umm... am I fired?

One thing they might do is try to trick you into paying for the damages. They can't force you to pay like pay or get fired, nor can they deduct it from your paycheck without a written agreement. The DOL Wage and Hour division says it's illegal to coerce an employee into paying for damages. Even if you agreed to pay they can't reduce your pay below minimum wage. They could file a civil suit but it would never go that far. It's the cost of doing business. That's one reason you make reduced wages.

Reality? When cornered like that most drivers quit. To play by the law, let them fire you, file a complaint with the DOL, get reinstated with back pay.


I highly doubt anything will happen to you. We just covered all the bases. Drivers make mistakes. It's when they make a habit of it is when they get itchy. One backing accident isn't a repeat offender. Two or three you can sweat but not one.

 

Did you get a copy of the report? There is no way it was an accident. It had to be a damage to public property report or something similar.

 

It will go on your DAC as a preventable also. I would make dead sure before changing jobs in the future that the job was actually there.

If the company is halfway decent they will just make you do the backing training once again and let you go.

Hope you don't have a next time, but it happens.

 

I have always seen drivers actually called in. I feel for you though, man. Once I emptied my truck of all but the essentials and refused to carry anymore stuff than I absolutely needed because I was sure my company would fire me after I was stupid and knocked something off a trailer by moving it a little after unstrapping. Got rerouted to the terminal (obviously) and had to meet with my dispatcher and the safety guy to fill out the "I-******-up-and-won't-do-it-again" paperwork. My guess is you are actually going to get training.

 

I think you will be fine. Just don't go in with the "#### you I did nothing wrong attitude" don't get defensive. I don't think any company is going to fire you over that. Hell if a man got fired for getting deep in some bush I'd have been gone a long time ago, then again that's a whole different story.

 

If you get a strong vibe that you are there to be terminated. QUIT before they fire you. Make sure you QUIT over the QC. If you QUIT they can't say they terminated you for Unsatisfactory safety record. Then you just have to answer for the accident which shouldn't keep you from having another job.

 

They can say anything they want.

I doubt if you'll get fired. Go into safety with a good attitude. Ears up and tail slightly in between your legs.

 

Get out and look people!

 

I know one person who had three incidents and was not fired. If this is your first and have had no I mean NO priors, then chances are you wont get fired as everyone said. If you had prior service failures and incidents, then you may out of luck. Best of luck and keep us posted good buddy.

Edit: What type of local job are you seeking?? Some employers have strict requirements; however some companies may accept the incident as a learning experience. Admit it and act remorseful when questioned about the incident. Some interviewers may understand some may not. I know as I've been in lots of interviews. Some companies judge you by the type of person, some judge you from your past, and others could care less. Show up dressed appropriately and be ready for a road test/interview. One thing I stress is never never I repeat never say a bad thing about your previous employers. Some interviewers will try and trick you into doing this as they want to see if you will bad mouth them as well.

KH

 

Well.. since it was USA truck then they are probably going to make you a trainer..

You should watch the YouTube video of USA driver...