Accident While In Training.

I was in training going from Troy, Al to Allentown, PA. Only 2 and a half weeks in my 10 week training program. I was driving through Charlotte NC. Going North on 85 was to merge onto 77 south and the onto 77 north. When merging onto 77 south I looked up saw GPS come up and up and turn on 77 north. So tried to do it and flipped the tractor and trailer fully loaded. Me and trainer was sent to hospital. Trainer was sleeping in the sleeper. lost my phone in the accident trainer told me to call safety today. So I did and the forward me to the David Nelson who was over the bulk division I was assigned to. He relieved me of my position. How hard will it be to find another job or what should I do?

Rolling at rig at 2 weeks in, is going to be the kiss of death pretty much.

There is going to be a DOT Report on this, and depending on how/why they find fault - will depend on if you ever drive a rig again.

Most rollovers are caused by excessive speed (especially in poor road/weather conditions).

What did YOU DO, that contributed to the accident?

Sucky as it sounds - if you were at fault in a major accident, it's going to be a few years (if ever), before you can apply again - especially with only a couple of weeks experience.

If you clipped a car in a parking lot (or something like that), not as big of a deal as a total rollover.

I assume you were drug/alcohol tested at the hospital (pretty much mandatory in cases like these). Were you CITED?

Rick

Rolling at rig at 2 weeks in, is going to be the kiss of death pretty much.

There is going to be a DOT Report on this, and depending on how/why they find fault - will depend on if you ever drive a rig again.

Most rollovers are caused by excessive speed (especially in poor road/weather conditions).

What did YOU DO, that contributed to the accident?

Sucky as it sounds - if you were at fault in a major accident, it's going to be a few years (if ever), before you can apply again - especially with only a couple of weeks experience.

If you clipped a car in a parking lot (or something like that), not as big of a deal as a total rollover.

I assume you were drug/alcohol tested at the hospital (pretty much mandatory in cases like these). Were you CITED?

Rick

Got a 25 dollar ticket exceeding safe speed troop came to hospital and gave me this ticket. 85 was under construction. Was a sudden move when gps said to merge onto 77 north. With be inexperienced thought I was ok to do so. All I can do I guess is keep shooting applications out their.

Rick pretty much nailed it with his response but your posting it allows for a learning moment for other drivers. One lesson would be that your route should have been planned out in advance rather than relying specifically on the GPS. You mentioned that the directions given were what made you react and that decision was part of the reason for the accident. I'm also curious as to why in the hell, a trainer is asleep in the back with a rookie driver only 2 weeks in effectively running solo. I may be wrong in my opinion but there's no way you should have been left alone like that being so new. I am glad to hear you're both ok and even more sorry to hear about the accident, I hope everything pans out ok.

Rick pretty much nailed it with his response but your posting it allows for a learning moment for other drivers. One lesson would be that your route should have been planned out in advance rather than relying specifically on the GPS. You mentioned that the directions given were what made you react and that decision was part of the reason for the accident. I'm also curious as to why in the hell, a trainer is asleep in the back with a rookie driver only 2 weeks in effectively running solo. I may be wrong in my opinion but there's no way you should have been left alone like that being so new. I am glad to hear you're both ok and even more sorry to hear about the accident, I hope everything pans out ok.

I totally agree with every word of this. I lived in Charlotte for almost 10 years, and driving through on 85 to 77 is no place for a two week rookie to be going it alone. Shame on your trainer.

I get the GPS thing, and this jist confirms something I've been thinking about for a while. My GPS crapped out a couple months ago, and I don't plan to replace it. I drove 38 years without using one, and two and a half years with one. Now I plan my trip in advance, including fuel stops, breaks, etc., and if it's a long trip, I write down the route changes in my little notebook like I did in a car before I ever had a GPS.

I feel like I've gotten part of my brain back. I remember where I've been a lot better, and I'm more alert. Routes seem simpler too, because now I'm thinking "Stay on US 59 to Denison, then take US 30 east" and I look for those signs, where the GPS invariably calls that same route by whatever little podunky county road happens to share 5 miles with a US highway. "Turn left on County Road A16" makes less sense than "Turn left to stay on US 59."

So from now on whenever we get a new version of that thread that asks, "Which GPS is best?", my answer is going to be "A map and your brain." Because that is the solemn truth.

Just curious as to when this happened? I run that area weekly now

Agree with the Rick, Dragon and Bud Trio...insufficient trip planning.

Glad you lived to tell about it, so others can learn from this. Thanks for posting it.

My suggestion is to focus on healing up, physically and mentally. Your only shot might be re-entry from square one by applying for Company-Sponsored Training

Good luck

I was in training going from Troy, Al to Allentown, PA. Only 2 and a half weeks in my 10 week training program. I was driving through Charlotte NC. Going North on 85 was to merge onto 77 south and the onto 77 north. When merging onto 77 south I looked up saw GPS come up and up and turn on 77 north. So tried to do it and flipped the tractor and trailer fully loaded. Me and trainer was sent to hospital. Trainer was sleeping in the sleeper. lost my phone in the accident trainer told me to call safety today. So I did and the forward me to the David Nelson who was over the bulk division I was assigned to. He relieved me of my position. How hard will it be to find another job or what should I do?

What kind of trailer were you pulling?

So what company was this with? That info might help us steer you to a more forgiving company, but it will be tough.

I know this information is a bit late for you, but my company's policy on ramps and curves for brand new drivers is to take them at 1/2 the yellow advisory speed and after one has been driving awhile, 10 mph below the advisory speed.

Almost every single rollover is caused from taking a ramp it curve way too fast and is the driver's fault. I'm glad you and your trainer weren't seriously Injured.

When trying to find a new position with another company that trains new drivers, it will be important to accept full responsibility and hopefully you have learned a lot from this.

Only thing I can tell you to do is apply like there is no tomorrow and if you have to take the company sponsored route then do that also.

Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

Paid CDL Training Programs

Check with EVERY company you can think of. If None of them will work with you then you may either have to wait until the accident falls off of your reports, DAC , PSP, MVRs, etc. Just make sure you are UP FRONT and HONEST with ANY COMPANY you APPLY for. You never know one might give you a chance. I didn't think CRST would give me a chance but here I am. Most importantly, have faith. You will get another job, you just have to be a LOT MORE CAREFUL in the future. This is a TOUGH mistake to bounce back from. Live and Learn from this and hopefully things get better. I will most certainly pray for you on here and hope you can bounce back from this. We are all here with you if you need us and we support you.