Accidents and "acceptable" MVR.

Whereas it might be true that there's a shortage of drivers, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of applicants at this time.
With so many folks being displaced as their jobs relocate to other countries and others that have had their employer go under as a result of the current economy, many folks are desperate to find ANYthing that pays a living wage. For some of them, trucking seems an easy remedy. Many find out the hard way that truckin' isn't the easy job they imagined it would be, and leave the industry in short order --- with several others waiting in line for the job just vacated.

Others tend to job-hop, a lot, creating the illusion that there's a shortage of drivers when in reality it's a case of retaining their drivers. There are those who only see a driver holding a steering wheel and don't realize that's just the tip of the iceberg, and probably the easiest part. When they find out what truckin' REALLY is, they learn they don't like many aspects of it.

Trucking is what it is, and has been for many years. I question the work ethics of some of those who complain about every little detail, as they hop from one trucking company to another in search of that illusive "perfect" fit. Actually, I wonder if they'd know it IF they found it.
What they don't seem able to grasp is, that if they stayed with one company for more than a year, or so, they'd climb the ladder to higher pay and better dispatches. Pay their dues, so to speak. But they want the same as a driver who's been driving for many years gathering experience along the way as they PROVE their worth to a company by remaining there and gittin' 'er done. It takes time, just like most other things. Patience is a virtue.

That it was in your personal vehicle. In their minds, they're wondering if a Class C driver who collects citations and/or manages to be involved in crashes might have the same problems in their Big trucks.
Now-a-daze the insurance carriers pretty much call the shots, and they're usually not willing to take a chance --- especially if and when there are other applicants waiting and wanting to fill a Big truck seat.

Unfortunately, if a Big truck truck driver with experience has a few blemishes on their driving record, and even though those blemishes aren't all that serious, the insurance carrier tends to go with an applicant with NO Big truck experience and a clean(er) driving record.
Additionally, some of the trucking companies prefer the newBees and rookies over the more experienced drivers --- mainly because they pay them less due to their inexperience. Some also make money by training the newBees.

Would a newBee be more likely to be involved in a serious mishap?
I think so. But apparently the companies don't. Bottom line for ANY company is PROFIT, and how to make the MOST profit.

I think that's the wisest thing to do.
HaiL!
If it doesn't show up on your driving record, you're ahead, IMO, in at least two ways.
1. You've demonstrated honesty.
2. With no record, you shouldn't have anything to worry about should it somehow appear later.

You did what was required of you by disclosing the information, so they can't come around at a later date and accuse you of withholding required information.

I personally know folks who really DID forget something on their record when applying, only to have it discovered by the company several years later, and they were terminated as a result.
No if's and's or but's about it. Company policy demanded that they be fired for withholding information even though what they forgot wasn't that serious, and had they disclosed the information they would still have been hired.
Crazy, huh?

GET IT IN WRITING!!!
I'm not familiar with Driver Solutions, so I can't really comment one way or the other as to their reliability.
But if they're like most, they base their promises on whatever knowledge they have at the time. If they discover additional information that's detrimental, there's usually a clause in the contract that allows them to exclude themselves and the contract and promises become null and void.
I trust you've read all the fine print?

Who could ask for more?

Well, I reckon you know what NOT to do next time, right?
A mistake is REALLY a mistake if y'all didn't LEARN something as a result of making that mistake. Someone who HASN'T been there, done that, just might make that mistake in the future. I'd go with the one who made the mistake and darned well realizes they WON'T do THAT again.

YuP!
A Big truck truck driver usually drives more miles in a month than the average 4-wheeler driver drives in a year AND, in ALL kinds of adverse weather, while on ALL kinds of roads unfamiliar to the Big truck truck driver --- and while weighing up to 80,000 pounds, or more, and in excess of 70 feet in length, or more.
How day doo dat?
I'm glad you asked.
With UNDIVIDED attention. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings.
If you can, I recommend taking a DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE. Several times over the years if possible. The object of the course is NOT to teach you how to get OUT of a given situation once it's set in motion, but rather how to AVOID a situation all together in the first place. And, as an addes bonus, it works in ANY vehicle you're driving.
Also, I HIGHLY recommend a skid pad course on slippery ground. When you see your trailer trying to pass you, it rates pretty high on the "pucker factor", and doing 360's in a bobtail is an event I doubt you'll EVER forget. Nor should you! It's quite an experience in a controlled environment, and one you certainly DON'T want to have happen out on the highway. No WaY!
I don't care HOW much truck driving experience one has, or how well seasoned a driver is, THAT is a hair-raising experience, and SHOULD cause one to be EXTRA careful out there.

