Other driver claimed I hit him how screwed am I?

On private property with minimal damage, the police are just going to tell you to call your insurance agent and exchange information. You're technically wasting the LEO's time with small claims.

to the OP: this will likely go down on your DAC as a preventable accident. It's not the end of your career. Heck, most reputable employers wouldn't bother noting the preventable if the scratch was smaller than the size of a dollar bill. Another reason to hate mega's I guess.

 

It's not hard to put two and two together. The height of the scratch was it the same height as the ICC bumper or a hinge? Most times you won't see damage on a trailer but maybe a tiny smudge of paint. If you barely touched him then there would be no evidence other than the height thing.

If he thought you were too close you were too close. You must have been off of center. I've been to many places mirrors almost touch when parked. You have to be exact on backing. Next time ask for another dock or get lined up better. Even ask for a spotter. You could of asked that guy to be your spotter.

It's after the fact now and you'll have to eat the preventable. The company won't waste time fighting it without evidence. They'll just pay the guy off and slap your hand. Live and learn.


When I was a rookie in training my trainer woke me up saying she was too tired to back into a dock. I crawled in the seat while she spotted. It wasn't even a tight back, a simple straight line. I continued where she left off and seen I was about 6" off center. I wanted to do a pull up and get a better line but she was frantically waving me back like a mad man. Okay back in the dock the owner comes out scream I damaged his weather head. This was an antique weather head that was sagging and ripped all over. I went inside and all I done was the weather head side was jury rigged with a small piece of 2x4 to hold it out. All I done was crack that $1 piece of 2x4. I wasn't on duty, usually the one on duty eats these things. But I ended up buying that guy a new $400 weather head.

I was in the seat, regardless of the trainer frantically waiving you are 100% responsible while sitting in the driver's seat. I lived and learned that one.

 

Well like this or not--sometimes you have to get real close to another truck--I go to places all the time where u can barely put a piece paper between the doors--
Now to crux of matter--Bet $$$$ 2 donuts pos driver saw an opportunity to get something fixed etc.....happens all the time---to the OP Never let this #### go--call cops---they may or may not come---get His company and its on the horn Immediately--Don't leave or let them leave till there is a resolution---Depinding where u r this #### happens all the time---especially to newer drivers w/megas......
Good luck--& next time(hopefully there won't b)Don't be afraid to tell him(when you know you Are RIGHT)
That you did nothing--then invite him to go #### himself!!

 

Good advice. I definitely would have called the cops.

 

You probably got scammed by the driver that said you hit him. You should have let him report it then said, "If I hit him, why didn't he say something to me? This is the first I've heard about it." Many dirtbag drivers damage their truck then look for a sucker to blame it on to keep their own DAC clean. That's one of the reasons trucking companies are putting cameras in the trucks, to see who really did the damage.

 

As the leader in number of trailers I have hit let me give you my opinion or better yet some experiences. When I was with ACT, I drove local. I put a trailer in a dock and unhooked. I went and picked up another and put it into a dock about 3 hours later. When I was doing that a guy came out and started throwing a fit telling me that I hit his trailer earlier. There was a new scratch on his trailer end cap and he was going to get fired. No mark on my trailer only his. I took a picture of it and sent it to the company. I didn't argue with the guy because he was complaining in front of a customer and I didn't want to look foolish in front of him. The company took it seriously and it adversely effect my career. I did hit a First Fleet trailer. Scratched it up and they sent out a man to look over the damage. He said, no big deal, just cosmetic. Very nice man. I would work for First Fleet. But not for the company that first guy worked for.

The government allows companies to depreciate trailers over a three year period (or less). That is because the value of the trailer lowers do to bumps and scrapes and stuff happens. If there was no structural damage to the trailer then you really did not lower the value of it. Your company, if it is a bunch of xxxxxxxx will fire you. But if it is a good company, you will be told to go and sin no more. It will not effect you from getting a good job. It will only keep the bottomfeeders or lickers from doing so.

 

First Fleet has a big account with Kroger. For a while they had some problems with the union Kroger drivers damaging their trailers.

 

Your mailbox is full.

 

The only time I ever goaled was when I was blind siding into a tight dock between two trucks on rainy night.