non dot preventable incident help needed !

Everyone hits something at some point. I've bumped a car trying to cut a corner too sharp my first week. High centered a trailer in a steep grade year 6. Nailed a light pole even after telling the property owner, I'll hit that light pole if I do what you are saying in year 9. Even the terminal manager shot me a message saying "if they want you to hit something then go for it, just don't tear up my trailer doing it." Bottom line #### happens, just don't make a frequent habit of it and don't cost the company a lot of money doing it. That vacuum was probably the owners coffee money so he had to go to Dunkin instead of Starbucks. Don't sweat it.

 

Tyler, as professionals, we are held to that higher standard.
Your error was preventable.
Yes you own it, but it would have been much better had you gotten out and looked before backing.
The core aspect being PREVENTABLE.
We’re not being hard on you, we’re being honest and forthwith.
It’s your responsibility to operate your rig safely.
You hit their vacuum and caused damage.
Someone has to pay to make it right.
I doubt if you’ll be the one that does so.
I’m proud of you for owning it.
Do better as you move forward, and learn the lesson.

 

I’d pay for it myself and that guarantees you’ll never hit anything in reverse again.. as a teenager I backed up but didn’t see that my aunt had parked her car directly behind my pick up it was night I caused about $500 damage which I got a loan to pay for it.. that represented 3 weeks work back then. I always look around before backing especially at night . This happened 38 years ago but stuck with me

 

This posts about EVERYBODY hits stuff, and just log it as it happens, is B.S. Seems like the guys who always say this are the ones that have gone through their career occasionally just hitting things. I got my CDL the day I turned 18 and I've NEVER hit anything because I G.O.A.L.

 

The folks saying that were probably city drivers at some point in their career who have to worm 53 ft trailers into some very odd spots and been at it a very long time. Point stands everyone hits something at some point and it isn't a major thing as long as the the dollar value remains low. It is an inevitable fact. If you bump docks, or deliver LTL you know full well there are some places a truck just shouldn't be. And you deliver or you find something else. It is calculated risk. Most of these "I've been driving x years and never hit a thing" will be the ones on the evening news caught in a roll over for taking a clover leaf at 40mph because "they've done it 100 times before". The difference is self awareness, the driver who bumps into things knows they make mistakes. The driver who doesn't thinks they are awesome and will eventually make a big one. Then there is the driver who thinks they are god's gift to transportation, they will be on the evening news.

 

You probably just jinxed yourself. I don't know about everybody but whenever a driver starts to brag about how good he is, something comes along to spoil his record.

 

Murphy’s law of trucking….
When you think you’re hot snot, you missed something that will bite your ash when the worst possible time comes along

 

I don't think saying I don't hit things every now and then is bragging...

 

How long have you been driving?

 

Have had a CDL for 34 years. Driving OTR or Regional for 21 years. I've gotten to the point that I hate to park in a truck stop anymore because of this attitude of stuff happens. Drivers seem to shrug it off. When you're a company driver and someone hits you, I get it no big deal. When you're an O/O it could mean a month off and nothing but hassles. I think all these incidents are preventable because they could have easily been avoided had the driver simply G.O.A.L.