BusinessTN

The health of the global economy could be riding on whether Professional Drivers Medical Depots gain traction. The Knoxville-based walk-in clinic opened in January, after years of research sponsored solely by PDMD chairman and CEO John McElligott, to provide a convenient and affordable health care option to the thousands of truckers driving without health insurance.

There's a perfect storm brewing in the $90 billion trucking industry. Today's drivers live to an average age of 55, and 30 are found dead in their cabs each day, according to McElligott's findings (which are consistent with the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association). More than 80% of active drivers are over 40. "Most don't even know they have a problem until they come in here," he says. "[This is] the most underserved occupation in the history of medicine."

PDMD wants to be as easily accessible as a cup of coffee or a hot shower. The first clinic is located at the Petro Stopping Center (now owned by Travel Centers of America) site along Interstate 40 where about 10 million trucks stop annually. PDMD's second location in West Memphis, Ark., opened to serve the 29 million trucks passing through.

The company's aggressive coast-to-coast, 80-site deployment plan lists Atlanta, El Paso, Texas, and Peru, Ill., as opening soon. Similar clinics are cropping up, but PDMD is the only one with a driver-centric attitude. "Drivers are [often] gone 28 days a month. It's like they're on an island and can't get off the road to see a doctor," McElligott says. Unlike corporate-backed clinics, PDMD staff will take care of a driver's truck and goods if he or she is hospitalized.

Even getting a federally mandated physical by the Department of Transportation is no easy stop to make—physicals that PDMD is able to provide for a reasonable fee.

"When I had my last DOT physical, it cost me $65. That was over 15 years ago," says Rick Craig, director of regulatory affairs with OOIDA. PDMD wellness checks begin at $25.

While the situation is dire, and the sales pitch is anchored by hard core statistics, finding investors who give from the heart has proven difficult. The company is floating on the board's personal funding and loans from FSG Bank, and is looking to raise $10 million through Private Placement Memorandums. "There are plenty of people who want to invest, but we're looking for people that care about this situation and the health of truckers, not just for the dollars," McElligott says.

He hopes having 10 offices open will peak more interest from investors and drivers alike. Cadre5, a local technology firm, is developing a monitoring device to track a driver's physical status and link it to PDMD's network.

Every trucker's life saved is a win-win for the health of the global economy.