Jack Tocher was on the phone with a customer when he got hurt. Jack remembers opening the hood of a truck and taking a step back. When he felt something pop in his right calf, he immediately knew something was wrong. The next thing he knew, he was on the ground.
“I didn’t know what happened,” Jack recalls of the 2019 accident.
In the emergency room, doctors determined Jack tore part of his Achilles tendon. Unable to stand or put any weight on his right foot, he was sidelined.
“What seemed like such a small thing wasn’t small at all.”
– Jack Tocher
“I thought I was going for a quick look over at the hospital,” he says. “But what seemed like such a small thing wasn’t small at all. I ended up going home on crutches and getting an MRI appointment for the next week.”
Jack was facing a long recovery.
“I knew I couldn’t go back to driving a truck,” he says. “I wasn’t going to be able to climb in and out of the cab.”
Fortunately, Jack had decades of experience in the trucking industry and a connection at Precision Trucklines. In her role as safety manager at Precision, Lorri Christensen had been working closely with WCB for years and had some knowledge about WCB’s training-on-the-job (TOJ) program. Through a TOJ placement, Precision Trucklines was able to train Jack for a new position.
Training-on-the-job program helps permanently injured workers start new careers
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In 2021, WCB partnered with employers to help 229 permanently injured workers get back to work.
Through the TOJ program, Jack learned new skills while getting paid, and his new employer saved money on Jack’s wages and training costs.
After learning the company’s electronic log system and delivery program, Jack now works as Precision Trucklines’ new driver trainer. He’s using his knowledge and years of experience to educate the next generation of drivers. He helps train them with electronic logs, billing, repair appointments, health and safety, and more.
“Jack is truly valued here, and he certainly fits in well with our other staff and with the drivers,” says Lorri. “Now our drivers call Jack for anything they need.”
Lorri is confident the company will keep WCB’s TOJ program in mind for future candidates when they’re looking to fill a role.
“The TOJ program has certainly been positive for us,” she adds. “I knew all along that I always had WCB’s support if I had questions.”
Jack’s training-on-the-job opportunity allowed him to gain new skills, expand his knowledge base and start a new job in an industry he enjoys.
“It’s been another learning curve, but I’m glad I got the opportunity,” says Jack. “I quite enjoy it.”
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Your Responsibilities
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Working while you recover
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