Need Help To Keep My Home

My name is Seth Fezatte, and I am in danger of losing everything dear to me.


About a month ago, I was terminated from my job as a Truck Driver with a local company known as Imperial Express. After fighting with them for over a year with a workmans compensation case, and eventually getting surgery on my shoulder for a rotator cuff injury I returned to work with them this September. 

Since coming back I was treated with disresepct, their dispatch was consistently texting me while I was driving, calling me many times a day nagging and pushing me to do the job I've been doing for 5 years, and causing some rather unsafe environments for someone fdriving interstate with a large vehicle. 

A bit of back story on my family. My mother, sister and I all work for this company, and through these past few years my mother has suffered an injruy with them as well. With her and I both having workmans comp claims against them my sister has been treated less than professionally by them and as well, when I returned, there was an obvious change in attitude in having me in their employ. 

So thanksgiving rolls around, and I end up at a shipper in North Carolina. Cummins Engines to be exact. When I arrived I was told to sit tight and my load would be ready, the usual trucker "hurry up and wait" ordeal. As hours passed I go in to see what is going on and they tell me that I will have to wait until after thanksgiving to pick up my load. 

After hearing this I call my dispatch and let them know the situation. After my dispatcher delibarated with her boss they decided to send me back home empty. That monday after thanksgiving, I get a call saying that I was terminated due to my performance and apparently I was blamed for that entire incident bby both them and Cummins.

So I lost my job, not the end of the world...with 5 years of experience and a good record I figured I'd be a shoe in anywhere else. 

And that's where the emergency hits.

In November of 2011 I was driving an 18 wheeler in the New Mexico Desert. At about 4 AM in sleeting conditions with no light, a man who was walking on the interstate chose my truck to be his instrument of suicide. 

The police did not press charges and rules that it was not my fault. I had a witness say that this man attempted to do the same to him. And I was not found criminally liable for anything regarding the situation. In short, It was not my fault. At All.

I never thought this would come back to haunt me. I mean sure, you don't ever forget about something like that. But in applying for new jobs I have been told by every motor carrier I've submitted to that I am considered an insurance risk, and that they can't hire me because their insurance company wont cover me due to this incident.

I was floored, After a dozen applications I'm being turned down over something I wasn't even responsible for? I still to this day don't understand how that can even be used against me. But as Ohio is right to work, and these are private companies I'm applying for, I suppose I'm really nothing to them other than an asset. And if their insurer says I'm a Risk, I guess I'm a risk.

So I am now currently in dire straits. As I apply for warehouse jobs, factory work, and other places I'm finding my location in Springfield Ohio to be a tough sell for employment. I attempted to file for unemployment, but my old company is contesting it and I cannot get benefits. And my savings is now gone.  And I'm giving everything I got to find a way, even if it means multiple jobs and no down time between them.

I just can't help but get this sinking feeling that my former employer is attempting to roadblock me, but I have no proof. Combine that with companies I've applied for like Sharp Transport, Dayton Freight, and more telling me that im a liability for an incident that wasn't even my fault...I have a feeling something fishy is happening when they contact my former employer.

I am starting to get collections notices in the mail, phone calls on a daily basis, and none of these debtors are willing to help someone whos not only down, but being kicked while on the ground. And That is why I have turned here, to you all, for help.

I need you all, to help me in however, whatever way you can. My humility is gone, as is my pride, and I have no shame in asking for help, because I have no other option.

I own a house,  car, pets, and have a family. My monthly bills are an estimated $2,500 combined total for mortgage, car, insurance, utilities, food, and necessities. As a trucker, I never had to worry about what was going to happen next week. I had a savings, I had things cared for and paid out. Life was good. 

If I can't maintain my income level, I am going to need to pay needs off such as my car to get down to a lower monthly budget. I need help for food, fuel, bills, and to keep my lights on essentially. I need to maintain a phone so that I can continue pursuing applications. I need to maintain a car so I can reach a jobb or an interview. And I need to maintain my home so that my family and my livelihood doesnt fall to destitution and failure.

I'm setting the goal high so that If all things go as worse as they can, I can at least maintain stability while going through this rough patch. I don't want a free ride, and I am applying to multiple places daily. I follow up and I spend hours on the phone trying to get work. I've asked family, friends, god, and anyone else I can think of to help me overcome this. You all are my last resort, and I wouldn't be here otherwise.

Funds are needed immediately, as I am falling behind on insurance, mortgage, and am using what little money I have to keep my family fed. Anything helps. and Anything is better than nothing.

I can't say anything else other than please consider this. And Thank You for your time.

Seth Fezatte