Protection for yourself in the event of a collision

Yup. The key is to be careful and not be doing dumb **** behind the wheel. I.e.Playing on your smart phone, driving too fast for the conditions, following too closely, or anything else where you could be considered negligent....and increasing the odds of a collision.

I see a LOT of truckers everyday that are accidents waiting to happen. You know the guy (nine times out of ten...it's a male driver)...60+ MPH on the interstate and their following distance behind a four wheeler is AT MOST two car lengths. I love the excuses that I've seen posted here. "But the four wheeler darted in front of me." Ok...but why haven't you even lifted you foot off the accelerator or applied the brake to attempt to increase the gap? "Because another one will just pull in there!" Seriously...I've seen that posted here by multiple people.

I keep a greater following distance when I'm riding my motorcycle because I want time to react and develop an exit strategy in the even that something happens. Following that closely only gives you time to apply the brake a fraction of a second before you eat the bumper of the vehicle in front of you.

Accidents happen, but reckless people and people in a hurry make them far more likely to happen.

 

Anyone can sue anyone, but remember, once an employee of a company "goes on the clock", the company is responsible for the employee. Now that is not to say that the employee cannot be sued, but it is very, very unlikely and even if it does happen, the insurance of the company has the responsibility of providing legal protection.

 

In every truck I have ever driven, part of my pre-trip inspection is the glove box (or similar) and check all the truck papers. Fuel sticker, IFTA sticker, Registration, and Insurance coverage's, with the insurance company name, phone number and start/expiration dates.

Even though the insurance papers in your truck could show it is expired, the company should have new papers in the office, that they can fax you, or send you a photo copy at your home perhaps, or the terminal you work out of.

Ok now as for an accident, again, did you check to see if you have a company camera as well as all the truck documents? If not, you should have one. The safety dept will tell you to use up ALL the pics. so if you have a camera with say 36 pics available? Use all 36 pics.

And be sure it never get's used, like when you're going near the Hoover Dam. Try explaining that to safety when you only had 1 shot left!

I was always told, NEVER take pics of the victims. I say BS, take them. If they claim they had a broken leg, how will they explain they were standing yelling at you? (i say take your chances, and snap'em). I'd rather get yelled at for taking pics of a possible fraud, then pics of the Hoover Dam.

Now, ALL trucking companies are supposed to be insured. For how much? who knows. Certain cargo requires certian amounts of cargo insurance.

Liability, injury, etc,etc..?? again, who knows. That is NOT on you.

Whether you are at fault or not, YOU WILL BE SUED in civil court.

Problem comes however if you did something wrong, like falsify your logs, in some way, like tolls, starting at the wrong time, not taking your breaks, etc,etc.

So be "Johnny Be Goode", out there, which IS possible, but even the best of the best screw up.

Never admit fault at the scene, NEVER talk to anyone but the cops, safety dept, and your company's lawyers.
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Good case in point.

Happened to me many, many years ago as I was driving a brand new 1992 Pete 379

Greyhound was on strike. A scab driver was driving the bus. I came onto the highway from an exit ramp, legally in the right lane. He was in the left lane, he suddenly went into the right lane and hit me. Much damage.

He came up to me to see if I was hurt, he said he was sorry, it was his fault.

NJ state troopers showed up, and I sang a song to them.

NAILED the scab driver, took him away in fact, as guess what......ALL 60 or so passengers in that bus claimed they were hurt. (when there are injuries, the driver is taken away)

Greyhound lawyers tried to sue my O/O boss AND me, he (my boss) said screw you, your boy admitted fault at the scene to MY DRIVER AND THE NJ Troopers. (as found out later, scab driver got some tickets)

Never heard a dam thing, and that was back in 1992.>!!!!

 

Probably needs a commercial umbrella these days.....

 

Well I don't have anything more than a pre-paid phone, why would I go out and buy a digital camera. Now, my pre-paid phone does take pics, but guess what, I DO NOT pay any extras. Like internet, email, etc. Why should I pay for something when the company IS responsible for equipping me with a camera?

When I had a damaged load, my boss asked me to take pics and send them to him. I said, ok, how do I do that with my pre-paid phone?

So I grabbed my company provided camera, snapped all 36 pics, put the camera in my nightly paperwork, and my co-worker who goes to the bosses location, handed him the camera, 1 day later.

You guys spending all this money for this gizmo, that gizmo, do you get reimbursed for your bill, the batteries you use??

I spend no money for my company, and they darned well know it. In fact, once you do that, spend your money for them, come a day you'll be holding your finger up yer butt to get reimbursed.

Been doing this crap 26 years now, I will not provide freebies to the company. Provide me with what I need, or get someone else.

And I always get work, amazing.