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Unpaid leave for a week for hitting a pole?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by sleepy2291, Nov 18, 2011.

Page 1 of 6
  1. Nov 18, 2011 #1
    sleepy2291

    sleepy2291 Bobtail Member

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    Nov 18, 2011
    Florida, New York
    0
    So my husband has been driving for about 3 months. He was asleep the other night when another trucker woke him up and asked him to move his truck so he could get in. My husband moved up and accidently ran into a post in the parking lot that was so low it was not in his line of vision and busted his radiator. The company he works for came and towed his truck away and brought him another so he could finish his route, and when he got back they informed him that he had to take a week of unpaid leave and that he might be fired. No other accidents, no driving points, nothing. Is this typical for most companies, the one week unpaid leave for a minor accident?
     
    sleepy2291, Nov 18, 2011
    sleepy2291, Nov 18, 2011
    #1
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  3. Nov 18, 2011 #2
    billymac69

    billymac69 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 26, 2011
    Austin, Texas
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    Some companies would have fired him on the spot. The issue here with this accident is that it was preventable and it cost the company money. Either way, if he was let go he could still find another job. The best mistake you can ever make is the one you learn from. My advice is to take notes and study them. This should not happen again if he does.
     
    billymac69, Nov 18, 2011
    billymac69, Nov 18, 2011
    #2
    sleepy2291 Thanks this.
  4. Nov 18, 2011 #3
    sleepy2291

    sleepy2291 Bobtail Member

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    Nov 18, 2011
    Florida, New York
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    Thank you for taking the time to reply.
     
    sleepy2291, Nov 18, 2011
    sleepy2291, Nov 18, 2011
    #3
  5. Nov 18, 2011 #4
    FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

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    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
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    My guess is that it can't be a good sign that they are making him take a leave. I am sure every company has their own policy but I know with my company if you don't get fired, you keep running...then safety calls you in for a sit down, a slap on the hand and out you go.

    Hopefully all turns out well. In the future tell hubby going right from the sleeper to the wheel leaves you vulnerable to make a silly mistake. If he gets the opportunity to keep driving, tell him next time get out of the truck, make sure the path is clear and then move. Not only is he making sure there is no obstacles, but he is getting the blood flowing to the brain so that he is alert. The driver will wait.
     
    FatDaddy, Nov 18, 2011
    FatDaddy, Nov 18, 2011
    #4
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  7. Nov 18, 2011 #5
    jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Oct 1, 2007
    Duncannon, Pa
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    Your husband should have told the other driver "no." According to your account your husband was "sleeping." DOT regs are very specific about what you can and cannot do while taking your "break." Driving the truck or just moving the truck put your husband back on the drive line and broke up his sleeper berth time. The fact that he damaged the truck to boot is grounds for immediate termination.

    The smart thing to do is to park legally and dont move that truck until his legal 10 hr break is over.
     
    jlkklj777, Nov 18, 2011
    jlkklj777, Nov 18, 2011
    #5
    sleepy2291, JIMS2006C6 and DenaliDad Thank this.
  8. Nov 18, 2011 #6
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    A very minor accident ? Not hardly. Broken radiator, tow bill, down time= costly screw-up. You also said "so the other driver could get in", which kind of sounds like hubby didn't park very good in the first place. Pretty rare a driver will wake up a sleeping driver to move his truck, plus, him getting into the driver's seat without doing a walk around is really dumb.
     
    Allow Me., Nov 18, 2011
    Allow Me., Nov 18, 2011
    #6
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  9. Nov 18, 2011 #7
    DragonTamerBrat

    DragonTamerBrat Road Train Member

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    Like others have said, breaking the radiator is not a "minor" accident. It's a major repair.

    He is very lucky he still has a job.
     
    DragonTamerBrat, Nov 18, 2011
    DragonTamerBrat, Nov 18, 2011
    #7
  10. Nov 18, 2011 #8
    Stoney

    Stoney Medium Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    Az
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    Take your week off, be lucky your husband still has job. He screwed up.


    Conservative to the Bone.
     
    Stoney, Nov 18, 2011
    Stoney, Nov 18, 2011
    #8
    Rollover the Original Thanks this.
  11. Nov 19, 2011 #9
    lostNfound

    lostNfound Road Train Member

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    Home of the Stampede
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    What if that pole had been a person instead?


    Your husband already knows it, now he'll have more time to think about G.O.A.L.
     
    lostNfound, Nov 19, 2011
    lostNfound, Nov 19, 2011
    #9
    Wargames, FatDaddy and DenaliDad Thank this.
  12. Nov 19, 2011 #10
    andy

    andy Light Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2010
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    Shake it off. Start over. Not the end of the world...
     
    andy, Nov 19, 2011
    andy, Nov 19, 2011
    #10
    Boonie, FatDaddy, sevenmph and 3 others Thank this.
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