Hey guys, I've been driving for about 2 months with Schneider, first trucking job ever. My plan is to only stay with them for 6 months-1 year then hopefully move on to better things.
Unfortunately I had a little accident the other week. I had a pretty messed up trailer to begin with, it didnt roll straight, and I had to back it up onto a trailer tipper. Before I continue, I will say I am completely at fault for this accident. The trailer tipper is pretty #### narrow, and there were old concrete barriers in the entrance. I was way too focused on the spotter in my driver side mirror, while the sun was shining on the passenger side and those mirrors were really dirty and I had trouble seeing. I didnt feel good about not being able to see out the passenger side, but maybe I can trust the spotter? big mistake. I keep having to turn the steering wheel to the left because the #### trailer doesnt roll straight. I kind of dont feel good about it but I think maybe theres enough room on the other side. *CRUNCH* nope I was wrong. I shouldve trusted my gut. I pushed in the fairings on the passenger side that cover the gas tank and have stairs for the passenger side door. Didnt make my truck DOT illegal but yeah noticeable damage.
The property owner said they didnt need my info [it was a crumbly concrete barrier that looked like a bunch of other trucks hit too ] and I didnt hit anybody or equipment.
So my question is, will this go on my MVR, or DAC? I've looked at job listings for other employers, some say clean record, some say 1 accident, so I'm just worried about how this will affect me in the future. I know Schneider has their own insurance, so since I only damaged the truck itself I was hoping this info would only stay at this company. I'm pretty disappointed in myself to let this happen cause I usually always take my time, get out and look when my gut doesnt feel good about a situation, etc.
ALSO FOR OTHER NEWBIES - I can't stress this enough, keep your windows and mirrors clean. Keep paper towels and windex in the truck, did they get covered in dust or rain spots? clean that ####. It will make your life easier, especially when the sun is being an ####### or at night, and prevent stupid accidents like this. And never put all your faith into a spotter. If they get mad or impatient, #### them, the only person who has something to lose is you!
Question about an accident and my "record" and a lesson for other newbies
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by kogaFX, Dec 28, 2013.
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Sorry to hear of this mistake, but good to see you hopefully learned a lot from it.
Chinatown is correct. It won't go on your MVR, but it is still likely to go on your DAC. It's up to Schneider on that part.
As you now realize, you broke the cardinal sin of backing. That is,, never continue backing even one inch, if you're not absolutely certain you have adequate clearance on all sides, in all directions.
However, saying that the trailer "doesn't roll straight" doesn't hold water, and is highly unlikely.
For a trailer not to roll straight at low speed backing, the rear tandems would have to be so drastically dog-legged (misaligned at an angle) that the trailer's tail end would be riding in the next lane (or shoulder) on the highway. Not likely it would be that far off.
Even IF that were the case (trailer not rolling straight), then you would have already been guilty for an even worse mistake, which is pulling a trailer that is unsafely misaligned and not road worthy. But I doubt that was the case, and more likely you need to understand that it takes a certain amount of time/distance before a trailer "reacts" to changes in steering direction.
Good to see you know & admit your other mistakes, and can learn from those. Good luck in the future.
Note: This is a repost. The staff accidentally deleted my earlier post, not me. Altho "i screw up" sometimes too.
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Alrighty, let me try this again, hopefully RIGHT this time.
Not necessarily.
The alignment doesn't have to be off that much to give you a fit going backwards, especially if your trying to back into something like a finger dock. You WILL notice it, and human nature being what it is you WILL try to compensate for it, which will only make the issue worse. I'm pretty sure that's what happened to the OP.
Good luck getting a trailer fixed because it doesn't pull straight. My company doesn't even have an alignment machine at our terminal, let alone will they down one because it doesn't pull straight. NO trailer at our place pulls straight, because idiots can't stop running over curbs.
Nice thought, driver.
I copied my same responses I put in your other post before realizing what I did.
I don't want folks to start thinking we have the "thought" police running around here, with the care that I try to take to make sure folks know that I'm anything but.
Sorry again to make you have to do this twice, but I appreciate your taking the time.
KW Cajun Thanks this. -
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