Incident Question

There is a difference between a DOT reportable accident, an accident and an incident. Some companies don't report an incident on DAC and just file it away. A driver for my last company WSE had an incident where he backed into a trailer too hard and his 5th wheel did not catch the king pin. The reefer unit hit the back of the tractor and did some damage. He did self report it and safety listed it as an incident with no DAC entry. It did not follow him to JB Hunt where he now works.

 

Anything that small take care of yourself or if it is another company truck ask if he will say it was road debris or a rock that hit his mirror. Then your company doesn't have to know and screw with your driving record.

 

You can get your DAC in a month but it is unlikely it will show up. Most companies keep that information internally only, until you leave the company. Then they clock the DAC with everything they can. A preventable is something that will show up then. Until then they hold that information close to there chest so it is less likely to be disputed.

 

OP here's the deal. On your NEXT chance go inside safety sit down and simply ask them to tell you how they are going to handle all of this. Ask them if this will be classified as an incident or a preventable. Either way provided it is your first one you should be OK even if it gets on your DAC.

 

The one time I really messed something up at Schneider I got a written letter confirming I had a preventable accident. I don't remember who sent it. Probably Schneider