Fired For Accident And Not Sure What To Do.

Rainy, he probably would attempt to blame the company, because they FORCED him to take a local job with an hour commute each way.

Waaaahhhh

No, it was strongly emphasized that it was my choice. I just didn't expect the daily work hours to increase from 12 to 16 plus commute, but it's still my fault for not speaking up.

Ian, we realize this trucking career is one tough nut to cut. We work real hard at teaching people how it works. We had no personal animosity toward you, but we couldn't let your statements stand. They would mislead anyone who reads them in the future.

You gave us an excellent opportunity for teaching some of the harsh realities of this career. You said this...

Some people have told me that I overanalyze things and that making quick decisions is not one of my strengths.

If there's one thing truck drivers need to be able to do regularly it's be decisive and quick on their feet. Our whole career is one dynamic element of chance and change. It's an extraordinary job that requires a lot from those at the wheel. It's common for people to blame their company when things go badly for them, but it is very seldom a true version of the facts.

We all wish you the best in your endeavors, but we just couldn't sit idly by and let you slander the career we've all excelled at. It's a complicated business, and it takes a lot of responsibility to pull it off. Nobody knows that better than the men and women who have done it well consistently.

Thank you. I hope people who find this thread in the future take the time to read the whole thing so they don't get any wrong impressions.

Ian, most local jobs are extremely demanding and even longer hours than an OTR job. We get that, which is why we advise new drivers to not go local for at least a year. There's no way I'd ever want a local job, personally. I enjoy my time off too much. For most local jobs, your 10 hour break includes any commute time, and you barely have time to eat, shower, and sleep in your own bed.

Many people simply aren't well suited to this LIFESTYLE. This is certainly more than just a typical job. There's no crime in that. It's not for everyone, same as most other kinds of jobs.

Bravo Ian.

For bringing up a subject that allowed us a teaching moment.

For engaging in a sometimes heated yet civil argument/debate.

For keeping your cool throughout.

For sticking around and not bailing when everyone was obviously against your ideas. You saw it through, and that's commendable in my book.

And obviously for remaining open-minded enough to accept opposing views, and see the fault in your own.

We're only interested in helping others here. To that end, we call it as we see it.

We certainly wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors. There's no need for you to leave though. Your experience may somehow allow you to help others here. Therein lies the beauty of this forum. That's just how we roll.

Brett, as usual, you are spot on. Now, where is that popcorn emoji?

This emoji is in Trucking Truth's picture bank.

Location: https://photos.truckingtruth.com/pics/61275/0837547001512786620.jpg

Maybe Brett can add it to the Smiley library.

Re-posting the source url: https://photos.truckingtruth.com/pics/ 61275/0837547001512786620.jpg

Getting out popcorn isn't really a good idea, but sometimes it must be done.

Todd 3.0 just looked up in the sky...wondering;... “where is Rainy?”

True enough, only he would go on to say....

" All Rainys shouldn't be subjected to the crappy broom. They should have color-coordinated dirt devils with WiFi and folded down sheets. Do you think their sheets are 600 thread count? I had 600 thread count sheets when I honorably served in the military 7 years ago. I know because I drove my 10 axle 5ton thingamajig down to the depot to pick them up on the weekends. I like to eat peanut butter on the weekends. Do you like peanut butter? All companies should provide peanut butter. If they're not, they're doing it wrong!"

I am literally sitting in my hotel room, laughing out loud at this. Thanks for the laugh after a 4hour drive, and 4 more hours of parking practice, in the dark. Parking when you can't see the parking space is frustrating

Thanks for the laugh after a 4hour drive, and 4 more hours of parking practice, in the dark. Parking when you can't see the parking space is frustrating

Just wait until your trying to back into a dock or spot with the sun or a bright light right in your eyes so it literally looks like a black hole behind you.

HEY!!! i have 600 count sheets on my truck now!! lol

The "55 hours a week" is only the time that was actually logged on duty. The company required me to work off the clock illegally, and also commute daily. The total time I was required to be awake was between 85 and 90 hours. Even if the daily commute is removed from that figure, the company was still requiring me to falsify my logs to make it look like I wasn't violating the 70 hour rule, which exists for good reason. I suppose I still won't "get any sympathy", seeing how everyone in this industry is always trying rationalize breaking the law in the name of profit.

Here's where i have to drop the congenial and conciliatory, and throw the Curmudgeonly BooglyShtinky Flag. *NO ONE* made you violate the law. No one made you falsify logs. No one *required* you to do anything illegally.

I don't know in which state you received your CDL , nor what introductory training you received, nor what orientation training you received. I guarantee you, however, that at least once in your training, you were told that no one can coerce you or force you to violate the law. I am certain that is a required component of the standardized curriculum promulgated by thr fmcsa for accredited training programs. Maybe you missed it during the course... Were you encouraged, possibly through peer pressure, to kite the logs? Maybe. But forced? Nah doesn't cut it.

If that were the case, your attorney, you know, the one that told you not to say anything that would make you seem guilty, would have jumped all over that opportunity to extract a hefty price. From the evil commercial entity which trampled on you. Fact of the matter is, you made the choice to do that. I get really aggravated when people blame their criminality, or bad choices, on being forced to do it by someone else. You probably went thru a DARE program in your younger years.. or have heard of one. Just say No? Call 911?

I can put myself in your shoes as a new driver, and the whole paper log thing. If you were on paper logs when this happened, and you went along with the program, knowing it was illegal, then shame on you. Not shame on your company. Shame on you.

I quit an outfit because I did not want to bend space and time the way many others there did. YOU had options, you just chose not to take them.

There is no excuse, there is no rationalization, there is no they forced me.

Sorry for the vent, but 28 years of listening to people with the same line of hooey finally rose up like bile.

I've got a 10 hr break to finish.