Just fired a few too many minor preventables +

True but..after 1 year or so one must quit bumping things. Cost and insurance will be the final nail in the career coffin. They may be concerned when is the serious accident going to occur? Litigation and the $$ that goes with it most try to avoid.

 

If you want to drive you will have to change your mentality. I Know you see guys back under a trailer without checking the height but that doesnt make it right. Get out and look EVERYTIME. Never ever pull into a customer blind. You need to know before you pull in that you can manouver safely and get out safely. Never back up without knowing whats back there. Its simple stuff but its what professional drivers do. When you back up there is no shame in getting out to look or taking a few extra pull ups to get in the hole safely. All of those things that are preventable could have been avoided if you had taken a few extra minutes to check things out properly. You are not serious about the job and you are not giving the profession the respect it deserves. Its a wake up call so wake the hell up.

 

The other day I was backing under a trailer and looking at the tires I thought it was a little high so I went another foot and didn't see the trailer go up. I got out and looked. After two years you should know.

 

OP, I mean no offense, but there’s no excuse for these mishaps. I’ve been out here approx 31 months now and I’ve had zero incidents. I told myself early on, there’s zero excuses to bang something up. I learned to become aware of what’s around my truck ALWAYS, and if there was ever a situation I was unsure about? I got out and looked. I didn’t care how it looked to other drivers and one time I even got out and looked at 2 AM making a sharp tight right turn that I couldn’t see the rear of my trailer....and made the cars behind me have to wait for about 45 seconds. But you know what? I didn’t hit the pole on the corner and so therefore that’s all that mattered.
I’m not bragging, but as a result, I’ve become a pretty darn good driver. I get out to look far less then When I first started, but I will still do it in situations that call for it.

You say the most expensive was $500, your company knows it’s only a matter of time before you rip the whole side of the trailer open costing them thousands or take the front end off of somebody’s truck.

If I were you, I would make sure to make an agreement between your company that you’ll pay off all damages if they agree not to put it on your report. Then get a knee job with a new commitment to yourself not to touch anything, no matter what. Or? Maybe move on to another profession. My guess is, you’ve had many other close calls.

 

Thank you sir for the honesty. I’ve been there myself.

 

Trucking is a big industry. Can you compare a driver on a dedicated account to a spot market coast to coast driver? The first driver runs the same roads going to the same customers every week. The spot market driver is constantly going to strange cities and customers. Often without contact numbers or truck route information. One mile isn’t like another.
I believe giving honest feedback to slow down and think before acting is valid. But condescending comments speak more to your own inadequacies than the original posters.

 

Ops just called me:
"Hey Roger, how was your day?" Ops asked

"Not bad. Despite taking a finishing nail thru my drive tire, I made it to my DOT physical on time and was in and out in under thirty minutes. Got a bunch of errands done before seeing the masseuse about the knot under my shoulder blade. Then I took a nap, played with the dog, and had a nice dinner with the girl" I said

{Ding of phone}


I look at the picture ops just texted me. "I have another post accident remediation to do on Monday, don't I?"


Those paying attention will notice the damage is on a patch to repair previous damage. That previous damage was done by a driver who slide his tandems up while still in a spot that was 10'4" wide, with 60' in front of the hole. Overhang clipped the trailer on his driver's side. At least this time the driver was backing in when he damaged THE SAME DARN TRAILER he hit last spring.

To those saying "Roger, you're condescending to these poor drivers who made a mistake", this is why I can come off being a condescending jerk.

The first time, stuff happens. "What did you learn, how will you be better going forward?"

The second time. "This can't keep happening. Step up and take responsibility BEFORE stuff happens".

The third time - "WTF dude?! It's a big orange trailer, I made the spots 11'6"/12". Why are you hitting stuff?"

At what point does his pattern of irresponsibility end in real consequences? Before or after he hurts someone?

 

My advice is accept you are accident prone.
Welcome to the #### happens club we got lots of members. Now that you're a member you're screwed. If you don't GOAL you'll hit some darn thing.

I've always had the attitude that I was going to mess up. It's served me well. I did fuel delivery and there was a list of things you SHOULD do before delivering. I did that list because I knew if I didn't it would bite me in the lily-white. Those that were over confident were the ones making mistakes.

Just follow what others have already told you on this thread. And be a little nervous about making a mistake, it'll make you double check and that's not a bad thing.

Good luck, I hope things work out for you.

 

Highly doubtfull the OP will be back.
MIA since thursday.

 

Couldn’t agree with you more, he should consider himself lucky his inattentiveness did not cause him to hit a person.