Trainee Needs Advice!! Caught A Violation Last Night

I honestly don't feel like I did anything wrong

Oh, here we go again with the personal responsibility thing.........

Really? You missed a series of like 50 signs, each the size of a small building, and then drove illegally in the left lane but you don't "feel" like you've done anything wrong? What does that even mean? You should feel exactly like you did several things wrong, because you did. That's quite an oddball statement, don't you think?

I actually thought we were being exceedingly nice because most of us know that area well enough to know which series of signs you missed. If you're not seeing all those signs, what else are you missing that's right in front of you?

Own it, friend. You messed up. It's no big deal unless you start complaining that we're not coddling you enough or pointing fingers or refusing to man up to your mistakes. Then it goes downhill in a hurry around here because we won't have that kind of stuff. We're professionals. We hold ourselves and each other to much higher standards than the average driver. If we make a mistake we own it. Simple as that.

nice to have someone give some advice Instead of chewing me out for not seeing signs

Sure, cuz what could possibly happen just because you miss maybe a low bridge sign for instance?

Or maybe a sign for a sharp curve ahead?

....or maybe a sign warning you against strong winds ahead?

What's the big deal, right? It's not like there's a teaching moment in here somewhere that might prevent bigger catastrophes down the road, right?

I honestly don't feel like I did anything wrong

Oh, here we go again with the personal responsibility thing.........

Really? You missed a series of like 50 signs, each the size of a small building, and then drove illegally in the left lane but you don't "feel" like you've done anything wrong? What does that even mean? You should feel exactly like you did several things wrong, because you did. That's quite an oddball statement, don't you think?

I actually thought we were being exceedingly nice because most of us know that area well enough to know which series of signs you missed. If you're not seeing all those signs, what else are you missing that's right in front of you?

Own it, friend. You messed up. It's no big deal unless you start complaining that we're not coddling you enough or pointing fingers or refusing to man up to your mistakes. Then it goes downhill in a hurry around here because we won't have that kind of stuff. We're professionals. We hold ourselves and each other to much higher standards than the average driver. If we make a mistake we own it. Simple as that.

nice to have someone give some advice Instead of chewing me out for not seeing signs

Sure, cuz what could possibly happen just because you miss maybe a low bridge sign for instance?

Or maybe a sign for a sharp curve ahead?

What's the big deal, right? It's not like there's a teaching moment in here somewhere that might prevent bigger catastrophes down the road, right?

OK.. I'll give u that.. what I meant to say is my violation is extremely minor as opposed to what else may have happened.. I'm not asking anyone for "coddling" I just don't need 3 people that are supposed to be giving me advice, tell me the signs are everywhere. I know that. I got a dot officer and a violation to tell me that.. but thanks

Thanks Rick.. nice to have someone give some advice Instead of chewing me out for not seeing signs or using the word garnishment instead of deduction.. I appreciate it. Anyway, are you saying that I can utilize the lawyer services without notifying my company? And do u think that will be frowned upon? I honestly don't feel like I did anything wrong, I am a trainee after all, mistakes happen. I can't be the first trainee to do something like this. I just don't want to handle this situation the wrong way and catch heat for that.

OK - every overpass had a sign - and I did a "virtual drive" all the way through.

Happy now?

Your COMPANY HANDBOOK - should tell you how to deal with citations - or at least how the COMPANY wants you to. What company do you drive for (out of curiosity - since other members here might be more familiar with what their policy is on citations).

What the REGS STATE and what the company WANTS may be 2 different things.

Your contract with the ticket defense service, is totally separate from your relationship with the COMPANY. So you can use the service YOU ARE PAYING FOR - without notifying the company.

And the "jailhouse lawyer" in me - suspects he wrote you under the wrong statute - as it's a lane restriction violation - not a traffic control device (like a stop sign, yield, flashing signal, etc.). The correct statute is 304.015.7 TRUCK>48,000 LBS FAIL TO DRIVE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF RDWY WITH 3 OR > LANES. So if that's not what it says on your ticket - the lawyer may be able to beat it.

