Been terminated. Now what?

That's actually a BIG thing that Greyhound teaches at their school. I used to have a G.O.A.L. pin from them. You should do this EVERYTIME you back. I plan on it. I don't care who gets mad, SAFETY FIRST!!!

 

Ditto Jedi

Close proximity accidents account for more than 90% of a large fleets "accidents". And well over 90% of a fleets insurance claims. That's why many companies opt for the 2 or more years experience, when hiring.

These types of accidents are almost always avoidable. I say "almost" only because I have seen incidents that weren't. Stranger things have happened.

For a small fleet, 500 trucks or less. These accidents can add over $1 million a year in operational cost.

As long as I've been driving. I'm still willing to shut down the entire drive at a truck stop. All the while...stopping and getting out as often as I feel is needed. And I don't care how many of you are screaming on the radio.

If I see you about to come through where I'm backing (and you have your radio on) I'll generally give you a heads up, and have you come on past.

Otherwise, you may be there for 5-10 minutes. If it's tight, I may get out 3 or 4 times. Or it may take 4 or 5 pull ups of 3 or 4 feet each. And that takes time.

Pride and over confidence is the enemy of many a driver.

 

danc4u & joetro are absolutely correct. Stay away from me. You don't make a pimple on a professional drivers..............well, the Hawaiian word is OCOLE (it means bottom)

 

G.O.A.L is a truckers best friend or could be a truckers worst enemy.. I alwasy get out and look when needed.. If those accidents are reported on your DAC, you can forget about getting a job for a while, since the economy is bad. Companies now a days have plenty of experience drivers to choose from.. Who did you drive for and how ways your trainer?

 

Well, that hardly seems fair.
The company you were driving for obviously doesn't have much compassion for their drivers. To fire a newBee driver just for hitting objects is cold hearted. What are the odds you'd hit another object in the near future?

Did you ask the company what the big deal was? I mean, how serious can an off the road crash be?
It's not like you injured or killed someone while drivin' down the highway. Or that you possibly might.
At least you'd think they'd wait and see if that happens before they go and fire you for no good reason.

Sounds to me like the driver of that parked vehicle was a real jerk.
Why did he/she park there in the first place? Shouldn't they have known they were setting you up for a crash?
Serves 'em right.
Too bad you didn't crush that danged parked car.
Maybe THEN they'd learn not to park in your way.

What did your company say when you offered to pay for the damage?
Why were they so upset over such a minor crash?
Isn't that why they have insurance?
HaiL!
Three thousand bucks isn't even worth filing a claim.
You should have just left the scene and let the 4-wheeler figure out what they did wrong.
I reckon that's what'cha get for bein' a nice guy with a good attitude.

Well, ...... there you go right there. No way should ANYone even be required to back such a long trailer. Fifty-three footers are known for suddenly going out of control and a driver has no time to react in time to prevent a crash.

That means it wasn't your fault, right?
So why was your company so unforgiving?

I suppose your company doesn't expect that rookies are gonna hit things? I mean really!
What did they expect? A crash free three months?
Most good truckin' companies anticipate that their rookies are gonna clobber a few objects every month until they learn. How do they think a rookie learns not to hit objects unless they DO hit a few?
Like Clint Eastwood said in one of his movies,
A mans just gotta know his limitations.

Exactly!
Not to mention that you taught a few folks how not to park around you and that 53 foot uncontrolable trailer. If not for you, they might never have learned their lesson.
Sounds like you got no respect for your efforts. You'd think they'd be thankin' you instead of firing you for practically nothing.
Scheese!

Look at it this way, you only hit objects every 5,000 miles or so. Why didn't they give you any credit for that?
That's like driving from California to New York without hitting ANYthing, --- until half way back. Do they really expect a Big truck truck driver to be able to do that?
Get real.
There are just TOO many things out there to hit to avoid them all.

Absolutely!
Just put in your application to some of the better truckin' companies.
Don't even mess around with the rinky-dink companies that expect perfection. There are plenty of better companies out there, like gasoline tankers, liquid nitrogen transporters, munitions and explosive haulers, and heavy, over-sized specialists who pay MUCH better than that picky company that fired you for such a trivial matter. Why put up with the bovine excrement of some nit-picking common carrier when there are companies that haul sensitive, high dollar freight? At least other motorists will tend to stay outta your way when you're hauling dangerous stuff.

If it were my company, I'da let you collide with more objects so you would learn better. I don't trust ANY Big truck truck driver who has NEVER hit another object. They obviously don't know what they're doin'. Can you imagine a Big truck truck driver driving over a million miles without EVER hitting ANYthing?
They're a crash lookin' for a place to happen, --- and it'll probably be a BIG one.
And I bet they'd think they were a good driver, just because they don't hit other objects. Might even think they're entitled to an award or something.

Don't let this little setback bother you.
There are SO many objects to hit,
and SO little time to git 'er done.
Don't waste a single minute wonderin' what might have been.
Be satisfied that when it comes to hittin' objects, you're right up there with the best of the best.
And remember, there are THOUSANDS of Big truck truck drivers with millions of miles behind them who can't make the claims that you can.
You're in a league of your own --- and they can only imagine what it's like to be like you.
Most will never realize what it's like to be in your position.

If that don't cheer you up,
I don't know what would.

 

Aftershock... BAD. OH SO FUNNY, but bad, nonetheless.

 

Can it then be said that I'm a baaadd man -------> ?

 

Very funny. Yes it can, indeed. Please refrain from making me laugh too much at my desk, though. Many people already mistake me as unbalanced. You're not helping.

 

I'm glad I'm at home reading some of his posts! I don't have to worry about anyone but my 13 year-old thinking I'm unbalanced.

AfterShock is definitely a baaaaad man!

 

Director of Safety or some other management position.