EEOC forces Transport America to accommodate service animals

[ironpony]

I'm going to "identify as" a minority female with PTSD and use the EEOC as a weapon to force you to hire me. Then you'll have to spend another $150,000 to stretch out the frame and add a big water tank for my emotional support dolphin.

'Bout time you fessed up. When you gonna admit to the transpecies gender reassignment?

 

[GAnthony]

well frankly with mental issues, that driver should have never even gotten a CDL.

Court documents reveal that the driver suffered from social anxiety disorder and depression. Mental health issues limited activities such as interacting with others, sleeping, brain function and thinking. The service animal assisted the driver in coping with the disabilities.

 

[Rigjockey]

It's just a scam to be allowed to have a donkey in the truck and then have a side hustle performing donkey shows at the truck stops.

 

[r3gulator3]

My truck, should be my rules. If I want to charge up front for a pet in the truck, or not allow an animal in the truck, that should be my right.

And frankly, the use of therapy animals has been abused to the point that I am not interested in even trying to accommodate. If you allow a dog, you have to allow other sorts of exotic animals.

A combat vet, that I feel is responsible and will look after the truck and keep it up, that's one thing. That said, if I allow that, I also have to allow anybody who feel unstable to the point they need a therapy skunk in their truck. Literally anybody can get any animal registered as a therapy animal now.

It's bad enough that when this person quits, i will likely have to go recover the truck at a huge expense. Just adds insult to injury to pick it up only to find out I'm also out a ton of money because the seats and carpet are shredded and covered in crap.

To take it further, as soon as I withhold money from this person, they are likely to tie me up in court over that as well.

No thanks.

This is something, that I , as a business owner, the one who stands to lose lots of money based on this decision, should be able to decide on a case by case basis, based solely on my decision.

As a small business owner, your going to be choosey about who you hire. You aint gonna slam warm bodies in seats. However,

I think it’s ridiculous how anyone for no reason has a service animal. But it’s on tv and celebrities are doing it so now everyone in America has to. I think you’ll find that those who really need it would take care of it and it’s living environment.

 

[r3gulator3]

I'm going to "identify as" a minority female with PTSD and use the EEOC as a weapon to force you to hire me. Then you'll have to spend another $150,000 to stretch out the frame and add a big water tank for my emotional support dolphin.

This is the point I was making in my post prior to this.

 

[r3gulator3]

well frankly with mental issues, that driver should have never even gotten a CDL.

Court documents reveal that the driver suffered from social anxiety disorder and depression. Mental health issues limited activities such as interacting with others, sleeping, brain function and thinking. The service animal assisted the driver in coping with the disabilities.

People who keep up on their treatment and counseling and have legit issues like PTSD or Anxiety. A lot of times if someone like that can have a job where they have a more limited interaction with others they do much better. As opposed to doing something where they work with the general public every day. There are cases were people are disabled by mental illness and can’t work. In which case I would agree. But someone like me who has PTSD in remission. What’s wrong with me having a CDL? Once you have PTSD you have it for life but it may not effect your every day.

 

[Mike]

I think you’ll find that those who really need it would take care of it and it’s living environment.

I totally agree.

The problem is being able to come up with a policy that will allow you to weed out the fakes, without getting sued.

Then, there is the situation I would be worried about. Driver arrives at a receiver with a load, and that location does not allow animals on the premises. Crap is gonna roll downhill very quickly in that situation.

Ravioli Man brought up a good point as well. If someone is unstable enough that they need a therapy animal to try and cope with daily life functions, is a truck really a good place for them? This profession is known as one of the most stressful there is, ranking really close to Air Traffic Controller.

 

[r3gulator3]

Ravioli Man brought up a good point as well. If someone is unstable enough that they need a therapy animal to try and cope with daily life functions,

I agree with all of your post except this. He said anyone with a mental disorder shouldn’t have a CDL.

 

[GAnthony]

Ravioli Man brought up a good point as well. If someone is unstable enough that they need a therapy animal to try and cope with daily life functions, is a truck really a good place for them? This profession is known as one of the most stressful there is, ranking really close to Air Traffic Controller

ravioli man......

I agree with all of your post except this. He said anyone with a mental disorder shouldn’t have a CDL.

that is right..what's to say some mental case doesn't go off the deep end, when someone else, either another trucker or 4 wheeler doesn't pisses him off enough that he goes berserk..??

meds or no meds, he's a ticking time bomb.

and also "what if" he doesn't get home in time, to get a refill of his meds?

too bad, mental instability to me means, no CDL or ANY job that is safety sensitive, or dangerous now as it is, with out the added mental instabilities one DOES HAVE, not MAY have...

then hire him as a cop, give him a high powered gun and let him go berserk being a cop..when someone pisses him off.

 

[r3gulator3]

ravioli man......




that is right..what's to say some mental case doesn't go off the deep end, when someone else, either another trucker or 4 wheeler doesn't pisses him off enough that he goes berserk..??

meds or no meds, he's a ticking time bomb.

and also "what if" he doesn't get home in time, to get a refill of his meds?

too bad, mental instability to me means, no CDL or ANY job that is safety sensitive, or dangerous now as it is, with out the added mental instabilities one DOES HAVE, not MAY have...

then hire him as a cop, give him a high powered gun and let him go berserk being a cop..when someone pisses him off.

Glad to know that I’m a ticking time bomb. Never had a violent out burst ever caused by PTSD. But because one improperly diagnosed or improperly medicated person ends up on the news we are all the same. When my PTSD was bad. I would actually find a secluded spot and sing 80s hair band music until it Passed.

But I’m a ticking time bomb.

 

[Mike]

I agree with all of your post except this. He said anyone with a mental disorder shouldn’t have a CDL.