In reality - this isn't some "major offense" kind of deal - so I wouldn't be all that concerned with telling the company, one way or the other. Most companies WANT TO KNOW when you get a citation - but again - the REGS SAY YOU MUST NOTIFY OF CONVICTIONS ONLY.

I honestly don't feel like I did anything wrong, I am a trainee after all, mistakes happen. I can't be the first trainee to do something like this. I just don't want to handle this situation the wrong way and catch heat for that.

This is where I get to plant foot-2-butt. And you DID DO SOMETHING WRONG - Failure To Obey A Traffic Control Device" - that being the SIGN ON EVERY OVERPASS TELLING YOU TO STAY IN THE TWO RIGHT LANES. And it's not like you missed JUST ONE SIGN. These are the "little things" that can come back and bite you in the a$$, especially "just starting out as a trainee". These are the little things you're SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

It's not a matter of "just being a trainee". Do you have a TRAINER on the truck with you? What does HE THINK YOU SHOULD DO? Yes - mistakes like this DO HAPPEN - especially to NEWBIES. If it happens again - what will YOUR EXCUSE BE THEN? What about that little sign that says "BRIDGES ICE BEFORE ROADWAY" (being that you are driving through the MW in the dead of winter, at night)?

This is SERIOUS BUSINESS THERE DRIVER.

Rick

I just don't need 3 people that are supposed to be giving me advice, tell me the signs are everywhere

Actually yes, you obviously do for a couple of reasons.

For one, what we're supposed to be doing is looking out for you and giving you the advice you need, which may not be the advice you want or the advice you thought you needed. But that's where our experience comes in. You're a rookie. You're going to make a lot of mistakes. It's our job to try to minimize those mistakes and make sure you head out there with a better understanding of what's important and a better understanding of what you need to be focusing on. If you leave here and you're not a safer driver then we've failed to do our job.

And for two, if you don't need someone to tell you not to miss signs then how come you missed all those signs after you've been told dozens and dozens of times by God knows how many different sources already that you can never miss a sign when you're driving a big rig? Never. And yet you missed a whole series of them and got a ticket for it. So how many times will you need to be told that before you take it more seriously? Hopefully you've heard it enough at this point and you'll never have an issue with missing signs again. And that's our aim here - to help you with what you need help with.

So you got what you asked us for and some free bonus safety advice to boot. That's how we roll.

Lol you're too kind

Lol you're too kind

Quit while you're ahead.

It's Brett's board - he's been here 9 years. I've been here 6.5 (I dropped my membership and rejoined due to a dispute with another member).

We've seen this stuff a ZILLION TIMES. And we're in yer butt about the attitude, because it's a RECIPE FOR FAILURE, that we've SEEN A ZILLION TIMES.

We may sound all mean and stuff - but we're really doing you the GREATEST KINDNESS...

Rick

We may sound all mean and stuff - but we're really doing you the GREATEST KINDNESS...

That is a fact.

LL Bandit wrote:

I've worked too damn hard trying to get where I'm at now just to lose it all on a technicality like this... Please help

Dude you are one thin-skinned greenhorn.

Missing and/or ignoring signs is not a freakin' technicality. Take ownership of what happened, learn from it, and stop downplaying it. You are a professional now, details like this matter in a big way. You missed a whole series of signs...it's not a technicality. Like Brett said what else are you missing? You should be asking yourself this very same question!

Sharpen your focus, look for important signage and heed the warning or instruction.

Google Earth is your friend OP, or in this case your prosecutor. Every overpass has a sign on the middle pillar "Trucks use right 2 lanes". As the old schoolers here are telling ya, man up, own up and learn from it. On the other hand, if there's a way to avoid fines or points, why wouldn't you use your defense policy to see what happens?

Here's an idea.... Call your company's citations department. Ask them. Prime has one...so I imagine most of the larger ones do....and if they have a whole dept to deal with it...you're no the only one. Bet you'll be reading signs for now on.