Well, I have over a million mile markers in my back pocket, and SOMEtimes I wonder how I accomplished that without any moving citations or serious crashes deemed to be preventable by the D.O.T., who, by the way, considers ALL crashes to be "preventable". Seriously! Seldom do they consider ANY crash to be "non-preventable". I could tell you stories about D.O.T. opinions and findings that would make you go WHAT?!

Riding your blind spot is something experience should make you aware of the possibility. Sort of a 6th sense you'll develop BECAUSE you're paying attention. NEVER let your guard down! Anticipate and expect that to happen because, believe me, it WILL happen, sooner or later. ALWAYS be alert and prepared for the unexpected.
I know,
I know, --- how does one prepare for the UNexpected?
Well, as you become more experienced and OBSERVE how traffic is acting and reacting, you'll be more able to recognize the possibility and potential for what COULD happen. When traffic is acting squirrely, I take myself out of the picture. Take an off ramp, or otherwise get off the road for awhile until you feel the danger(s) have passed. Trust your instincts. You should know YOUR capabilities, what you DON'T know are the capabilities of the OTHERS sharing the highways with you. If they're a crash looking for a place to happen, don't be the one who shows them where that is. Take a little break and let things cool off before continuing on your way up and/or down the road. No sense becoming a statistic. Let THEM do that if they're bound and determined to do so. You're a PROFESSIONAL driver. As such, SOMEtimes YOU have to drive THEIR vehicle FOR them, and the best way I've found to do that is to get AWAY from them.

Check into the SMITH SYSTEM of driving. That'll help you to continue avoiding a collision with that type of driver --- and there ARE many out there. You'll learn how to spot them in due time and with experience. It just takes time. Easy does it. Arrive alive.

YuP!
You got that right. ALWAYS keep your eyes moving. Watch waaayyy ahead and keep checking your mirrors --- and gauges.
Don't drive out of YOUR comfort zone and DON'T let another driver talk you into ANYthing YOU'RE not comfortable with. YOU are the captain of YOUR vehicle. Know YOUR limitations and abide by them.

I can tell that you want to "make it" in this industry. If you didn't care one way or the other, I don't think you'd be as concerned as you are. That, IMO, is a GOOD sign. And, as a former driver trainer, I've learned how to recognize those who really WANT to make it as opposed to those who think it's so easy that even a caveman could do it. By the way and for the record, MOST of my trainees were female, and I probably learned as much from them about how to approach situations differently as they learned about driving a Big truck from me. A very rewarding experience for me.

I'm predicting that it WILL.

YuP!
Chances are good that it would be considered "preventable" by the D.O.T. But what BETTER incentive can you think of to learn how to AVOID "accidents"?

If YOU'RE alert and paying attention, that WILL lessen the odds of that happening. You should, in time, develop an awareness that WILL cause you to better recognize potential bone-headed moves by 4-wheelers as well as other Big truck truck drivers. I think you'll be amazed at how keen your senses will become in that area.

As long as you have the desire to be the BEST you can be, I think there's a GOOD possibility you'll be one of the best of the best. A desire and a good attitude is a winning combination. I bet you'd be (After)Shocked at the poor attitudes and know-it-all opinions some of the new breed actually have. With less than 2 weeks actual REAL driving experience, SOME of these morons THINK they already know enough about trucking and don't even WANT to listen to experienced, well seasoned Big truck truck drivers trying desperately to inform and teach them ANYthing about the realities of the REAL world of Big truck truckin'.
I fail them fast, before they have a chance to hurt someone. Who knows? That "someone" MIGHT just be ME. No way I'd ever consider turning a jerk like that loose on the highways in a Big truck. NO WAY!
I DO have a conscience, don't'cha know?

 

Aftershock, a question for you?

Right now, I'm a student driver for one of the big companies. Unfortunately, this morning when I was backing up in a distribution center I hit a small pole trying to put my trailer in a spot, the damage was on the side fender of the tractor. But , my instructor said I needed to call the safety department of the company.
They asked some questions like if it was raining, was dry,etc. There was no damage to the customer property, I asked them if this is going to be in my DAC report, the lady told me that she didnt think so.
Do you think they will have this on my DAC?

