So, Am I In A Mess?

I’ve had three preventable accidents in a 3 month period and got fired from Knight. Two were parking mistakes while tired, scratched a side mirror and on the second took out someone’s air line, no other damage. My third was at a shipper that had a garage like enclosure around their docks, saw I was close on one side went to correct forgetting I had the trailer door chained open and took out the door with the steel/concrete column, no damage to property, just broke the hinges off the door. So I guess the question would be, am I screwed on getting another driving job? They were simple mistakes and I’ve learned from them, but I feel like that’s not how that’s gonna be looked at.

Hello

I am not an experienced driver...or a driver at all, but I will say, I think some moderators and experienced drivers will need more information. You mentioned about 4 years ago, going to Knight. Have you been when them ever since? Have you tried to apply elsewhere? If you have been driving that long and then all of the sudden have 3 preventable's in 3 months, maybe they think something is wrong and best to cut ties. I am not sure, but we do have at least 2 experienced KNIGHT drivers in the forum.

Best of luck Chris

am I screwed on getting another driving job? They were simple mistakes and I’ve learned from them, but I feel like that’s not how that’s gonna be looked at.

Three is sort of the magic number for rookie mistakes. It's not set in stone, but it generally says that you haven't learned from your mistakes. You keep trying to make them sound like really minor mistakes. Let me tell you what each prospective employer is going to be thinking, "Okay, so what did you learn from that first mistake?" No matter how you answer that question their second thought is, " Well, why did you have the second mistake?

Then there's that third little incident.

That's why Knight let you go. It became obvious to them that those mistakes didn't bother you enough to grip you with the respect that you need for the circumstances commercial drivers face every day. Saying you learned from your mistakes while you keep having more accidents is a bad way to prove yourself. To answer your question, yes you are in a mess. 95% of the companies you apply to will say no. You'll have to be persistent. I think somebody will take you, but you need to apply everywhere.

What happened when you "took out someone's air line? How did you do that?

Hello

I am not an experienced driver...or a driver at all, but I will say, I think some moderators and experienced drivers will need more information. You mentioned about 4 years ago, going to Knight. Have you been when them ever since? Have you tried to apply elsewhere? If you have been driving that long and then all of the sudden have 3 preventable's in 3 months, maybe they think something is wrong and best to cut ties. I am not sure, but we do have at least 2 experienced KNIGHT drivers in the forum.

Best of luck Chris

I was thinking on it four years ago and got the stuff to study. I finally took the plunge a year and a half ago with a sponsorship from CRST, worked the 10 months and quit to go to Knight.

What happened when you "took out someone's air line? How did you do that?

I was backing into a spot at a truck stop, thought I had it, ignored my instinct to get out and look because of thinking about a shower, not sure how I only got his air line.

not sure how I only got his air line.

That's pretty amazing. I was wondering the same thing as Bruce, but just left it alone. Your answer tells me there's way more to this story.

I also don't understand how you managed to do so well at CRST, but then once you get hired somewhere else you start having accidents. Do you have any explanation for it?

How is it that you are having backing accidents with almost a year of experience? And not G.O.A.L.-ing in a tight spot...after two previous accidents. Like OS said, you are NOT learning from your mistakes. You seem careless.

not sure how I only got his air line.

That's pretty amazing. I was wondering the same thing as Bruce, but just left it alone. Your answer tells me there's way more to this story.

I also don't understand how you managed to do so well at CRST, but then once you get hired somewhere else you start having accidents. Do you have any explanation for it?

I think I backed the corner of the trailer in between the tractor and trailer, pinched the line, so the line acted as a buffer.

Most likely overconfidence, switching to solo, not getting a schedule down right, letting dispatch run me ragged, stress from home(late night drop off and a run back to terminal for a pick up was a contributor for the first incident.)

If you do happen to get another chance interview my advice would be to skip the excuses of "I was tired" and "I was thinking of a shower". And maybe think of something better than "I only got his air line". Either that or you are going to have to explain that one better. Good Luck.