Advice Needed

I’m about 4 days short of my first year as a driver. I’ve had no accidents or incidents. I work a local gig and work as a yard switcher one day a week. I was just finishing up my shift as a switcher and I Jack knifed a trailer which popped out the hand rail and cracked by back window. I immediately reported it. I wasn’t asked to take a drug test. My manager really didn’t say anything and just asked me to send pics. I wasn’t asked to fill out any paperwork or anything. I later asked my manager if this could put my job in jeopardy and he basically said, hell no. I have a pretty good relationship with the company and I’m wondering if this will make it on my record. It all occurred on private property. Is there a certain protocol the company would need to follow like at least obtaining a signature from me or can this be added to record at anytime? Thanks for the help.

Depending on the size of a company, it might as a preventable. FedEx counts hostler accidents as a preventable if the driver is of the vehicle is classified as a driver. In this case, I doubt it will because they didn't ask for a statement. Take that with a huge grain of salt.

It won't show up on your MVR , but it may or not show up on your DAC. Huge grain of salt doubt it will, but to be sure wait about 3 or 4 months and pull your DAC to see what's on it.

Thanks for comment Banks. I was also wondering if this was going to be reported as a preventable wouldn’t I of been asked to take a drug test?

The only way to know for sure is to ask your manager if it's on your record as a preventable or just an incident in your personnel file.

Different companies have different policies in regards to drug tests. My company will drug test us for anything over $1,000 in damage.

I wasnt asked for a drug test even when i knocked an axle off the trailer. Be aware that it may not get reported to your DAC until you quit.

Im guessing it will.be an incident not an accident. And eventually you may be able to ask to have it removed. Companies are different. Just keep uo the good work. A hell no is promising.

I ripped a trailer door off, and I wasn't drug tested. I thought for sure I was going to be fired for it.

The things you have going for you are reporting immediately, following instructions from the manager, and taking responsibility for the fact that you did it. Had you lied, misled, or hid the damage, then it would be a REALLY BIG DEAL. Like has been said before, wait a bit, pull your DAC and see what's on it.

I don't forsee this as a big issue, unless you were looking to hop to a different company in two weeks. Like everything else, the more time you get safely between you and the incident, the less impactful it would be anyway.

Thanks for comments everyone. I really appreciate it. Just a update for anyone interested, I spoke to my manager and he said, they will classify it as a incident because of the dollar amount of repair. I’m definitely relieved. I was staring to obsess over the matter. Have a nice weekend everyone.

I'm glad it worked out!

That happened to me once but lucky enough to not get anything damaged. The lines were tangled up so they didn't have much movement range. Make sure you check and make your lines are loose enough without dragging.