I have 230 hours of driving as a student , I have more than 10,000 miles so far. Like you said in your post many people think trucking is easier, I was one of them. However, I have worked really hard to stay, you know, sleeping when your trainer is driving etc. I really feel bad today because of this accident. My personal driving record is clean, 0 tickets, 0 moving violations, 0 reportable accidents in the last 15 years.

Thank you for your answer

 

That's me!

Sure!
I'll do my best to answer any of your questions, Bafinpa.

Your instructor is/was correct. I'm especially impressed that your instructor had YOU make the call.

YuP.
Pretty standard questions. What the voice on the other end of the phone was doing is filling out an accident report which might be submitted to the company's insurance carrier, or, a work order for their shop to repair the damage --- if required and/or necessary.

Well then, I think you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Damage to a customer's property is usually considered more serious than damage to the company's property, that being the Big truck and/or the trailer it's pulling. Or, in this case it seems, pushing.

YeAH.
I tend to agree with her.
HeY, trainees are trainees. It's not all that unusual for a trainee to have a mishap such as you've described. You're not the first and I seriously doubt you'll be the last.

I don't think so.
What you've described doesn't sound all that serious. I suspect there was more damage done to your pride than anything else. Which, by the way, speaks volumes about YOU. You'd be surprised at how many of today's trainees would consider this no big deal, and shrug it off.

Most truckin' companies have a policy that they won't terminate a trainee or trained driver for having an accident, or, in your case what I'd consider a mishap. But they'll fire a trainee or trained driver in a New York minute for NOT reporting it.

You did the right thing by reporting the incident right away. I'm sure your instructor put in a good word for you.

However, having been a driver trainer myself, and had a similar situation occurred on MY watch, I think I'd have some explaining to do as to how I let that happen in the first place. At least some of the blame would have been on my shoulders as well because part of the reason I'm there, and MY responsibility to the trainee, is to prevent those things from happening. That just goes with the job of driver trainer, and I'd feel bad, mostly for the trainee, if I allowed a trainee to hit anything.

Now, I'm NOT saying your instructor was negligent. I know sometimes things happen for whatever reason. But I would insist on sharing at least SOME of the blame and not put the entire blame on a trainee --- UNLESS the trainee wasn't/wouldn't listen to my instructions. That would be another story and would appear in my trainee's evaluation report.

Good for you!
You've only just begun.
But let me ask you this, are you enjoying it and having fun, so far?

You don't know how pleased I am to hear you admit that.
Now you know.
Now I'll let you in on a little secret.
As you spend more time in training and learning, your experience will provide you with a confidence that WILL make the job easier. You may not realize that, .... yet, but trust ol' AfterShock on this one.

SaY WHAT?!
"Sleeping" while your trainer is driving?
Hmmmmmm
How can you learn while sleeping?
Well, except for learning how to sleep while the wheels are turning, which I'll admit isn't the easiest thing to do.
You see, IMO, BOTH the trainer and the trainee need to be awake for a complete training/learning experience. The company I trained for preferred that we both be awake, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't train while asleep, and I doubt a trainee can learn while sleeping. The trainee is learning how to properly operate a Big truck, and I'm observing and learning about what instruction the trainee needs from me. I already know how to sleep, and I suspect a trainee does, too. Learning how to stay awake might be a problem though.

Your post makes that abundantly apparent, and I'm favorably impressed that you feel bad about it. And I'd venture to guess that every time you look at that damaged fender, you're going to replay how it happened in your mind. But fret not! For that, IMO, is a GOOD sign. Actually, you shouldn't forget it because it WILL make you a better driver. You've learned something as a result of all this I trust? And you're there to learn, right? Mission accomplished. Those who could just forget it would cause me concern.

Well, there you go!
Hmmmmmmmm
Why doesn't that surprise me?
I'll tell you why. It's because you have an outstanding attitude and an eagerness to do things properly. Who could ask for more?

It's not likely that any Big truck truck driver will go their entire driving career without putting a scratch or ding in the Big truck or the trailer they're assigned to, and/or some unknown or unseen hazard on the ground or around you. For you, it just came sooner than later. But what's MOST important is that you've learned something sooner than some have later in their driving career. This has just been a part of your learning process. Now you know what some with more experience have yet to know.

