FIGHTING BACK

BY MARY ELLEN CHILES

Robert “Bob” Dodson was happily trucking along when he found a lump on his chest. He tried to ignore it but found it kept growing. It didn’t feel right.

“It wasn’t going away and it just got bigger and bigger,” he says. “That’s when decided, ‘Okay, I’m done. can’t do this no more.’” When Dodson went to the doctor in July, he was diagnosed with stage lymphoma and began radiation and chemo the next week. If everything goes according to plan, he should be done with treatment at the end of 2022. It’s something he says he’s definitely loo ing forward to.

Dodson is based in Tennessee, but he stayed in pringfield issouri for his treat ments at ercy ospital. The idea of ying to Knoxville or Nashville for each infusion didn’t sound appealing and in pringfield he’s only miles from ercy ospital.

Dodson has been driving for Prime for 13 years. He says he tried retirement when he turned 65, but it didn’t stick. He was bored and went back to work after 15 months. “I was sitting at home, and said, ‘I gotta get back out on the road,’” Dodson says. He first oined Prime ecause a friend wor ed there and raved about the company. “Once got here, found a home,” he says.

Dodson also relied on the company’s family atmosphere after his diagnosis. Since Dodson can’t drive while he’s undergoing treatment, he was worried he’d lose his truck. That’s when a good friend stepped in and asked another driver to take over Dodson’s truck until he recovers.

In the meantime, Dodson is staying at the asis otel in pringfield which is near Prime’s pringfield head uarters. They have been outstanding here,” he says. “If there’s anything need, don’t have any problem getting it.”

One staff member brought him a care pac age on his first day of treatment. ow they all check on him nearly every day, and

Dodson likes to visit Prime when he’s feeling up to it.

“I check in and tell them I’m okay, I’m still alive he says. odson fre uently tal s with friends and family, but says having people nearby also lifts his spirits. “When you’re sitting here alone, and you know someone’s checking on you, making sure you’re okay: it makes a difference,” he says. fter finishing treatment odson hopes to keep working toward his 2-million-mile goal. “I ain’t goin’ nowhere,” he says with a laugh.

And since he’s here for the long run, he has some people he wants to thank. “I want to say thanks to everyone for everything they’ve done,” he says. “And guys, don’t wait too long if you spot something with your health that isn’t right. Get it taken care of. You wait around and say, ‘I can handle this!’ Well. Sometimes you can’t do it on your own. just about waited too long. I’m glad didn’t.”

BY PEYSON SHIELDS

If you just look at the numbers, diabetes is more prevalent in the trucking industry. Nearly 14% of truck drivers have diabetes compared to 7% for the working population in the United States, according to a 2015 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It was this stat plus plenty of driver stories that showed Rachel Dreher that something needed to be done. Dreher is Prime’s Driver Health and Fitness (DHF) Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, and she wanted to create something that would help drivers manage—and hopefully avoid—diabetes. She’s developed a program that provides education and resources to help drivers make long-lasting lifestyle changes.

“In the program, the driver goes through learning modules, workouts and prompts to give feedback or sign up for touch points to get advice,” Dreher says. The key to the program is its accessibility—the 12-week program is accessible through the DHF website and can be accessed 24/7.