Should I pay for my mistake?

I'm a local P/D driver for an LTL company and I hit a customers straight truck backing into their black hole dock.The sun was in my mirrors and all I could see were the mirrors on the straight truck,and I could see I was clear of it's mirrors so I thought I was good to go back.

I know I should have G.O.A.L.,but I always thought if I was clear of the mirrors I'm good to go as they stick out farther than the body of MOST trucks,but not this one as it was a flatbed with shorter mirror brackets.

The straight truck was dark green so I could not see any of it's body and I hit the left front fender behind the hood and in front of the step(the small piece of fiberglass that the bottom of the hood latch hooks to)putting about a 6" crack in the fiberglass.

There was no damage to the right rear corner of my trailer,just a small piece of dark green paint on it.

I have been with the company about a year and I'm not worried about losing my job,but I want to keep my record spotless and I'm considering paying for the damage myself.

My question is will this work?I have already reported this to my Safety Department,pictures were taken at the scene,and accident reports were filled out.I have not spoken with my terminal manager yet,as he was out of the office Friday.

I,m worried it will still go on my record even if I pay the damages.

Also,any idea how much the damages would be?

Thanks for any opinions.

 

Thanks for the replies gentlemen,as Wicked Wizard said it probably doesn't matter if I pay for it,it will still go on my DAC anyway.Otherhalf,thanks I will be more careful in the future as I go to this customer a couple times a week and this was the first time I had any problems.

Not to make excuses,but this customer has a very old building with skinny docks(4)with a brick pillar separating 2 on each side on the face of the building.The front of the building is about 10' from the curbside of a busy 4 lane street,and the front of my tractor almost sticks into the street when I am in the dock with a 48' trailer.

Normally 2 or 3 docks are open when I go there and I have no problem getting in(except for the 4 wheelers zooming behind my trailer when I am setting up out in the street).But this time there was only 1 dock open as one of the employees parks their car in one dock(thanks a lot),and 2 of their straight trucks parked in 2 other docks.I guess it was a slow day for deliveries,usually all their trucks are gone depending on when I get there.

So the only open dock I had meant getting my drivers side trailer tires as close as I could get to the brick pillar and using a side street to lessen the angle as I could not see the truck I hit until I was very close to it with the right rear of my trailer.

Funny thing is,I did not feel a thing when I hit the truck,which must have been just before I made a pull-up to straighten out.After I got backed in I went up on the dock and pulled my 1 skid off,the receiver signed the bill and then he says-my boss wants to talk to you.I'm thinking WTF?

The boss then shows me where I hit his truck and says they were yelling at me right before I hit it(I always roll down both windows,turn down the radio,and have my mirrors clean before backing in to any dock)but I couldn't hear them because they were yelling from the back of the dock and all the traffic noise on the street.

At first I thought they were setting me up(the truck was already hit before I got there)until I saw the green paint on my trailer,but they were very understanding and said no biggie.It didn't help that the truck I hit was angled slightly into my lane.

All in all it's a lesson learned and yes it put a dent in my pride,and next time I will ask the receiver to spot me.