Horrible Start To The Day

I just got assigned my own truck (this is my first trucking job so fresh out the block) about 2 weeks ago had my first load heading home which was about 1000 miles. Did that, had off for about 5 days and started my first real week last sunday. Drove mostly the Northeast and logged about 2600 miles. All was going well until I stated this morning. I pulled out of my spot in the truck stop to make a right turn out made sure it would clear the truck to my right and I clipped the panel mirror on the passenger side of the truck that was on my left with my trailer. Trailer had no damage but his mirror was bent. Obviously it had to be called in and went through the procedures. Now im a nervous wreck because this is my 9th day out on my own and I already had a preventable accident and idk if I am going to be fired. These past nine days I have had seen and been in some stressful situations that I see where most people would have called it quits. But I am pretty resilient and minus today even with the bad days I love doing this so far and its really been a great start to something new in my life. I am under a load right now and I can't even concentrate because idk if I will be fired because of this or after I come back from hometime (which starts after I drop this load tomorrow morning) Ill have a job to go back to once my hometime is up. Honestly I don't even know what I am trying to ask, maybe was anyone in a similar situation and it turned out ok, or maybe I'm just overreacting because it was just a bent mirror and its not the worse thing to happen. Idk.

Good Luck! Hope it's not too bad...

You didn't say which company you're driving for. I drive for Swift, and about my second week I had my accident. (The chained-open door of the trailer caught on some concrete blocks which forced it to swing open & punch a hole in a sheet metal wall. )

It's possible you get the cross examination on the phone or by message, have to take a class on close quarter (parking lot) driving, and continue on with your job. That's how my experience went.

But for the next 12 months you need to be Mister Safe Driver 'cause the next scratched fender will get you a face-to-face meeting you won't like.

Gizmo, by now you are probably an expert at pulling out of a row of trucks, because you've analyzed your incident so much. "I thought ..." don't cut it. The only way to really know is to, doncha know, get out and look, if you have the slightest doubt.

I wouldn`t sweat a bent mirror too much. Like Errol said, you can expect a call or something. Not a huge deal.

A little advice for those tight pull outs: Turn the opposite way that you are wanting to go and roll forward a few feet (use your mirror and good judgement here) then straighten the wheel and roll out at that angle until you have to start the turn in the direction you want to go. This will point the trailer away from the truck, wall, or whatever you need to get around and gives you a little more room to play with.

Gizmo, please try and relax. You are still on the road and need all the concentration you can master. (easier said than done, right?). I have read many posts here and believe me you are not the only one going through this. Many have made mistakes before you and others will do so after you.

Yeah, don't sweat it. One bent mirror isn't going to end your trucking career, nor will it likely cost you your job. One way or the other it will all work out just fine.

Heck, I took out a $1200 traffic light when I first started. Bent mirror is not a big deal. You do have to remember that the tail of the trailer swings opposite of the direction you are turning and the further forward the axles are the wider the swing will be.

I'm not gonna be Mr. Safe Driver, my accident happened yesterday in shipper yard, my trailer scratched/damaged the other T600's fender and front bumper. Looking forward to my "punishment" tho. Orz

Giz, Rolling T. has the best idea for pulling out. Turning in the opposite direction when you start the pull out will give you an extra foot or two on the inside if your "real" turn, and more slack between your trailer and that Western Star headlight set.

Sorry it took so long to get back. Didnt want to go over my data plan and I've been driving (so yes I still have my job). Thank you everyone who took the time to read and respond. Just needed to vent I guess. I ended up getting a close quarters assest and all that. I know what had happened, I did turn a little turn to the left before I did the right, but my tandems were slide all the way foward. Trailer whip had gotten me.