He goes a little further than I would, but I can see his point. The risk is high, and when the responsibility lies on the carrier, it becomes a tough decision.

A big carrier is self insured, they pay for whatever mess is made.

Little guys like me? A bad episode can put me out of business overnight due to my insurance being dropped and nobody else willing to insure me.

That is why I said, this is just one of many many reasons why I will likely never have employees.

 

[r3gulator3]

ravioli man......




that is right..what's to say some mental case doesn't go off the deep end, when someone else, either another trucker or 4 wheeler doesn't pisses him off enough that he goes berserk..??

meds or no meds, he's a ticking time bomb.

and also "what if" he doesn't get home in time, to get a refill of his meds?

too bad, mental instability to me means, no CDL or ANY job that is safety sensitive, or dangerous now as it is, with out the added mental instabilities one DOES HAVE, not MAY have...

then hire him as a cop, give him a high powered gun and let him go berserk being a cop..when someone pisses him off.

Also by your theory there should be no truck drivers. There isn’t a person in America who hasn’t dealt with depression at some point in their life.

 

[r3gulator3]

He goes a little further than I would, but I can see his point. The risk is high, and when the responsibility lies on the carrier, it becomes a tough decision.

A big carrier is self insured, they pay for whatever mess is made.

Little guys like me? A bad episode can put me out of business overnight due to my insurance being dropped and nobody else willing to insure me.

That is why I said, this is just one of many many reasons why I will likely never have employees.

Same thing my brother says. And I fully get it but to say someone who has ever had a diagnosis in their life shouldn’t be able to attain a CDL. That’s far fetched that’s like saying duck can’t be a driver cuz he’s too conservative or IP can’t be a driver cus he’s too left.

 

[Sinister]

1. Being a veteran your self why would you have a problem with a veteran having a service dog for post combat trauma therapy? It’s not that they can’t competently do the job but in some situations a service animal is instrumental in preventing panic attacks or flashbacks.

2. Blind people are allowed to take their dogs into stores, what’s the difference here?

3. Don’t see anything where it says they can’t be charged for HVAC duct system cleaning, truck cleaning or repair of any damages made, so how is that a loss? Sure you might not get a $500 deposit up front but you hold the last check to recoup the loss once the truck has been inspected.

How do you know it’s post combat anything?

You know how many cooks and supply clerks are milking the system?

A lot.

 

[Rigjockey]

ravioli man......




that is right..what's to say some mental case doesn't go off the deep end, when someone else, either another trucker or 4 wheeler doesn't pisses him off enough that he goes berserk..??

meds or no meds, he's a ticking time bomb.

and also "what if" he doesn't get home in time, to get a refill of his meds?

too bad, mental instability to me means, no CDL or ANY job that is safety sensitive, or dangerous now as it is, with out the added mental instabilities one DOES HAVE, not MAY have...

then hire him as a cop, give him a high powered gun and let him go berserk being a cop..when someone pisses him off.

Wow "Ravioli man" you really need to educate yourself about mental illnesses like PTSD and depression.

Thank your lucky stars that you have not been a victim of a robbery or home invasion. You would probably get PTSD and by your logic you should be victimised and lose your possessions and then victimised again by losing your way of making a living.

But for the grace of God there go I.

 

[r3gulator3]

How do you know it’s post combat anything?

You know how many cooks and supply clerks are milking the system?

A lot.

I don’t disagree, lots of people milk lots of things.

 

[Duck]

'Bout time you fessed up. When you gonna admit to the transpecies gender reassignment?

 

[Electric Chicken]

The #1 reason to have a pet is for mental health. You know...."dog is man's best friend" so to add "emotional support" to the label just makes it sound like regular pets aren't important. Adding "emotional support" means now everyone with an allergy has to tolerate them just because it's forced upon them.

I wish I was still in school, I'd make them let me have my emotional support peanuts.

 

[r3gulator3]

peanuts

You spelled that wrong.

 

[Injun]

....limited activities such as interacting with others, sleeping, brain function and thinking

Seriously?? That by itself should be a disqualifier for obtaining a CDL. And I'm not making a joke here.
(IP )

why would you have a problem with a veteran having a service dog for post combat trauma therapy?

Where does the article say anything about the man being a combat vet? Or be dealing with PTSD? It said anxiety and panic attacks. PTSD is a whole 'nother spectrum of issues, some more debilitating than others. You are able to deal with yours in a manner that keeps you stable and productive. Others are not. And yes, although I was never in military combat, I do have episodes of PTSD symptoms. If I smell burning diesel or try to drive an International, it rolls back. But like you, I have ways of dealing with it. Don't drive Internationals is one of them. I hate that because I'm one of those weirdos who loves Internationals.

And frankly, the use of therapy animals has been abused to the point that I am not interested in even trying to accommodate

Even WalMart has gotten fed up with it. They have signs up that say "No pets allowed. Certified service animals only." And I, too, have seen the abuse. A service animal is specifically trained to do a task. Along with that training is behavior and discipline training. A dog that won't sit still in the restaurant, jumps on people and yaps is not a service animal. Regardless of what the owner claims.

Ravioli Man

A bad episode can put me out of business overnight

I know you're talking about an employee losing control, but ask @mndriver about damage to a truck and having to fly several states away to retrieve the damaged truck after letting a driver go. That was a massive fiasco.
_________________

I totally get the skepticism around so-called service and "emotional support" animals. My opinion, the whole "emotional support" thing is just nonsense. I don't buy that bullshit for a minute. A service animal, as I said earlier, is specially trained for a specific task (seeing eye dog, hearing dog, go-get-stuff dog, etc..) and has undergone extensive obedience training. A pet is not a service animal, although most service animals are treated as pets when they're "off duty." To claim a pet is a service animal delegitimizes true service animals. My opinion, it should be a criminal offense under ADA discrimination laws.