Question about damaging the truck in the tunnel

the driver is fired...............

the driver "topped" a trailer, no matter what the signs say. the driver should have either found another way, or anticipated the there would be problem ahead. you say that "he" crawled, but yet it was still enough to "push down" the trailer...........this tells me he wasn't "crawling" along at all.

that tunnel may have just been at 13'6", and that's "too close for comfort".

driver's at fault, driver is fired. the "driver" is still responsible..........

now, if the "driver" was told to use the tunnel by say a law enforcement officer, and this happened, then there is a shady area of gray here where the driver may be cleared of any wrong doing's, but that driver would need the officers badge number to use for the police report, or the company report later. this DID happen to a former co-worker of mine, and he was cleared of any wrong doings.

 

You, as the driver are responsible.

Now to Pro's Grey area, I know a driver who got lost in Boston, met a cop who helped get him back on the Big Road. However, in doing so, he lead him down a road with low telephone/cable wires, and SNAP!SNAP!SNAP!
However, he didn't get into any trouble because the cop TOOK him that way.

 

I scraped the tops of many air-ride empty trailers on I-95 South and North going thru The Bronx (b4 and after crossing the GW bridge). Other trucks ahead of me were doin the same.

And what a surprised look on a CT State Troopers face when I got through a 13' 5" underpass in Bridgeport. I like those air bag dump switches. For the record, he had stopped me b4 I got to it. We double checked the sign (was hidden by tree branches) and I told him about the switch. Guess he never knew a Big Rig could lower about 2 inches. He does now.

 

That's if you're lucky enough to drive for a company that specs equipment with dump valves, the last two cos I drove for were both too cheap (My tractor had it, but only because it was a volvo and that was basic spec).

 

Back in the 80's when I peddled In, MI, OH, & IL. I came up on a low bridge. I think it was Connersville IN. I was trying to get backed up so I could get turned around. I had my 4 ways on and a driver told me on the CB (back when you could trust people on the CB) that I could make it. He said trucks go through it all the time. He said get in the middle and creep through. I did and made it. I just looked it up and if it is the one I am thinking about it is marked 11'2 in my atlas. All the drivers from my term later told me they ran it all the time. One spaced it one time and forgot to slow down. I saw the trailer. It peeled it halfway back before it stopped him. He was stuck. By not getting in the middle and creeping through it really made it look like a giant can opener peeled the lid. He was not fired. Not all companies will boot you if you make a mistake.

 

I would not say he would instantly get fired.. It would depend on the company.. I know a lady that was in "4" accidents and they still did not fire her (this was in 6 months) the 2 I can remember right off hand was
1. backing, hit another truck
2. took out a pole while she was turning right.. (cut the corner to sharp)

It would depend on the company, most likely they will send him back to "retraining" if the company has such a program.. Basically that is where he goes and spends a day or 2 with a safety manager driving around refreshing his his or her safety knowledge, take a few test, watch a few video's then be out on the road again...