First Minor Accident

I have been in my own truck for six months. Saturday morning I did a blind side into a spot at a pilot and hit the trucks fender in the spot beside me. I feel about two feet tall and am worried to death I will be fired. I immediately called safety and did the right thing. I take full responsibility for my mistake, this is my first and even though I may make more at some point, I can guarantee you this won't happen again. It was on private property so no citation. The other driver was pretty cool about it. I am just terrified I will get fired. I work for and got my CDL with a mega-carrier. Not sure if I'm supposed to say the name but you can guess it fairly easily. Starts with an R, red trucks and is always pronounced wrong

Darrell, Welcome to the bent fender club. (Just joking). Big truck companies almost expect rookie drivers to have a fender bender or two as they learn the ropes. If they happen like every month or so, there is a problem. It's your first, and tell the safety person what you just wrote:

I take full responsibility for my mistake, this is my first and even though I may make more at some point, I can guarantee you this won't happen again.

How do you figure this won't happen again? I bet the next time you have to make a blind side maneuver, you will get out and look! Let safety know you learned to not be so relaxed the you are working in a tight space.

In my first month driving for Swift, I backed my truck in a way that I ripped a hole in the sheet metal wall of the warehouse in South Pittsburgh TN. I sweated all way back to the terminal in Memphis. But after a chat in the safety office, I was back on the road.

Thank you, that makes me feel a bit better about not losing my job. I genuinely like trucking and have made everything in my life fit around my schedule. I don't want to try and get another job with someone else right away or possibly ever, I'm pretty cozy. I really hate it that it happened and will take this as a valuable lesson.

I knock3d an axle.off of my trailer while.30.days out. I am still at my company almost a decade later. It starts with a P and rhymes with a silent clown.

You should be fine. GOAL

I have had no accidents/incidents from day one. I have a personal take on the concept that differs in that I find even small accidents unacceptable and did so at the beginning. With that in mind, a personal plan of action might include thinking of some things.

I arrange and trip plan my day so that I'm not trying to find the last parking spots available. They're still available for a reason and its not a good one. I also rarely parked at the big name brand stops in the beginning. In fact I still usually park at hole in the wall old truck stops. There's usually a lot more room there.

I avoid blind side if I can help it, but practice in a safe empty lot. There should be a gut instinct telling you that the hole you're trying to back into is too tough or you don't have the skills yet, or you just plain don't like something about it. I listen to that voice.

Goal frequently, even, actually especially, if you think you have it.

I practiced backing whenever I could do so safely. I sometimes still do and particularly concentrate on areas that bug me. I always choose the safest spot I can find, with the most room available.

I consider striking another object with my vehicle a failure. Failure is not an option.

Hi Darrell, what you said sounds good and is a first step in the right direction. Taking full responsibility for your mistakes, learning from it, and moving forward with the aim to never make the same mistake again.

And if it's the same company I'm thinking of (as seen in my profile picture), they most likely will give you a second chance to prove yourself. That second chance will also be on private property and it will be called "Close Quarters Training." Depending on how you do there may very well likely determine whether they give you a third chance or not. Don't mess it up! Follow the Safe 7 and everything else you've been taught and you'll be fine!