Did I do the right thing?

First, sitting in a yard not paying attention listening to your iPod is a no-no in my books.

Secondly, helping a fellow driver is not your job, but your obligation in my opinion.

Your comment about his grasp on the english language is also disturbing. You could not possibly have known his knowledge of the language while you were sitting there with your head up your ##### and him in the cab.

You are what is wrong with the industry. Too many people there concerned about "me" and only "me".

 

Very, very well said. Valid points, all.

Anyone can attempt to justify their lack of action after the fact.

To my mind, Post of the Day.

 

I think you did the right thing, reporting the damage. Several years ago, I drove my tractor into the parking lot where I'd left my trailer. I noticed that another trailer had been parked very close to where I'd left mine, and three other drivers were between the trailers. It turned out they were looking at fresh damage to my (newly repaired) trailer, and the first words out of the mouth of one of them was "How the f*** did you do that?" Sure enough. There was a massive rip down a quarter of the length of the thing. I know the trailer was in good condition when I parked it, but with two "witnesses" I didn't have a leg to stand on, and was blamed for the damage.

There are few enough honest people who are prepared to do the right thing. I salute you, sir.

As for helping out, I don't think it's in your place to go running around terminals asking everyone if they need help. It's up to the driver himself to ask for help. I've done it. I've had Yugoslavs come up to me and ask in German if I can spot for them. I even had a German ask me to park his trailer on the dock for him, as he couldn't back it up. (First Left Hand Drive vehicle I ever drove). It's not difficult to get help, but don't sit there and wait for it to come.

In northern Canada, I'll stop for anyone and everyone who flags me down, but I do not stop for the guy who can't be bothered getting out to wave me down.

 

Its not anyones responsiability to go looking for drivers that need help. That being said, when a guy almost backs into my leg, doing a blindside back (when he don't need to), I will go offer my help. If he don't want it, than it is his ###. How do you know he doesn't speak english? You never went and talked to him, besides,,,we all know that most "non english speaking" people can speak enough english to get them by and can understand more than they let on.

 

Right thing to report it.
Like you said, the guy was doing his pullups so the assumption there is that he knows what he is doing, you couldn't predict he was going to battering ram the other trailer. You said it yourself if he was messing up hardcore for half and hour or GOAL or asked for help which he didn't, I think he 'knew what he was doing' and I agree with your actions.

 

yea reporting it was spot on but............ honk your horn when #### like that is bout to happen. dont let another driver hit somthing man. all truckdrivers speak air horn man it say STOP. LOL. so now ya know.

 

It depends on whether a guy is just having trouble in a tight spot or is clueless.

I mean this case sounds so bad I think an accident would still happen if it he had tried to help this guy.

 

Little or no knowledge of the english language = no help from me.

It drives me nuts that companies hire these bozos!

Good job on reporting him though. I would have done the same thing.

 

I would of yelled on the CB at him. I don't know about getting out because he is in your immediate area moving. If he hit you once, he'll hit you twice.

But before getting in the truck, I would of moved to a place where he could make visual eye contact with me and probably give him assistance from there once eye contact was made. You had to go through the danger zone to get in your truck.

Reporting the damage, you did right. I hate hit and run drivers.

 

kudos on reporting the damage,if he was getting ready to do a hit and run it was the right thing to do.I would have offered to help him or give him a horn blast or something before he hit the other trailer.He may have stopped hearing the horn.as for "pull ups" I would rather do a extra pull up and get in there right than back into something