First Damaged Trailer

Yesterday I had my first minor accident and damaged the trailer a bit. I was driving through an alley behind a customer towards their dock. I started turning slightly to the left to setup for the dock and I snagged the open door on a concrete post. I heard it and saw it as it happen so I was able to stop quickly, but it ripped off the bracket that holds the trailer door handle. It also bent up the bottom of the door pretty good. I felt so stupid. I was just patting myself on the back the other week cause I'm a couple weeks away from 1 year trucking experience and have no accidents or tickets and I haven't damaged anything. Not even a scratch on a truck or trailer. I just got a little too lazy and didn't look in my driver side mirror this one time when I was maneuvering in a tight area. Good thing is my boss was cool about it and it won't be reported on anything. I felt disappointed in myself more then anything, but it's a good reminder to never get complacent in this job.

Sorry to hear that. Now you'll be alot more careful

Good thing is my boss was cool about it and it won't be reported on anything.

What do you mean? It won't even be kept track of internally?

It's a mom and pop company, they are pretty relaxed about these things as long as your honest and tell them when it happens. And they won't keep record of it.

It's a mom and pop company, they are pretty relaxed about these things as long as your honest and tell them when it happens. And they won't keep record of it.

Wow that's awesome!

I want your boss! My little fiasco broke the other guys spot mirror and some chrome lug caps, and put a small hole in my trailer. The cost to fix my trailer was about $165 and.im sure to fix his, the cost of a spot mirror and about 4 chrome lug caps, plus labor. Probably not more than $400 total, yet it was reported as a preventable....

Had I known that was going to be the case, I might have just paid for the damage out of my pocket for both vehicles. In my opinion, worth the cost to not have a preventable on my record....

I offered to pay for the damaged trailer right away, he wouldn't accept though. Thankfully no other property was damaged. Had I hit a truck or car or caused some kind of damage to the customer it may have been a little bit different. My boss is cool about accidents and mishaps as long as your honest, you tell him right away, and hold yourself accountable for your actions.

Well now you've gotten that out of the way and you'll be a lot better driver for it. But you're right, complacency is behind a ton of accidents that happen out there. In fact, most of the worst accidents I witnessed over the years were on beautiful sunny days, on dry roads, in light traffic. Ideal conditions you could say. People let their guard down and often times that's someone makes a tragic mistake.

Don't let it get you down any. It's a lesson learned and a great reminder about how quickly things can go wrong out there at any moment.