Werner's Motto is "We Care" and I am here to say Werner does NOT Care for their employees health or safety. I was in Training with an excellent Trainer and went to sleep one night and woke up about 20 min later in a state of confusion and incoherent, my Trainer said that I fell getting out of the truck, hit my chin, bit my tongue making it bleed alot. I became aware of my surroundings when standing in the truck stop store with EMT, Police and my Trainer surrounding me. I was sent to the ER by Ambulance and the ER Dr. assumed I had a Seizure because I had bit my tongue and was reported to be confused, this is the same Dr. that forgot to sign my Discharge Summary that was to go to my work. I had to wait an extra 4 days to get his signature and then I was told I could not go back to work for 30 days until I get a clearance from a Neurologists that I do NOT have seizures. I am an Iraqi Veteran and I am still in the Military in the Reserves and I must see Physicians in the VA System which is very slooow. I was left stranded in Atlanta and when they told me I had 30 days to get this done they said it started on the night I had the sleep problem which was almost a week prior so I really only had about 3 weeks, there is no way anything gets done that quickly.
First, I had to see my Primary Physician, who puts in requests for other Physician visits and tests such as a sleep study, CAT Scan, EEG., then these requests must be approved, then the dept. calls you to set up the date for the test. I have been home 3 weeks now and I have seen 2 Drs. and had the Sleep Study done, still a long way from getting to see the Neurologists and the
30 day deadline is almost here. According to Werner if I can't get everything done in the 30 days then I am fired, no exceptions. My Primary Physician sent a letter to Werner to request an extension of time and I have already been told by the Safety Dept. at Werner that it won't make any difference the 30 day leave will not be extended. This 30 day leave is unpaid and I had to buy a bus ticket from Atlanta to get home, I had no money so I did not eat for 2 1/2 days until I got home. I can't work until I get cleared from a bogus medical statement and so I am chomping at the bit to get back on the truck and every time I call Werner for anything I get attitude and rudeness, not compassion or concern. It is like Werner does not care about their employees.
What is so frustrating is that the Dr. in the ER did not run any test at all except a CBC and a urinalysis, neither of which will tell him if anyone has had a seizure. All of this was explained to Werner and they did not care, they only cared what was written on the Discharge Summary that they had to wait 4 days for the ER Dr. to sign. So, I am stuck waiting for tests to be schelduled and in the meantime no money coming in and me anxious to get back to work, but I will probably lose my job and possibly my have my CDL's Suspended for 10 years according to Werner because I won't be able to make the deadline, through no fault of my own, I have no control over the timing of any of this but I will be punished as if I do have control over everything. All I have always wanted to do was to drive a Truck and despite what Werner says I will drive a Truck!