On Friday a friend and former expediter known to many in the Open Forum drove a tractor to get a tire fixed as he prepared to pick up a trailer and head out on the road.
That would be a routine event with most drivers on most days. Not so with this driver on this day. He is Glen Rice, a dear friend of ours who a while back was deemed by the Social Security Administration to be totally and permanently disabled. (Background)
Glen and his wife Jan were severely injured in a horrific car/truck accident in December, 2003. No one believed either one of them would ever drive a truck again. Today I can't believe it myself but Glen is giving it a go.
Last week, Glen was in Indiana to attend his carrier's driver orientation class and get into a truck. Now he is in it and doing the things truckers do.
The Social Security rules allow people who are drawing disability benefits to try working for a while without loosing the benefits. If this does not work out, Glen can return home and still get by.
But that's the thing about Glen Rice. He does not know how to quit. He is not one to let something like a permanently and totally disabled designation stand between him and the effort to recover enough to get back on the road again. A lot of people would not even try to go back to work if they were so designated. Not Glen. He is a trucker that cannot not truck.
His doctor has cleared him to try. He has passed the DOT physical. His safety department knows about his accident, injuries and recovery. They all say it is OK for him to drive a big rig. I'm happy that he is happy to be back in a truck, but I worry too and he knows it.
There is no question that he is in better shape than he has been when we have seen him at other times since the accident. Maybe it's that I don't understand the guy. I've never met anyone with more drive than him. I'm happy for him. I'm worried about him. I am astounded by his recovery and new work. I see it happening but cannot believe he is back in a truck. When I pray for the man, I don't even know what to say.
It's an amazing thing to see Glen in a truck again. Let's hope and pray that it works out for the good.
That would be a routine event with most drivers on most days. Not so with this driver on this day. He is Glen Rice, a dear friend of ours who a while back was deemed by the Social Security Administration to be totally and permanently disabled. (Background)
Glen and his wife Jan were severely injured in a horrific car/truck accident in December, 2003. No one believed either one of them would ever drive a truck again. Today I can't believe it myself but Glen is giving it a go.
Last week, Glen was in Indiana to attend his carrier's driver orientation class and get into a truck. Now he is in it and doing the things truckers do.
The Social Security rules allow people who are drawing disability benefits to try working for a while without loosing the benefits. If this does not work out, Glen can return home and still get by.
But that's the thing about Glen Rice. He does not know how to quit. He is not one to let something like a permanently and totally disabled designation stand between him and the effort to recover enough to get back on the road again. A lot of people would not even try to go back to work if they were so designated. Not Glen. He is a trucker that cannot not truck.
His doctor has cleared him to try. He has passed the DOT physical. His safety department knows about his accident, injuries and recovery. They all say it is OK for him to drive a big rig. I'm happy that he is happy to be back in a truck, but I worry too and he knows it.
There is no question that he is in better shape than he has been when we have seen him at other times since the accident. Maybe it's that I don't understand the guy. I've never met anyone with more drive than him. I'm happy for him. I'm worried about him. I am astounded by his recovery and new work. I see it happening but cannot believe he is back in a truck. When I pray for the man, I don't even know what to say.
It's an amazing thing to see Glen in a truck again. Let's hope and pray that it works out for the good.
