DG:  Okay, here’s the scoop.  I didn’t say anything yesterday because I was too frustrated to speak coherently.  

As you already know I went to the ER in Paducah, KY a couple of days ago.  After EKGs and blood work and neurological exam the doctor was at a loss as to what had caused my symptoms. He recommended a follow up with my family doctor and released me. Or so I thought. The paper he gave me on my way out stated no strenuous activity until released. Well, this did not satisfy the safety department as they wanted a full release without restrictions.  So I called the hospital and asked for a more thorough release and was told that would have to come from the doctor and they did not know when he would be on duty again. Relaying this information to safety they were unmoved. And I could not move without a release that satisfied their requirements. “Take a train if you have to” was their response to the fact that I was in the middle of nowhere, 20 miles from the nearest doctor, in an area with no public transportation or cab service.  So we sat. No one at the company seemed to care about my situation. They were only concerned about covering their hinies.  For a while I did not know what we were going to do. Then it came to me to call the emergency room about the time I was seen the night before as the doctor who saw me would likely be on duty. Praise God he was on duty, the charge nurse explained the situation and he agreed to fax me a more thorough release.  Release received and forwarded to KLLM. This was followed up by a message from me requesting confirmation of receipt of said fax. Receipt confirmed, dispatch even said the safety hold had been lifted. Alright. New load information should be coming soon. Whoa!  What’s this?  Message said new release form not good enough. Now they insist it state released without restrictions. Don’t you love admin folks. They have no clue to the real workings of the world rather live by a set of numbers and rules. So I call the hospital, again, and I do want to say the nurses in that ER were very patient and helpful. The charge nurse to whom I spoke after explaining my current dilemma stated what I was thinking, “if there were any restrictions the doctor would have stayed so in the release”.  And he didn’t, but that wasn’t good enough. So she contacted the doctor, he gave her the okay to make an addendum, case resolved. So around 11:00 am I am finally cleared to drive, get a load and we are on our way to Pennsylvania with another load of Kit Kats and other assorted candies. 

There’s a lot more to this story, but I gotta get some sleep. 

God bless.