Have 4 minor accidents/incidents. Any hope of driving?
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:54 pmBelow, I've pasted my accident/incidents in hopes that someone can advise me as to whether I should keep trying to get back in the big truck. Hope some can help.
Right Turn, GA, 03/08
Star Transportation, Inc.
I was at the shipper and when told I could dock, I proceeded to make my setup. The traffic flow on the yard was to my left, in the same direction I was facing so I made the decision to make my setup turn from right to left, when clear. As I cut slightly to the right before making the turn, my trailer came in
contact with the right, front corner of the docked truck, causing some damage to the nose and fender. I sent an accident message via Qualcomm, and was told to exchange information and take pictures. A lady from the company called the police and took pictures for the company's records. When the police arrived, he made his report and released us from the scene, no citations were issued. I reset for my docking maneuver, was loaded and left to complete the delivery, on time. When I returned to the terminal a couple of weeks later, I met with Safety and was released to depart on an assignment.
Inexperience, bad judgment.
Stationary Object, Montgomery, AL 04/08
Star Transportation, Inc.
When I arrived at a consignee in Montgomery. I stopped too close to the entry gate, failed to completely apply my parking brake, and when I shut down the engine, the truck rolled forward bumping the gate. No citation was issued.
Inexperience, fatigue, and poor judgment.
Turning, Lawrenceville, VA, 02/09
Super Service, Inc.
I was traveling a company-generated route that took me through downtown Lawrenceville on the designated truck route. The intersection where I had to turn was very tight and as I turned, my trailer wheels went up and across the corner sidewalk area and I stopped to wait for the traffic to clear the new oncoming lanes - one lane for the direction I was traveling, a center, oncoming lane for going straight, and an oncoming right-turn-only lane, which was bordered on the right side by parking spaces, which were all full. I engaged my parking brake, got out and did a walk-around and returned to my cab confident that I would easily clear the power pole and the restaurant parking to my right, which was also full. When the oncoming traffic cleared, I proceeded with my turn and midway through it, felt a tug on the right side, stopped, engaged my parking brake and got out to see what the problem was and saw that my forward, right tandem wheel had come into contact with a car that had just parked in a spot not designated for parking and the wheel was up against the left, front corner of the car's fender. The lady didn't want to call police, but I told her it was in both of our best interests to do so and she complied since I had no cell service. The police arrived in a very short time, took our information, wrote his report and told me all big trucks had to do the same thing to make the turn. The only other option was to make an illegal right turn from the left turn lane, taking up all of the intersection, and said the planning committee had addressed the issue regarding the corner, but had not resolved it. After the report was complete, the officer released us from the scene. I made my report via Qualcomm and continued with my trip. No citations were issued.
Fatigue, rain and my failure to notice that a car had parked during my turn, in a location that interfered with my path of travel.
Backing, Crossville, TN, 04/09
Super Service, Inc
I was backing into a designated parking space at the Pilot TC. Since it was foggy, but with adequate lighting, I got out and checked my clearances, decided I on a correct path and returned to my truck, but while backing, I cut my trailer a little too late and my DOT bar scraped the rear step fairing on the truck
to my right. For the record, I submit that the incident was the result of not having vision in my left eye, no glasses, and head trauma resulting from a fall in the parking lot of a consignee, less than a week before, and not exercising common sense. After the fall, which broke my glasses, caused a severe laceration to the flesh above my left eye socket, and swelling and bruising to the left side of my face, I requested permission for medical attention from my company, told them I was not able to see adequately to drive and was told I could receive it but only after I had picked up and delivered my next load to avoid interrupting a "hot-load" time frame, and there were no trucks in my area that could take the assignment from me. I continued with the trip, forcing myself to remake awake for the next 24 hours to check for a concussion. After repeated attempts to get to an emergency room in several of the towns I traveled to, the backing incident occurred. My vision has since returned to normal, my glasses replaced, but have permanent disfigurement to my left eye socket. This does not interfere with my driving ability in any way.
