2 minor accidents in less than a week: how screwed am I?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Anon360, Jul 8, 2014.

  1. Anon360

    Anon360 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 7, 2014
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    I'd like to remain somewhat anonymous because I obviously screwed up so I'm not going to mention the company's name.

    here's the story. I'm green, just graduated for CDL school. No experience apart from the training I received from school. The company I had started working for was well aware of this fact. I have a class A but for the job I was only driving a class B box truck. My first week on the job consisted of "training". The "training" involved me riding shotgun with a different driver every day and seeing how they did things and consisted of a grand total of ZERO behind the wheel of the truck. My second week they gave me a route and sent me out with a "helper". The "helper" was a kid 10 years younger than me who worked for labor ready and didn't even have a CDL at all. Within my first week they had me driving all over downtown Seattle (which I'm not familiar with) and had me pulling 12 Hr days with up to 15 stops. At the end of my first week an ambulance came up behind me and could not get through, So I pulled over to make way and rubbed A parked care with my rear tire. The company sent me off for a drug test and put me back on route the next day. 4 days into my 3rd week (second week driving) I pulled into a parking lot from hell. The parking lot was only slightly bigger then my truck. I started backing into the space I needed to be and had my helper as a spotter for my back. I backed in just fine, but after I got in I pulled forward to straighten out and my backend swung out and bumped a parked van.

    I got fired from that job. Which is understandable. I understand that I was the operator of the vehicle and the one responsible for controlling it. I do however somewhat blame the company and training or lack thereof, but I digress.

    my driving record is still clean and in neither incident was I ticketed or a police report filed. how bad is this going to hurt me in trying to find a new truck driving job and do I even need to mention that I worked for that company when I fill out job applications?
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
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  3. joseph1135

    joseph1135 Papa Murphy

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    It wasn't their fault or their training. It was your fault. And until you stop placing the blame on others for your actions, it's counterproductive to send you in any other direction.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2014
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Yes you need to put that job on your applications. Nothing to worry about; list the two as "incidents" not "accidents", and no police report was required because they were so minor.
     
    Moving Forward Thanks this.
  5. rpad139

    rpad139 Heavy Load Member

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    Now you know why they say " 1 year experience required"
     
  6. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Maybe you should go OTR for a year or two to gain some experience.
     
  7. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    in the bush somewhere
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    Off with your head!!!!

    As China said, include it on future applications as incidents, and be honest if you're asked about it. Admit you screwed up and move on
     
  8. TomOfTx

    TomOfTx Road Train Member

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    Anon360, you are not screwed. These are very minor in nature. What is needed is for you to reflect back on these two incidents and how they could have been prevented and what you will do to avoid them in the future. The few minor incidents I had in my first few months of driving changed my mindset and I was determined to never be involved in a preventable accident/incident ever again. Well, 22+ years later and nearly 3 million miles safe driving, I still think of my first few months driving to remind why I developed a personal phrase of "Safety First, Never Last......Have a Future, Not a Past!

    Go find a different trucking job that you can gain more experience at without being put in the middle of a busy large city every day. Once you have a greater command of driving the truck, driving in a place like downtown Seattle will seem much easier than now. Best wishes to you! :)
     
    Moving Forward and Chinatown Thank this.
  9. 379exhd

    379exhd Road Train Member

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    rolling through hell
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    Helpful advise there's a reason why some of us carry a few 100 $$$ in cash on us just in case. Rub up against a car or something like that nothing serious but #### happens at times ya know. Usually a couple 100 will make it go away and they'll forget about it ever happening. Never had to use my fund hope I never do but it beats the hell out of higher insurance rates.
     
  10. CougFan

    CougFan Light Load Member

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    Wont kill your job chances, just be honest. And ditto the idea of keeping some cash on hand. I wont say aye or nay, but a "buddy" of mine has used such a plan to keep a good record.
     
  11. Dinomite

    Dinomite Road Train Member

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    Wow dude you can't even operate a box truck without taking out vehicles. Ya man I'll say find another profession. You being fired because of the incidents will make it even worse. Might have a shot at driving cement mixers, garbage trucks, and dump trucks for people who pay you on a 1099. But good luck trying to get a decent or mediocre tractor trailer job.
     
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