Wait a darn minute here. People net tracks our every move? If we get into a accident and people net proves that we were breaking the law (like speeding) the company won't go to bat for us? Mind blowing! I know I'll catch some flack for this but, I have big shoulders. At he age of 17 you can join the armed forces and go to war; you are considered a adult. At the age of 18 and did not join the military you are now considered a adult. At 21 you've been a adult for 3 years and now can drive a truck and should know right from wrong and are responsible for your actions. So if you do your job as a PROFESSIONAL you have nothing to worry about. We all know or should know by know that there is a lot of liability as a company and as a driver. In the law suit happy world that we know live in. I will give 2 examples from personal experience of accidents that happened when I worked at Vitran.
1. Stan a linehaul driver was heading home from KC. Grossing 100k with double 53's. Night. Dry pavement. Clear skies. A car with 3 girls missed the left hand exit to the Matfield Green service plaza, they pull over to the shoulder. Stan saw this and changed into the left hand lane. A Kansas Trooper was leaving the plaza and saw what happened next. The car flipped a ***** attempting to enter the plaza in front of Stan, he T-boned them. 2 girls died 1 will never walk again. Stan broke his left leg and split his other knee cap in half from the force of his knees hitting the dash board. His truck passed 100% on the DOT inspection and was found NOT AT FAULT at the hearing. When the families didn't get what they wanted at court they went after the company and lost then they went after Stan in a civil lawsuit.
2. I was 3rd shift Linehaul supervisor when a driver that had just left my terminal called in with his accident. He was going south into a construction zone where southbound crossed over to north bound. Pulling triples he slowed down to make the cross over. He saw a car in the ditch with the park lights on when he looked back forward a woman ran in front of his truck. He hit her. The left side of the bumper hit her ankle. He passed a DOT inspesction and was found to be driving 15 miles per hour under the posted limit. The lady wasn't paying attention and hit the wall, when the airbag hit her in the face it disoreinated her and she got out of the car. Kelly went to court and was found NOT AT FAULT. Then the lady took him to CIVIL COURT and lost.
I guess the moral of both stories is to always do your job as a professional because it may be your own defense. Accidents cost millions of dollars. Please be safe. I does not take a thing call your self a professional but, being a professional takes hard work.
