Question About My Steer Tire

I have a question regarding this steer tire of mine, the company says it’s fine to drive on but I would like a second opinion.

My written response would be exactly this:

That is an impact from being curbed, and visible damage to the sidewall. This truck is not being moved by me, because you will not be sitting next to me in the courtroom when it fails and kills someone.

You are the one who would be sitting at the defence table if this fails and kills someone. You know it's a visible defect the affects a safety critical component. My opinion was, of it was curbed that hard to leave that big of an impact area and have a chunk loose, then I'm not driving it until it's replaced.

I agree with NaeNae. It’s not that big of a deal to get a new tire because the company will probably take that tire and use it on a trailer tandem. I know my company does that because they do not take chances with steer tires, to their credit.

Sidewall damage on any tire is never good. It's definitely a no go on a steer tire, let alone a heavy haul open shoulder style like yours.

Definitely a no-go from me, as well.

But this can be a rock and a hard place situation...

Did you curb the tire, causing that damage? If so, that can possibly come back on you as a preventable. What do you do now?

If it was me who had curbed the tire, I would know what and how hard I hit, and the appropriate department would know before it even got to the "we aren't replacing it" discussion. In that scenario, if I did it, then I did it and it goes on my record. Remember we are trying to teach people to be accountable for all incidents big or small?

Definitely a no-go from me, as well.

But this can be a rock and a hard place situation...

Did you curb the tire, causing that damage? If so, that can possibly come back on you as a preventable. What do you do now?

Remember we are trying to teach people to be accountable for all incidents big or small?

Where in my post did I advise or suggest anything otherwise? I've been around long enough to know what our goals are here and need no such reminder. I think my record reflects that.

In the interest of what we strive to teach here, I presented a possible scenario and simply asked the OP and readers alike a moral question.

Don't read into it something that isn't there.

I agree with Turtle on that. To further complicate the matter, there's a million reasons why that could happen that not the fault of the driver. I've been to countless shippers and recievers that have deep enough pot holes, and dirt or gravel yards to do that damage, many truck stops, docks that you had to cross curbs and other obstacles.

The stark reality of trucking is that we have to occasionally subject our vehicles to hazards in order to get the job done. Collateral damage can and will occur.

It can be very confusing to a new driver who is torn between doing the right thing and getting the load done. Do we want to encourage him to own up to something he didn't have a choice in?

The better solution for him is to preemptively explain to his DM and any other relevant people that the lot or shipper had issues with their grounds and it was unavoidable. I've called several times when I got to a place, knowing damage was likely to occur. That way my butt was covered and any issue was documented before hand.

Not picking on anyone, but some of trucking is knowing how to justify and document your choices.