Minor Accident

I just popped the driver side hood mirror off another truck while blindsiding(a mistake to begin with).

The guy started to do a pretrip as I was backing and popped his hood open, I got out and looked, rolled down my windows, he stepped away from his truck. But I still hit the mirror, he never called out or anything, which was weird to me but still I shouldn't have even tried it, shoulda found another way, which I did after the fact.

Do you think I'll be fired? Just went solo 2 weeks ago.

I just popped the driver side hood mirror off another truck while blindsiding(a mistake to begin with).

The guy started to do a pretrip as I was backing and popped his hood open, I got out and looked, rolled down my windows, he stepped away from his truck. But I still hit the mirror, he never called out or anything, which was weird to me but still I shouldn't have even tried it, shoulda found another way, which I did after the fact.

Do you think I'll be fired? Just went solo 2 weeks ago.

If you are with a large carrier than no, but it will depend on your reaction. Show them that you know how to accept fault for your actions, what you learned from it, and how you will avoid this and other incidents from happening in the future. Large carriers are self insured for a reason and expect incidents such as this from their new drivers. Let it be a one time thing, learn from it, and keep trucking brother.

P.S. be careful how you explain the actions of the other driver, kind of sounds like you are blaming him for you hitting his truck.

Did you report this to your company? If not, I suggest not waiting.

To confirm what JuiceBox stated; I doubt you'll be fired, and when you discuss with your driver leader or safety, take full, 100% responsibility for the mishap. You hit a stationary object, not the other drivers fault one bit, so try to focus on how you will "double-down" to prevent a similar preventable in the future.

Good luck!

I agree with Juicebox that if you are with a large or mega-carrier, and you call your safety department and own it, you will probably just get a slap on the wrist, have to go to a terminal and go through a safety review and classes, and be put on some sort of "probation" where you have to stay incident free for a length of time....

Most large companies expect rookies to have a few scraps and bumps. Just own it, and be honest. I know I had a few minor bumps with nothing more than my pride and ego being bruised... Now if you caused tens of thousands in damages, or worse, it might be a different story, but a mirror and maybe a few scrapes, I wouldn't be to concerned...

P.S. be careful how you explain the actions of the other driver, kind of sounds like you are blaming him for you hitting his truck.

Exactly - I have heard the excuse a million times "Well, another driver/lumper/shipper was guiding me back in and I hit something, but all I was doing was listening to what they were telling me"

Don't go there - even though it is true, and sorta messed up. The fact is you are 100% responsible for that truck and trailer and anything it touches. Minus a gun to your head, everything that happens with your truck is your responsibility.

Or - to put it another way people might enjoy - You can't blame the GPS for driving into a lake.

Mirror damage happens all the time even to the best drivers. I was sitting on the road at a red light about 2 years ago. A truck came barreling down beside me and cracked my mirror harder than I ever had it cracked. He told me he’s been driving 30 years and that this kind of stuff never happens to him. The mirror wasn’t damaged but I got his name and number and we went on our way. I called my people and let them know what happened. You won’t get fired for this. If they fired everyone who hit a mirror they wouldn’t have any truck drivers left in America. I’ve hit my mirrors off all kinds of stuff. Luckily they don’t break to easy.

Thanks guys. They're going to route me back after Christmas but said I wasnt getting fired or anything. Definitely was my fault 100%, I gotta admit I was trying to find blame sorta and thinking about "what ifs?", but I know it was completely my fault and preventable. Just feels ****ty.

It could have been worse, right? It was a dumb mistake, but I still make a few dumb mistakes every day. So does everyone else, especially when they are just starting down this trucking path.

You know what you did wrong, so learn from this, and move forward. Experience (both good and not so good) is how we get better.

Or - to put it another way people might enjoy - You can't blame the GPS for driving into a lake.

"No, no it means BEAR right."

Nice, Jrod.

That feeling when realization set in that contact was made is the envy of no sane person. I'm sure the impression it will set in your mind for the rest of your driving days is beyond measure though.

Sorry this happened but like the others said, you just do the right thing. Have you had any other kind of action or incident before this?