Some folks may tell you that you're overly concerned about a minor incident, but I wouldn't agree. I think it demonstrates your good character and desire to be the best you can be. And from reading this post and your thoughts and concerns, I think you and I are a lot alike. How this has effected you would have effected me in the same way, and, in fact did.
You see, I take pride in my ride, and to scratch or ding it doesn't make me happy at all. But I've been there -- done that myself. Like your incident, mine wouldn't be considered major damage by a long shot, and others have told me not to worry about it. But I do/did anyway, and I think it's important to worry about it. At least for awhile. While others might not even notice a scratch or ding, I do, every time I wash and/or polish my Big truck, and that reminds me to always be careful to prevent another scratch and/or ding to remember. After worry comes remembering it, which is less painful, but I think necessary to prevent another such incident in the future.

For that reason, I'm not going to tell you to forget it and move on. Just move on as you remember it. Don't let it get you down though. As bad as it may seem now, keep in mind it COULD have been much worse. I'm relieved that you aren't reporting that you laid a Big truck on it's side, or rear-ended another vehicle or lost your brakes going downhill.

Keep that positive attitude and desire to be the best above all and you'll be fine. Being a good, QUALITY Big truck truck driver is something to strive for and, unfortunately, something too few trainees seem to be doing these days.

You're VERY welcome, Bafinpa!
And thank YOU for asking.
It's been my pleasure.

 

Thanks for your words of encouragement. It is true what you said, my pride is hurt. I always try to do the best I can when I accept a job.

What happen was.. I got the customer early morning (daylight already), the guard gave us the spot number where I had to drop my loaded trailer. We were both looking for the number so when we found it I position my tractor to get back.(backing on my side). Then my instructor got out of the tractor and went back of the trailer and started to wave me to get into the hole. I guess I stayed too focus to where my instructor was and I didn't look to my right side. And suddenly just heard my tractor hitting the pole. My instructor always get out when I have to back up in thigh places, I guess this time neither one saw that yellow pole.

When I get to a terminal I think I have to talk to a safety person, Do you think that I just need to tell him that I hit something backing up. Or explain what I just explained to you?


But let me ask you this, are you enjoying it and having fun, so far?

I really enjoy it, the first week we had to go to Durango, Colorado. I was amazed with the big mountains and big steep hills (I'm from Florida), I passed by the Grand Canyon, went to Las Vegas. I enjoy to be in different places al the time.

SaY WHAT?!
"Sleeping" while your trainer is driving?
Hmmmmmm
after my curfew was over, I guess this company started running us as a team, 48 states, we both drive day or night, I tried to stay awake but you get tired anyway. I have been asking my instructor all kind of questios and learn all that need to be done. (he has been very helpfull).

Now I'll let you in on a little secret.
As you spend more time in training and learning, your experience will provide you with a confidence that WILL make the job easier. You may not realize that, .... yet, but trust ol' AfterShock on this one.


I hope your little secret becomes true for me someday. I'm ready to pay my dues and get to my first year of experience and then look for better opportunities.
Like you said in one of your posts, there is no need for drivers, there is need of drivers wiiling to stay..
Driving school recruiters are misleading people, four months ago, my recrutier was doing the math for me, he told me (70mph X .30) = 21/hour, he told me that the company will reimberse my tuition, etc. I now know how heartless he is. Hopefully I found this forum, look on the web and I didn't listen to him. I found a cheaper school, and a Ok company so far, company is reimbursing my tuition (100/month).

Thank you again aftershock for your advice and I will keep in touch.

By the way I signed up with Sprint broadband, it has been really good. I even was in laredo rigth to the border and signal was good.

 

Do "NO FAULT" accidents affect you when trying to get a truck driving position? I had an accident June 30 2015, the tire of the bridge master on my cement truck came off the road and caused me to roll the cement truck, I am blessed to be alive but was laid off from the job(small company of 3 employees) a day replaced since I was on workman's comp for 10months.

 

8 year old thread, dang. Bump of the year my man.

Putting one on its side ain't good for business or careers.

 

I was involved accident, i hit another Car in the back, but no police don't involved, but my insurance take in charge. For the car i hit in the back. Can that effect. My cdl licence

 

I’m a student currently enrolled in school to get my CDL I got in my first accident and got cited but there were no injuries. But now I have 3 points on my drivers license. I have 2 months left before I’m done with school. Just want to know will there be a problem with getting a job with a company? If so, what companies will hire me? This was my first accident.