yourself. give yourself the time to learn about swift and all that it has to offer.
If you want to make money after your 6 month's with swift and if you have at least 2 years of driving experience and want to share your knowledge with other's then swift
is a great way to invest your time and skill you'll have the opportunity to share with other's as well as increase your income.
this is for everyone stay away from a lease purchase truck run,hide, duck... hide again wives, girlfriend's and significant other's help those that you love and care about. the offer is tempting and the dream is tantalizing. but in the end you too will suffer..
you are only paying for the companies bills, and you get a tax right-off and maybe you might make a few extra dollar's at first but in the end you will lose and maybe break even but to come out ahead look at it this way nationwide only 7 percent of all
lease purchase truck owner's are successful that means 93 percent fail or go broke trying to succeed at it best of luck to you if you try trucking this way. but remember
this one: if a company were successful with paying all the bill's of the truck why would they want you to pay all the bills of the truck and in the end sell you another one. this way the company keeps inventory changed and you still keep paying the bill's but always remember this one the contract alway's has this clause in it no matter what and how big or little the contract. your employment is subject to change at anytime with or without notice and. remember the truck stays but you don't no matter how much you have invested or how much fuel you just purchased
it's a tax right-off and not a reimbursable expense by the company.
consider yourselves forewarned best of luck to all of you and and may success follow
you all.
sincerely,
Brian
Hutchinson,Kansas,
U.S.A.
worked and trained for this company and worked out of the gary terminal
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, February 12, 2008
with personal knowledge of how swift operates and of the majestic this can happen,
of what this man has said but I doubt all the facts are in. We cannot control what is said about other's although as a person of integrity we try our best we, all do as people .
this man I'm sure can neither boast he is a man of integrity or a saint, though he may try OOPPSSS he called the nurse a what..... I know swift is not for everyone the rules for swift are meticulous and sometimes not easy and sometimes very frustrating. but,
it a company and i repeat a company that is not for everyone but, the majestic does it's best to take care of swift drivers and still make a profit for itself. it's not a bad place for being in the middle of nowhere if your life is about what tomorrow brings you and what
is on tap for you and swift.
I enjoyed working for the company for almost 2 years as a driver and trainer.
but for I moving to an area that is difficult for Swift to allow me to come home I had to leave. although a solution was tried we just couldn't make it work.
Darryl is one of the finest terminal managers i have ever had the pleasure to work for
and the fleet manager Don is a tremendous asset and also a pleasure to work with
I wish nothing but the best for those that work for the company.
If anyone has a problem touch base with Mrs jerry Ballard at the terminal in gary
she will do her best to help as well as anyone of the afore mentioned people
but always remember to avoid this person at all cost Tonya Smith driver manager at the gary terminal she will destroy i always recommended that she be avoided like the plague.
your career with Swift and your aspirations of what you want to gain with the company.
as a whole to work with swift and all the rules and everything about swift if your a fast learner give yourself about 6 month's if you cannot invest that much time in your
career with swift then don't go because it takes that long just to understand the player's, the mover's and the shaker's. Swift is a career choice they invest alot of time and money in you so give that to yourself. give yourself the time to learn about swift and all that it has to offer.
If you want to make money after your 6 month's with swift and if you have at least 2 years of driving experience and want to share your knowledge with other's then swift
is a great way to invest your time and skill you'll have the opportunity to share with other's as well as increase your income.
this is for everyone stay away from a lease purchase truck run,hide, duck... hide again wives, girlfriend's and significant other's help those that you love and care about. the offer is tempting and the dream is tantalizing. but in the end you too will suffer..
