Accident on my third day driving!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by screams, Nov 17, 2013.

  1. KW Cajun

    KW Cajun Road Train Member

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    Copperhead Road
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    Actually, it's been a couple years ago, but my company gave me a whole whopping 1 day of training. True.
    There was no qualcom or any gadgets, so no training was needed there, but on Day 2 and after, I was sent off solo.
    I'm just thankful I had prior experience driving a 70k-80k concrete mixer (still a straight truck tho) and 30 years of heavy B trucks.
    But regardless of that, they didn't train anyone hardly at all, even greener than green fresh out of school newbies.
     
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  3. Truckergirl0720

    Truckergirl0720 Medium Load Member

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    Here or there just depends
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    Wow!!! That's scary! Lol
     
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  4. Grandpa Jack

    Grandpa Jack Bobtail Member

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    Nov 17, 2013
    Las Vegas, NV
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    Go to hireright.com And request your DAC, it takes a few weeks, they will mail it to you. Sorry to hear of the accident but if you love the trade don't ever give up, there is a company out there that will hire you, you didn't get a ticket, that is a start. Go find your driving job, good luck.
     
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  5. KW Cajun

    KW Cajun Road Train Member

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    Copperhead Road
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    Since a lot of folks fessed up "accidents/mishaps", my only one came in week #2.
    I was pulling out of an inside dock with tight clearance at the bay door I-beam upright support. As I slowly pulled forward and was watching in my mirrors, I slowed to a stop right before the trailer's (open/chained) swing doors passed thru. I saw I has about 2" clearance.
    But as I let the clutch out slowly to pull out, the left swing door swung 2 1/2 inches outward, from the forward momentum, due to some slack in the tie-back chain.
    Yep, it caught the edge of my swing door and the whole left swing door popped right off. Bammm, as it hit the ground.
    No damage to the door, but needed all hinges replaced.
     
  6. TroyD

    TroyD Light Load Member

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    Nov 16, 2013
    Grand Rapids, MI
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    Dang man that sucks!! Keep your head up though. From the sounds of all the experienced people you will be fine. Keep the wheels movin man. You got this!
    !!
     
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  7. Truckergirl0720

    Truckergirl0720 Medium Load Member

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    Here or there just depends
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    That is the only thing that happened to me!! Lol I was about 6 months in and we were at cat in Morton Il. Picking up a trailer in a inside dock at night that was hard to see inside. I didn't realize the door latch was broken or come loose and I was pulling out slowly.... And when I got out there was my door on the ground. It had caught one of the yellow concrete guards! But no door damage and luckily we were a 1/4 mile from terminal so just had to get the door up in trailer and drive it over the interstate and to the yard to face the people getting a good laugh at me!! Lol. Oh well it coulda been worse! And in 6 and half years that's all I did. So I'm thankful!
     
  8. screams

    screams Bobtail Member

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    Sep 28, 2012
    Hatfield, PA
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    I'd better clarify - the training was 2.5 weeks total, but I was out with another driver (supposedly practicing all the stuff) for only 4.5 days. And I passed each phase right about in the middle of the pack, from what I could guess. Actually I got 99 out of 100 on my qualifying test at the end, even though I was so nervous I made weird mistakes. Too bad valium would be a DUI ;-)
    But I wasn't awful until I got out there on my own. So I'm thinking to try to get a company with a few weeks' side by side training, as folks suggested.
     
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  9. bergy

    bergy Road Train Member

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    Compliments on to the board on the encouragement.

    I'll attempt to help from the perspective of your next employer. I'd suggest that you don't hint that it was possibly the companies fault. It will be more impressive to them if you take full responsibility and assure them moving forward, the rookie mistakes will be left to others. Trucking is all you've ever wanted to do and just want to find a good company to drive for... etc etc Best of luck - hope you get hired on soon.
     
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  10. Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    Utah's DIXIE!
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    Surprised it took this long for one of the super truckers to crawl out from under a rock. Don't put to much mind into this dude's post.

    When I started, (1996? 1997? somewhere back then,) I was still in a trucking school and was hired by a small LTL refer outfit. My entire training with them, consisted of one run from St. George, UT to SLC, then on to Sugar City, ID and back to St. George. About 1200 miles, with several drops. My next run, (and all the rest,) was solo, St. George to Denver. In the snow. Over I-70. My only real saving grace there, was that I grew up in Colorado, so mountain driving and snow/ice were nothing new to me. But I'd never driven a big truck on it. Closest I had was almost 30 year old experience in driving sight seeing buses. And city bus in Denver.

    Definitely learned the hard way. I sure don't recommend it.
     
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  11. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
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    I grew up in a truck with my dads brother, got my CDL just by taking the test no school. I don't know how many times I had driven beside him way before I had a license to drive a cmv. Looking back I guess I had way more training than I have always thought. At any rate day I got my plastic I moved a 4 wheel drive John Deere for my dad with his cabover. Later in the evening Bill came by said hoss I need you to take Mabel to the barn at Conway load it and get your ### headed to Shreveport. I started to argue all he said was you know the rules, no horned cattle on top, torque on the driveline in a curve, keep your brakes cool, and pack em in till the hide is hanging out. No different than when I'm with you. You scratch one inch of her I will skin you. Nervous jittery scared to death doesn't describe my first run. Had to have some one else hit the chute I hit a dozen times with him in truck. It was only by grace of God it didn't go south. Its hard to say I'm not ready when they tell you that you are. Let the super truckers flap there lips that you are blaming the company not taking responsibility. I thought you took total responsibility and gave the not enough training not as an excuse but an answer as to why the accident happened. they won't admit it but they have done worse often
     
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