Injury and Wokers' Comp: My Story As A Local Trucker

Hey, it’s Jorge Cruz here. I’m the Owner and Founder of OTRF Transport, and I want to share my story with you—a real, no-holds-barred look at what happened when I got injured on the job as a truck driver. I was working as a local multi-stop trucker in Katy, Texas, for one of the big food service companies. I didn’t love the job, but I cherished being home every day with my wife and kids. That all changed in an instant. One day, I slipped on a dock plate, crashed flat on my back, and let out a curse that bounced off the warehouse walls. That fall messed me up—really bad. But what followed was even worse: the workers' comp nightmare.

I kept pushing for answers—an MRI, a CAT scan, anything to figure out what was wrong with me. Instead, they shuffled me off to a physical therapist who gave me the green light to return to work. I knew my body wasn’t right. The moment I lifted a package, my back screamed in protest. I reached out to attorneys for help, but they told me Texas laws didn’t favor employees like me—I had no case. Meanwhile, my pay started shrinking, dropping to 90%, then 80%, while I struggled on light duty. I faced an impossible choice: risk losing my family’s home or go back to a route that would wreck my back even more. In the end, I walked away.

But I didn’t let that defeat me. I decided to take control of my future and became a Lease Purchase Owner with Prime Inc. Now, I’ve got the freedom and financial opportunities I could never have dreamed of as an employee. That’s why I started OTRF Transport—to share the lessons I learned the hard way and help other truckers take charge of their careers.

Here’s what I want to tell you about in this video:

The truth about workers' comp for Local truckers in Texas—what really happens when you’re hurt.
My journey from injury to owning my own rig—how I turned a setback into a comeback.
Watch now to hear my story and find out how you can take control of your trucking career too.