you are only paying for the companies bills, and you get a tax right-off and maybe you might make a few extra dollar's at first but in the end you will lose and maybe break even but to come out ahead look at it this way nationwide only 7 percent of all
lease purchase truck owner's are successful that means 93 percent fail or go broke trying to succeed at it best of luck to you if you try trucking this way. but remember
this one: if a company were successful with paying all the bill's of the truck why would they want you to pay all the bills of the truck and in the end sell you another one. this way the company keeps inventory changed and you still keep paying the bill's but always remember this one the contract alway's has this clause in it no matter what and how big or little the contract. your employment is subject to change at anytime with or without notice and. remember the truck stays but you don't no matter how much you have invested or how much fuel you just purchased
it's a tax right-off and not a reimbursable expense by the company.
consider yourselves forewarned best of luck to all of you and and may success follow
you all.
sincerely,
Brian
Hutchinson,Kansas,
U.S.A.
worked and trained for this company and worked out of the gary terminal
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, February 12, 2008
with personal knowledge of how swift operates and of the majestic this can happen,
of what this man has said but I doubt all the facts are in. We cannot control what is said about other's although as a person of integrity we try our best we, all do as people .
this man I'm sure can neither boast he is a man of integrity or a saint, though he may try OOPPSSS he called the nurse a what..... I know swift is not for everyone the rules for swift are meticulous and sometimes not easy and sometimes very frustrating. but,
it a company and i repeat a company that is not for everyone but, the majestic does it's best to take care of swift drivers and still make a profit for itself. it's not a bad place for being in the middle of nowhere if your life is about what tomorrow brings you and what
is on tap for you and swift.
I enjoyed working for the company for almost 2 years as a driver and trainer.
but for I moving to an area that is difficult for Swift to allow me to come home I had to leave. although a solution was tried we just couldn't make it work.
Darryl is one of the finest terminal managers i have ever had the pleasure to work for
and the fleet manager Don is a tremendous asset and also a pleasure to work with
I wish nothing but the best for those that work for the company.
If anyone has a problem touch base with Mrs jerry Ballard at the terminal in gary
she will do her best to help as well as anyone of the afore mentioned people
but always remember to avoid this person at all cost Tonya Smith driver manager at the gary terminal she will destroy i always recommended that she be avoided like the plague.
your career with Swift and your aspirations of what you want to gain with the company.
as a whole to work with swift and all the rules and everything about swift if your a fast learner give yourself about 6 month's if you cannot invest that much time in your
career with swift then don't go because it takes that long just to understand the player's, the mover's and the shaker's. Swift is a career choice they invest alot of time and money in you so give that to yourself. give yourself the time to learn about swift and all that it has to offer.
If you want to make money after your 6 month's with swift and if you have at least 2 years of driving experience and want to share your knowledge with other's then swift
is a great way to invest your time and skill you'll have the opportunity to share with other's as well as increase your income.
this is for everyone stay away from a lease purchase truck run,hide, duck... hide again wives, girlfriend's and significant other's help those that you love and care about. the offer is tempting and the dream is tantalizing. but in the end you too will suffer..
you are only paying for the companies bills, and you get a tax right-off and maybe you might make a few extra dollar's at first but in the end you will lose and maybe break even but to come out ahead look at it this way nationwide only 7 percent of all
lease purchase truck owner's are successful that means 93 percent fail or go broke trying to succeed at it best of luck to you if you try trucking this way. but remember
this one: if a company were successful with paying all the bill's of the truck why would they want you to pay all the bills of the truck and in the end sell you another one. this way the company keeps inventory changed and you still keep paying the bill's but always remember this one the contract alway's has this clause in it no matter what and how big or little the contract. your employment is subject to change at anytime with or without notice and. remember the truck stays but you don't no matter how much you have invested or how much fuel you just purchased
it's a tax right-off and not a reimbursable expense by the company.
consider yourselves forewarned best of luck to all of you and and may success follow
you all.
sincerely,
Brian
Hutchinson,Kansas,
U.S.A.
worked and trained for this company and worked out of the gary terminal
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, February 12, 2008
with personal knowledge of how swift operates and of the majestic this can happen,
of what this man has said but I doubt all the facts are in. We cannot control what is said about other's although as a person of integrity we try our best we, all do as people .
this man I'm sure can neither boast he is a man of integrity or a saint, though he may try OOPPSSS he called the nurse a what..... I know swift is not for everyone the rules for swift are meticulous and sometimes not easy and sometimes very frustrating. but,
it a company and i repeat a company that is not for everyone but, the majestic does it's best to take care of swift drivers and still make a profit for itself. it's not a bad place for being in the middle of nowhere if your life is about what tomorrow brings you and what
is on tap for you and swift.
