Question for all Experienced Drivers

Dead serious, just like the person you destroyed.

 

Hey classic....sorry to say man. You ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer. You were involved, and at fault, in a collision which involved a fatality, that happened 4 months ago. Like many have said, stay away from the industry for at least 5 years. Save your time, effort and others time and find another way to pay your bills.

Yeah you're right, accidents happen everyday. But not many drivers that just killed someone are on forums asking for advice to get work...

 

dont get mad at the companies you're applying to..... be mad at their insurance companies. Or better yet put yourself in the company's hand you're trying to hire on with: Would YOU spend more money out of YOUR POCKET EVERY MONTH to insure someone thats applying to work for you?

Im not trying to be a (DO NOT SKIRT THE WORD CENSOR, ITS THERE FOR A REASON).........Just telling it like it is...... considering just how recent this accident is, coupled with the fact that there was a fatality involved, these insurance companies dont wanna touch you with a 10 foot pole.

Your best bet (IMO) is to TRY and find something to pay the bills for the next 5 years.... then i believe you'll have a fighting chance to use your CDL again.

Nevertheless good luck

Also in case it wasnt already stated: Why didnt you get a lawyer and fight this?

 

Classic, you came here for advice, you're getting it, people won't just tell you what you want to hear, just to ease your agony, they will give you their honest-professional opinions, so chill out man, or this will turn into a slapping match!!, as much as I do find those entertaining, they really aren't that much help, so, take a deep breath and accept the replies here with maturity.

Just for curiosities sake, do you feel the slightest bit of remorse, guilt that a person died, regardless who was or was not at fault?

I understand you must be under tremendous pressure right now, 4 kids & a wife to feed!

I hope you can find a job, whether it's in trucking or another profession, good luck!

 

In 28 years of driving, i have made PLENTY of mistakes! However, if i killed someone due to my Negligence, i wouldnt have the Nerve to even consider driving a truck again. And i wouldnt have the Balls to try and drop some blame on the other driver. By the way, every single residential refuse truck in my town is Rt. hand drive because trash containers are put on the Rt. side of the road. I have yet to have heard of any fatalities due to blind sided Garbage truck drivers. If that blind side is so bad, Try suing the truck mfg. Good luck

 

Classic: You were a professional driver. You made a decision as a professional to cross a highway where you didnt have enough sight distance. Now im not being an ### because i realise you looked etc and seriously thought you were fine. But you werent. You didnt see a car, you got hit crossing a high speed highway in a slow commercial truck, someone died. That doesnt make you a horrible person. But it makes it your fault NOT the guy who died. As a professional driver your responsibility is to drive not so that "i can get away with it this time" but so that out of 1000 times in situation X you do not get in a wreck". that is the standard we are held t o. You failed that standard and caused someones death. Again that doesnt make you a horrible person it makes you someone who made a mistake that for 4wheelers people would say was bad luck. But for a professional driver that is a career ender. You can try back in 5 years someone MAY hire you. Or maybe you can drive a small delivery truck locally 3 years after the accident. But til at least then your career is over. I seriously doubt any trucking company will ever hire you. I know that sucks. I know you felt horrible about the accident. I know you did your best and have to rationalise how it was something elses fault. That doesnt mean your career isnt over.

When i started driving a swifty woke me in the truck stop after 3 hrs sleep. there was 60 feet clear in front of us. He told me he couldnt get out. after pointing out how easy it was 4 times i gave up and moved my truck. I was so tired i couldnt see and while backing into a NEW spot that was much tighter because someone stole mine i scraped a guys mirror. Who's fault was that? Mine. I made the decision to move the truck. I made a bad decision.

 

That's the funny thing about the law....ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for breaking it. You've got to know the rules of the game you're playing before you can bend them in your own favor. If you choose to stick your head in the sand and allow others to feed you their own interpretation of the rules, often times they are going to bend them in their own favor at your expense.

 

Vehicles are equipped with brakes for a reason. The op stated there is a hill that you can not see over so it sounds like the vehicle didn't bother slowing down when coming over the "blind" hill to make sure the road was clear on the bottom end. The ONLY thing hurting the OP is the fact he failed to yeild. Otherwise it sounds as if the other vehicle could have been at fault for not slowing down for the area in which they were driving. Just a sad situation all around. People need to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

 

Hey classic #### happens dont beat yourself up.It could happen to any of use at any time any driver that says different is only fooling themselves. .