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Originally Posted by randyswan  I'm a newbie trucker. Only 11 months experience. Had three incidents that was related in parking spots and one accident. No casualties from it and was very fair and just gave me a ticket for $75 for backing on main road. Was fired though since they said that was my fourth accident. One was backing and the trailer door popped open and they said they had problems with them and told me it wouldn't go against me. Then I backed up at a place that I was told that all newbies hit the guardrail their first time and messed up the bumper. My trainer even told me that they needed to change that at that company and not to worry about it. Well now I have to worry about it. Every job I try to put in gets a report that I had four accidents instead of saying three incidents and one accident. I own up to the accident on the main road and one time I hit another truck while pulling out of a parking spot and messed up the bumper. The door thing though I don't feel was my fault but a maintenance problem and I couldn't believe that a trucker wouldn't help me at the very narrow spot with the guardrail. So my question is what should I do? I am having so much trouble finding a second chance and they have now denied my unemployment stating it as misconduct at work. I can't belive an accident can be considered misconduct but that is what they stated.  Am I doomed with this? |
I don't think you are doomed, driver, but you are inexperienced right now (not to worry, we all were at one time) and in need of some tutoring.
Remember, you are just starting out as a driver and until you start to feel comfortable, you need to take it easy. The time will come when you can run with the best, but it will take time and practice. This is a skilled profession, or at least it used to be in my past.
First thing you really need to learn is not to count on others for anything while backing up or many other tasks. You don't count on them while you are driving so why should it be any different when you are backing or hitching?
If you are in a tight spot, take your time doing what you have to do to get what you need done and to hell with everyone else, that's my creedo.
If someone flips you off or honks a horn, so what? **** them and do your job. Never allow people to piss you off much, as it will detract from your performance as a professional driver.
If you need to back into a hole, and you have tight clearances, put the flashers on, set all your brakes and get out of the cab and look for yourself to see how much space you have to work with, for instance. Slide your tandems or your fifth wheel and get it backed in. I know when you are new it might look impossible, but usually its' just gonna take some practice, at first.
Take your sweet time too, because filling out accident reports takes more time then hitting something, that's for damn sure.
Never trust warehouse workers, dock workers, forklift drivers or anyone else you don't know to help back you in clean and clear and that includes other drivers you don't know, as well.
In lots of places, docks and warehouses were built before you and I were born, and for trailers that were much less then 48' or 53' feet long, back in the 1930's,40's & 50's, so you have to account for that factor too.
Always carry some rope or cords that you can cinch a swing door back with.
You never know what can happen if you are not pulling the same trailer or driving the same tractor every day.
Best bet is to get some rubber snow-chain straps so you can use them for both chaining up and holding a trailer door open, IMO.
It's your license, your record and your responsibility to make the right decisions in your career as a driver, bottom line. This is a tough industry to work in, so you have to expect to run into some people that are less then trustworthy, to say the very least.
BTW, when you say you backed off a main road, was that the only way you could make your drop to the consignee, or a pickup from a shipper?
What to do? 
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