I enjoyed working for the company for almost 2 years as a driver and trainer.
but for I moving to an area that is difficult for Swift to allow me to come home I had to leave. although a solution was tried we just couldn't make it work.
Darryl is one of the finest terminal managers i have ever had the pleasure to work for
and the fleet manager Don is a tremendous asset and also a pleasure to work with
I wish nothing but the best for those that work for the company.
If anyone has a problem touch base with Mrs jerry Ballard at the terminal in gary
she will do her best to help as well as anyone of the afore mentioned people
but always remember to avoid this person at all cost Tonya Smith driver manager at the gary terminal she will destroy i always recommended that she be avoided like the plague.
your career with Swift and your aspirations of what you want to gain with the company.
as a whole to work with swift and all the rules and everything about swift if your a fast learner give yourself about 6 month's if you cannot invest that much time in your
career with swift then don't go because it takes that long just to understand the player's, the mover's and the shaker's. Swift is a career choice they invest alot of time and money in you so give that to yourself. give yourself the time to learn about swift and all that it has to offer.
If you want to make money after your 6 month's with swift and if you have at least 2 years of driving experience and want to share your knowledge with other's then swift
is a great way to invest your time and skill you'll have the opportunity to share with other's as well as increase your income.
this is for everyone stay away from a lease purchase truck run,hide, duck... hide again wives, girlfriend's and significant other's help those that you love and care about. the offer is tempting and the dream is tantalizing. but in the end you too will suffer..
you are only paying for the companies bills, and you get a tax right-off and maybe you might make a few extra dollar's at first but in the end you will lose and maybe break even but to come out ahead look at it this way nationwide only 7 percent of all
lease purchase truck owner's are successful that means 93 percent fail or go broke trying to succeed at it best of luck to you if you try trucking this way. but remember
this one: if a company were successful with paying all the bill's of the truck why would they want you to pay all the bills of the truck and in the end sell you another one. this way the company keeps inventory changed and you still keep paying the bill's but always remember this one the contract alway's has this clause in it no matter what and how big or little the contract. your employment is subject to change at anytime with or without notice and. remember the truck stays but you don't no matter how much you have invested or how much fuel you just purchased
it's a tax right-off and not a reimbursable expense by the company.
consider yourselves forewarned best of luck to all of you and and may success follow
you all.
sincerely,
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Question of companies medical test competency
#8Consumer Suggestion
Mon, October 29, 2007
What kind of morons would give you a blood sugar test first thing in the morning. Everytime I have ever had blood tested they suggest fasting for at least 8 hours.
Cranberry juice (what 45 percent sugar) and blue berry muffin (95 percent sugar).
That would have caused high blood sugar. You should apply somewhere else and see if you can have your doctor provide physical info.
Rodney
Grandview,Missouri,
U.S.A.
You too?
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, August 25, 2007
When I was due for a physical, although I didnt need to take one for my position, my manager disclosed my diabetes to non essential people. He even went as far as telling a clerk at the DMV, whom I dealt with weekly, that I got a vasectomy. I told HR about this but they did nothing. Again this shows Swifts sub standard management.
I have other rebuttals on the many Swift posts here giving examples of how piss-poor this company and its management is. Of course people will defend this company, hell I did at one point, but the monster bit me in the a*s too. I thought they were half way decent. I thought maybe the lack of decent management was localized but found it goes all the way to the top.
When Jerry bought his company back, the brass had their golden parachutes lined wonderfully. That is all they care about. They know their is an endless supply of warm bodies out there to make their lives comfortable.