In trouble if I damaged co property with co truck on co time

This situation just sucks.

I mean ok, technically yea, I guess you can say it's your fault, but with faulty equipment, I hesitate to blame it on you. The thing is, you gotta document this. Not only on a DVIR, but with photos. Use your phone and take pics of the bad door hooks BEFORE this happens. That would cover you in court and show that you did what you were supposed to do and the equipment failed.

If they don't care about their junky equipment, then run, don't walk, away from this place.

 

Yes faulty equipment can be a pain BUT he is the one who decided proceeded to back into the dock with the faulty equipment. What’s even more important he did not Get Out and Look, requested no assistance and did in fact damage the door by doing so.

I think if you ask you will find many who have been in the same situation that successfully got the trailer into the dock simply by taking thier time and getting out a few times to ensure the door was still open or pushed it open again when it swung or backed in doors closed, then pull forward to open the doors giving view of both doors as you are now straight line backing and should have no issue seeing the door in question!

 

Using your own bungee cords or coat hanger or zip ties or whatever is a lot faster than filling out forms for days after the damage .

 

A lot of companies, including one I’ve worked for kind of had a deal with drivers when they did something like this. If you paid for it, it didn’t go on your record and it never happened. Assuming it was minor like you described. If you didn’t pay for it, they would put it on your record. However they were also notoriously known for jacking up the damage amount so that they could continue to pull funds out of everyone of your checks until you paid it off. They also loved it when drivers would ding something up that wasn’t major and then we’re on the hook for payments because it essentially meant that driver wasn’t going anywhere for a while. The problem is, if you choose not to pay it they’re probably gonna slap it on your record. And the next company is going to look at it as a preventable accident. Albeit a minor one but still an accident.

 

Crazy this same thing happened to me yesterday (they didn’t say I have to pay or anything like that not sure if I will be fired or not I guess we’ll see tomorrow since it’s Monday). I picked up a trailer from one location closed the doors (had to use a fifth wheel puller as a hammer to put it in place) drove across the street and started backing (this location open doors from the inside) somehow the trailer door opened and went through the dock door. I’m so disappointed in myself right now.

 

And you joined this forum just to tell us this?

I'm impressed, you fessed up and said you screwed up. Takes a man to do that. I know the owner of this company will give you a second chance, but only if you man up to what you did. If you try to weasel out or talk yourself out of blame, you will be given ample opportunity to unload your truck.

 

For a company to demand a employee pay back, reimburse, payroll deduct, etc., whatever you want to call it, is about as low a company can be. I worked my whole career for family owned businesses, some large, some small. In the nearly 50 years I was gainfully employed, I witnessed co-workers accidentally damage freight and equipment, and to be truthful I had a few ## ups over the years also. Never was anybody asked, or knew of a demand of reimbursement.

 

Yep

In any other industry the employee would just laugh when the company demanded money .

 

In some States, it’s illegal for a employer to demand employee reimbursement, or pay for damages.

 

It should be in all.