Bumper Bender

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jyhm, Nov 13, 2007.

  1. jyhm

    jyhm Light Load Member

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    Mar 18, 2007
    New England, USA
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    Is it possible to fix the fiberglass bumper on a 2004 FLR Century Class?
    It looks as though if it were off, that it could be popped out with a rubber mallet.

    While backing at a t-stop, I dented the passenger side bumper while foolishly driving my right steer tire over a curve.
    I had the right angle and speed to avoid tire damage, and my mirror was not close to the lamp post, but I did not consider
    the concrete base that the lamp post was on, until I crunched up against it.

    Luckily only the plastic/fiberglass bumper was popped in or dented. Not being a safety issue I did not report it because
    there was no damage to any other property. I should have I know but I really did not want to deal with night/weekend dispatch.

    This has been a few weeks ago since this happened,.. I wish there was some way to pop it out as to avoid reporting the issue all together.
    Last month, I had a non-reportable incident and like a naive dummy I reported it. Because of the fiasco that created
    my trust has been diminished significantlly.

    Any advice?
    :biggrin_2557:
     
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  3. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    Nov 26, 2006
    Lehigh Valley, PA
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    99% of all companies will consider this a mishap or accident and should have been reported to your safety dept. Any time you damage equipment you need to report it. If you don't get it fixed and your company finds it your going to be let go, with a bad DAC report.

    Mark
     
  4. jyhm

    jyhm Light Load Member

    126
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    Mar 18, 2007
    New England, USA
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    OK great so what to do now? Say it happened at t-stop here? Or road debris?
     
  5. Cybergal

    Cybergal Road Train Member

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    I can understand you not wanting to report this when it happened, and thinking it was just the fiberglass dented in, but unfortunately Mark is right it should have been reported.



    Most of the time Companies don't take to kindly to not reporting mishaps.
     
  6. jyhm

    jyhm Light Load Member

    126
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    Mar 18, 2007
    New England, USA
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    OK, get the point. Any advice on how to report this??
     
  7. fastSVT

    fastSVT Light Load Member

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    Oct 17, 2007
    Louisiana
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    Why don't you see if you can fix it first? Sounds like you know how to fix it...so try it.

    I guess if it can't be fixed, you can just tell them what happened, just move the date/time of the incident to match the time you decide to report it.
     
  8. jyhm

    jyhm Light Load Member

    126
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    Mar 18, 2007
    New England, USA
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    I actually don't know how to fix it. I tried to find all of the bolts just by looking at it but could not. I tried to unscrew some with a torx bit and one got stripped.

    I might just call it in when I go back on duty. I'll find an appropriate pole with no witnesses or maybe road debris.

    But please, any other advice is greatly appreciated,..
     
  9. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    Nov 26, 2006
    Lehigh Valley, PA
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    jyhm, you need to make a good (believable) story about doing it at the truck stop. No matter you do you can not change your story. At this point it would be very bad to tell them you did it a few days ago.

    Mark
     
  10. jyhm

    jyhm Light Load Member

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    Mar 18, 2007
    New England, USA
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    Yeah, I'm trying so hard to think of one. One that is straight forward and dry cut.

    I had a trucker tell me to say I got hit buy another truck like it was a hit and run. But that sounds so bogus, plus I don't think that the damage would be consistant with a truck hitting me.
     
  11. 379 Peterbilt

    379 Peterbilt Medium Load Member

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    Nov 12, 2005
    Wisconsin
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    Never would have guessed that not reporting something this petty, could get a guy fired. WOW.

    jyhm,

    I was with ya on the "road debris" idear, untill I re-read that you said the scuff/dent is on the passenger side of the bumper. That might be a tough sell. If you are really worried here, pull into the next Freightshaker dealership and tell them you want a new bumper installed (asuming it's a plain jane gray and does not need painting) ...upon removal of the bumper maybe close inspection would reveal that you can indeed tap out the dent and re-install, if not, replace it with a the new one. Likey spendy for ya, but it beats getting canned.

    Good luck.
     
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