Will he be fired?

I hit a ton of #### learning to drive, happens to everyone. Seriously not that big of a deal..quote me on that if ya want.

 

Every company is different and there is no one answer. You can only pass on what information you have experienced and not speak for his company. We were always faced with the famous black poles at the gasoline stations. We maneuvered in such close quarters catching the black pole with the rear fender was bound to happen to any driver with an 85' long truck and trailer. But we didn't report any of that to the safety department. Everything went to our terminal supervisor. If you called safety they'd say does your supervisor know.

I also believe that running over a downed mail box should never be compared to an accident. If he knock it down then maybe but I'd be very upset if my record showed an accident for running over something in the dark. It could be compared to running over a piece of tire on the road. But these are only my opinions and my experiences. It's just not a big deal compared to an accident. It's more of an incident than anything else.

 

85 feet??? dang, that's long!

 

Leannamarie - I owe you an apology, I'm sorry I kept going with him this morning, that was wrong on my part. I guess I let my emotions and how I would feel effect what I was trying to tell you. Being at home, while their miles away with a problem is not easy. Some of us really want to help them, and make everything better. We can't, all we can do is be there when they call, listen, and hope when they get off the phone they are calmer than when they called. I sincerely apologize for any added pressure I added this morning - that was not my intent at all........Lori

 

Roadhog is a sweetheart. We all get under the bit once in a while and go. Usually we rein ourselves in or get a reality check from another member (talking about myself here) For the most part at the end of the day we all have a group hug.

 

Alot of Trucking Companies have their own set of rules on something like this.

I can say that where I work that if you are a newbie and you do damage to the truck then you are gone.

If NO damage is seen and just the mailbox is screwed up then he has a chance of keeping his job.

It depends on the circumstances as every accident is different, depending on the severity.

 

He thought the mail box was too full so he compacted it that way there will be room for the mail tomorrow.

 

I doubt he gets fired. I won't say every hits stuff when they are starting out, but some do, and I am sure it is expected. Being a large company, and understanding he is brand new at this, he will probably just get routed back to his home terminal for a butt chewing by the safety manager.

To be honest, the company is a little at fault here for sending this guy out cold turkey, probably in a hurry, when he should have been staying overnight to meet the people he would be working for. Whoever made the decision to change the rules and send him out like this unexpected needs to be called into the office for a little "sit down" talk as well. I hate it when these big trucking companies rush things, especially with new drivers.

Personally, Los Angeles is the last place I would have sent a new driver on his first solo run. That was a pretty stupid move in itself.

Hope everything works out.

 

Yes egg-zactly. Every trucking company large or small has thier own rules, and when you change jobs, chances are the rules have to be learned all over again. If he cut up any tire, especially the sidewall, it may be an accident, depending on the value of the tire, and whether or not the casing can be saved, but if its a sidewall, then the chances are the tire is trashed. Some companies have a zero tolerance for anything, thinking that the driver is supposed to be a professional at all times. Sometimes of course no matter what money spent on recruiting a new person is, the insurance company will almost, and i say almost refuse to pay for any damage to any property if the accident or incident wasn't reported properly. These are my experiences, as someone said, we can pretty much relate what WE went through.