No Longer Accident Free Hahaha!

It doesn't look that bad especially if you immediately stopped and not try to move it back on the scale.

I have a scale like that too where it's really narrow and in front of the scale there's a fence that blocks your path so your first inclination is to turn left when your getting off the scale. The first time i did i almost fell off the scale just like you.

Anyways, keep rolling and asset least nobody got hurt that's the important thing. :)

First off, I am surprised the sheriff even showed up. Secondly, even though it was towed, accidents on private property are no concern to the dot and thus are not reported. They may get called in if someone is injured or killed to assist in the investigation.

Flatie, if you are concerned with how Abilene is going to report this,...ask them. I am sure they will tell you how they intend to handle it.

One other thing,...and please do not take it the wrong way, not intended to be critical, only helpful. When in doubt, even the slightest bit, GOAL. Whenever you are in unfamiliar territory; like a dock area, anything requiring close quarter maneuvering, or in this case, an elevated scale you have never seen before, GOAL. Survey the area before you proceed, especially at night in low levels of light.

Although I have been running Walmart for well over three and a half years now, I still frequently GOAL, even at stores I am highly familiar with. If for no other reason to check for debris on the dock ramp that could damage a tire. It's a habit that has saved me countless hours of aggravation and inconvenience. Although to GOAL is primarily about safety, it's also about limiting unnecessary downtime and equipment damage.

Be safe.

And I wasn't trying to be negative or anything - just stating the fact that a local sheriff probably has NO IDEA what a DAC is ANYWAY - so they really have no say in whether or not this incident gets reported on your DAC. It's up to the company (whether or not they report it to DAC) - and whether or not whomever ENTERS THE ACCIDENT REPORT INTO THE DMV COMPUTER puts it in as a DOT Reportable Accident. Doesn't really matter that it took place on PRIVATE PROPERTY - what matters is that a REPORT was filled out by a LEO.

DAC is similar to a CREDIT REPORT (in fact - it is governed by the FCRA - Fair Credit Reporting Act) in that it is compiled and maintained by a PRIVATE COMPANY and has NOTHING TO DO WITH DOT, FMCSA or your company. It is simply an employment resource for the industry that compiles data from numerous sources (including companies that subscribe to the service), as a resource that trucking companies PAY FOR to get background checks on potential employees.

If you got a CASE NUMBER from this (which I'm sure you did) - wait a week or two, then call that sheriff's department and find out what you need to do to GET A COPY OF THE REPORT FOR YOUR RECORDS. Since you were the "involved party" - it's usually free.

This may or may not end up on your PSP - simply due to the fact that you hold a CDL.

I wouldn't worry about it too much though. It wasn't due to negligence, you weren't cited - and it's only the fact that you holed your radiator and it had to be towed, that makes it a concern even for a second.

The yard you were on probably wanted a police report - to make sure it WASN'T THEIR FAULT (and you don't have cause to SUE THEM LATER). Remember, in this overly-litigious society - everyone sues everyone, and everyone is just looking to cover their own azz's.

Rick

And us too, the ones just starting out. Because you shared, i will be extra cautious when facing anything similar. Thank you