Accident while in training, will I be fired?

LameMule · Dec 7, 2021

Do you think that you pinched them by turning left while they were alongside your trailer?

Mwarren89 · Dec 7, 2021

Moosetek13 said: ↑

It sounds like mistakes on both drivers, you and the car.

The car should have backed up a bit to give you more room to make that turn, while you should never have started moving with a car so close to you.
Even if the drives cleared the car, the tandems or trailer probably would not.

Maybe getting out and talking to the driver of the car would have eased the situation, by letting the driver of the car know you could not make the turn safely unless he backed up to give both of you enough room.

And, as always, watch your mirrors to see if you might contact something behind you?

Things to think about before you talk to the safety people.
They do like to see a new driver correctly assess a situation and see where they went wrong, to avoid the problem in the future.
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For sure!! Thanks... I have definetly studied this situation over and picked out alot of things I could have done to have changed the outcome...... I am happy it wasn't worse than it was and no one got hurt... that was my number one priority and then as the hours went on I realized my career may be at jeopardy before it ever gets going strong... that's a terrible feeling to think you could lose something you wanted so bad over a simple accident

I also posted a picture of the turn... lamemule asked about how we were turning so this picture can hopefully shed some light on it a little better

Mwarren89 · Dec 7, 2021

well I can tell ya my trainer seen it happen out the mirror and he says they hit me... he said they were trying to squeeze by the trailer as I started to move and caught the trailer... he said as soon as he seen them getting close he yelled woa and then I hit the brakes and they hit the trailer[/QUOTE]

LameMule · Dec 7, 2021

From the look of the picture I'd say the car was a jerk for getting in the spot they did and that's something you need to expect and it's going to continue to happen as long as you drive. It's your responsibility to be aware of what your truck and trailer is doing or going to do. In that case you really should have known that your trailer was going to track through a car.

LameMule · Dec 7, 2021

Mwarren89 said: ↑

well I can tell ya my trainer seen it happen out the mirror and he says they hit me... he said they were trying to squeeze by the trailer as I started to move and caught the trailer... he said as soon as he seen them getting close he yelled woa and then I hit the brakes and they hit the trailer
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[/QUOTE]
If he's correct then use this as a learning experience to fully understand how easily you can screw up.

Mwarren89 · Dec 7, 2021

LameMule said: ↑

From the look of the picture I'd say the car was a jerk for getting in the spot they did and that's something you need to expect and it's going to continue to happen as long as you drive. It's your responsibility to be aware of what your truck and trailer is doing or going to do. In that case you really should have known that your trailer was going to track through a car.
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Looking at it yea I should have.... I figured I would clear when he stopped at my drives so I focused my attention to making sure the road was clear for me to pull out... I would have never guess he would have moved forward after he stopped but that's what I get for guessing.... it's definitely showed me how much awareness you need to have when moving these around... I have learned a valuable hard earned lesson right here... I just hope I didn't learn this valuable lesson at the expense of my career

Moosetek13 · Dec 7, 2021

Newer drivers have some leeway in these things so I doubt you will be fired over it, especially with your trainers input on the matter.

Still, do not get ####y if you get past this.
That blanked out word was c o c k y . Not a swear word, by the way, to the mods!
Look it up in the dictionary!!!

One thing that keeps me safe out here is never letting myself lose the fear of driving these big rigs.
It is less now, after 11 years, but I still have it. I hope I never lose it.
If I do it should mean that I should get out of trucking.

Mwarren89 · Dec 7, 2021

Moosetek13 said: ↑

Newer drivers have some leeway in these things so I doubt you will be fired over it, especially with your trainers input on the matter.

Still, do not get ####y if you get past this.
That blanked out word was c o c k y . Not a swear word, by the way, to the mods!
Look it up in the dictionary!!!

One thing that keeps me safe out here is never letting myself lose the fear of driving these big rigs.
It is less now, after 11 years, but I still have it. I hope I never lose it.
If I do it should mean that I should get out of trucking.
Click to expand...

Man in all honesty I'm pretty on edge alot... wind especially puts me on edge... and driving in the northeast... them two things right there are my biggest out of comfort zones... I try to be safe and constantly stay in my mirrors.. but mistakes do happen... I have heard alot of veteran drivers say they drive as scared of it now as they do when they started because as long as there scared there being careful... it makes since after getting to drive these... I also know with trucking when you try it for the first time you will know if you have made the right choice because you either hate it or your addicted to it like a drug... so far out here I have loved everything about the lifestyle... it's an adventure everyday... nothing like a traditional 9 to 5... you will run your clock out driving then find yourself in your sleeper reading about it... I love it so far....

HoneyBadger67 · Dec 8, 2021

Moosetek13 said: ↑

One thing that keeps me safe out here is never letting myself lose the fear of driving these big rigs.
It is less now, after 11 years, but I still have it. I hope I never lose it.
If I do it should mean that I should get out of trucking.
Click to expand...

There's no room for error in this thankless business and the regulators are taking that away. I'm not scared of the truck, but I do worry excessively about other drivers (cdl or not).

You can see the effects of those who believe in "right of way" and determining "fault". My biggest fear is meeting them in a crowded lot thats poorly lit.

Allow Me. · Dec 8, 2021

Yeah, as the car approached your equipment, and YOU, knowing that 4 wheelers aren't truck drivers, will do dumb things (such as in your situation) YOU, the driver have to adjust your driving. This is very similiar to a truck turning right on a tight turn and pulling a little to the left and that 4 wheeler tries to squeeze in-between the curb and your trailer. Thay be dumb, but you are smart ! !

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