Accident while in training, will I be fired?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Mwarren89, Dec 7, 2021.

  1. Mwarren89

    Mwarren89 Bobtail Member

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    Joined this group as I find myself reading your guys forums alot... place definetly has alot of great info...
    I am in training right now ... around 100 hours in and the unthinkable happened...

    I was pulling out of a parking lot at a fuel station... the turn leaving the station was somewhat of an L shape and while I was sitting waiting for the clear to pull out it left my trailer sitting at about a 45 degree angle behind me... as I was waiting to pull put a car pulls into the parking lot and as he drives down the side of my truck he notices he doesn't have enough room to squeeze between my trailer and the curb due to the angle of the trailer... he stopped somewhere around my drive axle as I seen him stop in the mirror... so I looked right again on the road to make sure I was still clear then preceeded to pull out... as the truck starts moving no more than maybe 1mph my trainer says woa!! I hit the brakes and he says I think that guy hit us... so after I seen him stopped in my mirror I had preceeded to pull out and obviously he decided he could fit.....now I know I moved forward maybe 3 to 5 ft before my trainer noticed he tried to squeeze me and we made contact.... I don't really wanna put my company name out here but it is a mega carrier that does training... they got me on a safety hold right now and dispatched us a load back so he can get me to the terminal where I am supposed to sit down with safety... I'm scared to death guys... I've ran alot of heavy equipment on farms and such and have only had one accident in a car in my life about 12 years ago... I like to think I'm a safe driver... but then this happens... there was nobody injured and the car actually was still driveable... it bent the bumper on the front driver side and knocked the driver side mirror off and some scrapes... after meeting with police they drove the car away.... I'm curious as to what happens when I go in front of safety... and I wonder if my job is on the line?
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Do you have a CDL now?
    If you already have a cdl and are fired, we'll help you find another job.
    Plenty of 2nd chance companies around.
    Where is your domicile?
     
  4. Mwarren89

    Mwarren89 Bobtail Member

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    Yea I have my cdl and live in Tennessee.. around 20 miles from the landair terminal in greenville
     
  5. LameMule

    LameMule Road Train Member

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    Did you say tailswing?
     
    pumpkinishere Thanks this.
  6. Mwarren89

    Mwarren89 Bobtail Member

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    ??
     
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    I'm from Tennessee; few miles North of Nashville. Born and raised there.
    Keep us posted.
     
    pumpkinishere and Mwarren89 Thank this.
  8. Mwarren89

    Mwarren89 Bobtail Member

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    That's awesome... I am around 30 minutes east of knoxville... close to morristown... I will be back at my terminal Thursday sometime... I really am hoping not to get fired over an accident like this... I feel bad enough as is over it all.... I feel that I am not entirely to blame as the car started to move after I did and they tried to squeeze through and fit.... but at the same time wanting to be as professional as I can be I should have caught what they were trying to do... maybe should have checked them mirrors just a few extra times... just hope I am not out of a job
     
  9. LameMule

    LameMule Road Train Member

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    What side of the truck was the car on and what direction were you turning?
     
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  10. Mwarren89

    Mwarren89 Bobtail Member

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    I was turning left... car was on my driver side... trailer was at a 45 degree angle off behind me to my driver side... car was coming into the parking lot as I was coming out
     
    pumpkinishere Thanks this.
  11. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    It sounds like mistakes on both drivers, you and the car.

    The car should have backed up a bit to give you more room to make that turn, while you should never have started moving with a car so close to you.
    Even if the drives cleared the car, the tandems or trailer probably would not.

    Maybe getting out and talking to the driver of the car would have eased the situation, by letting the driver of the car know you could not make the turn safely unless he backed up to give both of you enough room.

    And, as always, watch your mirrors to see if you might contact something behind you?

    Things to think about before you talk to the safety people.
    They do like to see a new driver correctly assess a situation and see where they went wrong, to avoid the problem in the future.
     
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