Fatigue, visual disability, and the temporary absence of common sense.
Thanks for the opportunity to seek help.
Jim
Right Turn, GA, 03/08
Star Transportation, Inc.
I was at the shipper and when told I could dock, I proceeded to make my setup. The traffic flow on the yard was to my left, in the same direction I was facing so I made the decision to make my setup turn from right to left, when clear. As I cut slightly to the right before making the turn, my trailer came in
contact with the right, front corner of the docked truck, causing some damage to the nose and fender. I sent an accident message via Qualcomm, and was told to exchange information and take pictures. A lady from the company called the police and took pictures for the company's records. When the police arrived, he made his report and released us from the scene, no citations were issued. I reset for my docking maneuver, was loaded and left to complete the delivery, on time. When I returned to the terminal a couple of weeks later, I met with Safety and was released to depart on an assignment.
Inexperience, bad judgment.
Stationary Object, Montgomery, AL 04/08
Star Transportation, Inc.
When I arrived at a consignee in Montgomery. I stopped too close to the entry gate, failed to completely apply my parking brake, and when I shut down the engine, the truck rolled forward bumping the gate. No citation was issued.
Inexperience, fatigue, and poor judgment.
Turning, Lawrenceville, VA, 02/09
Super Service, Inc.
I was traveling a company-generated route that took me through downtown Lawrenceville on the designated truck route. The intersection where I had to turn was very tight and as I turned, my trailer wheels went up and across the corner sidewalk area and I stopped to wait for the traffic to clear the new oncoming lanes - one lane for the direction I was traveling, a center, oncoming lane for going straight, and an oncoming right-turn-only lane, which was bordered on the right side by parking spaces, which were all full. I engaged my parking brake, got out and did a walk-around and returned to my cab confident that I would easily clear the power pole and the restaurant parking to my right, which was also full. When the oncoming traffic cleared, I proceeded with my turn and midway through it, felt a tug on the right side, stopped, engaged my parking brake and got out to see what the problem was and saw that my forward, right tandem wheel had come into contact with a car that had just parked in a spot not designated for parking and the wheel was up against the left, front corner of the car's fender. The lady didn't want to call police, but I told her it was in both of our best interests to do so and she complied since I had no cell service. The police arrived in a very short time, took our information, wrote his report and told me all big trucks had to do the same thing to make the turn. The only other option was to make an illegal right turn from the left turn lane, taking up all of the intersection, and said the planning committee had addressed the issue regarding the corner, but had not resolved it. After the report was complete, the officer released us from the scene. I made my report via Qualcomm and continued with my trip. No citations were issued.
Fatigue, rain and my failure to notice that a car had parked during my turn, in a location that interfered with my path of travel.
Backing, Crossville, TN, 04/09
Super Service, Inc
I was backing into a designated parking space at the Pilot TC. Since it was foggy, but with adequate lighting, I got out and checked my clearances, decided I on a correct path and returned to my truck, but while backing, I cut my trailer a little too late and my DOT bar scraped the rear step fairing on the truck
to my right. For the record, I submit that the incident was the result of not having vision in my left eye, no glasses, and head trauma resulting from a fall in the parking lot of a consignee, less than a week before, and not exercising common sense. After the fall, which broke my glasses, caused a severe laceration to the flesh above my left eye socket, and swelling and bruising to the left side of my face, I requested permission for medical attention from my company, told them I was not able to see adequately to drive and was told I could receive it but only after I had picked up and delivered my next load to avoid interrupting a "hot-load" time frame, and there were no trucks in my area that could take the assignment from me. I continued with the trip, forcing myself to remake awake for the next 24 hours to check for a concussion. After repeated attempts to get to an emergency room in several of the towns I traveled to, the backing incident occurred. My vision has since returned to normal, my glasses replaced, but have permanent disfigurement to my left eye socket. This does not interfere with my driving ability in any way.
Fatigue, visual disability, and the temporary absence of common sense.
Thanks for the opportunity to seek help.
Jim