Off Road/On Road Accident

Hey Truckers! I really need some help I’m scared by driving career and future opportunities are OVER!

I was driving in Machias NY through that bad snow storm a couple days ago for a food delivery company. As I was going done the road the truck hit some black ice underneath the fresh 2-3 inches that was on the road. Truck started to veer into oncoming traffic, I tried to save it ended up losing control and jackknifing into a snow embankment.

No other vehicles were involved, no public damage was done. The police came and access the situation and didn’t give me a ticket. The tow truck company deemed the truck still drivable as there was minor damage(Small puncture in fuel tank from landing gear{I patched the hole with putty in a spill kit} and the side fairing was a little loose). No hazmat team was called because not a lot of fuel was lost.

I was allowed to drive back to my hotel for my layover and continue my route the next day.

I was planning on leaving this company next month for a flatbed job. I REALLY want to be a skateboarder!! However with this accident I’m afraid that any chances of me getting a job with a new company is severely low. Can someone please give me some insight on what I should do? Or what will happen?

The company that I applied to was Koch Trucking. The recruiter told me they couldn’t move forward until they received a copy of the officers accident report. Since this just happened 2-3 days ago, I still don’t have access to his report.

What should I look out for on the accident report? Will it be a bad report if no tickets were issued and I was allowed to drive away?

Please help, as you can tell I’m still fairly new driving. Had my CDL since 2020.

Thank you in advance!

As I was going done the road the truck hit some black ice underneath the fresh 2-3 inches that was on the road.

Truck started to veer into oncoming traffic,

First, let's stop blaming it on the truck and call this what it really is. You were driving too fast for conditions and you lost control. This inescapable fact will not be lost on any company. Any conversations with current or prospective employers should include you taking full ownership of the accident. Only then will you show that you can learn from this, and become a better driver out of it.

Koch is right about wanting to see what the officer's report on the accident, and we have no way to predict what the officer will say.

Accidents happen. Show that you can learn from yours. Good luck.

Based on your story your career is not over because of the accident. You may have a few carriers decide not to hire you because of the fresh accident though. Biggest thing is accept responsibility, as Turtle mentioned, and how you're going to prevent the same from happening again. Being that no injuries were reported and no vehicles had to be towed away atleast it isnt a DOT reportable accident. It's still a preventable though.

Companies know that we make mistakes. What matters is how we conduct ourselves after that plays a large role in how our future is affected. We've had members that caused significant damage that have been given another chance because they've accepted responsibility and have learned from it. We've also had members here lose their job over a relatively minor occurrence by placing blame on everybody else than who was really at fault (themselves).

Glad you’re ok.

The good news is that incidents like this happen. And companies know it. They have things in place to ensure you learn from the event and become a safer driver as a result.

In your next thoughts and conversations about this, your ownership starts with realizing this could have been a far more severe crash. Be grateful no one was hurt. Injuries and fatalities can be a very real outcome in situations like the one you described.

Hopefully next time you’ll recognize similar conditions and react more appropriately based on how this crash occurred.

I’m not in the business of giving career advice, that said, going through your current company’s post crash process could help you become a better driver overall and demonstrate responsibility to a future employer.

Good luck whatever you decide. Be safe & be happy you’re in one piece.

As I was going done the road the truck hit some black ice underneath the fresh 2-3 inches that was on the road.

Truck started to veer into oncoming traffic,

First, let's stop blaming it on the truck and call this what it really is. You were driving too fast for conditions and you lost control. This inescapable fact will not be lost on any company. Any conversations with current or prospective employers should include you taking full ownership of the accident. Only then will you show that you can learn from this, and become a better driver out of it.

Koch is right about wanting to see what the officer's report on the accident, and we have no way to predict what the officer will say.

Accidents happen. Show that you can learn from yours. Good luck.

Sorry if it sounded like I was trying to point the blame in a different direction. I completely owned my mistake. Called everyone I was supposed to put my safety/hazard cones out. Cooperated with the police and tow truck company as I was told to. Not making excuses just trying to explain what happed in detail. What’s with the hostility? Damn sorry for being inexperienced and making a mistake.

I do appreciate everyone’s time and comments. Guess my only option is second chance companies or a different career. As I read on some of the other forums here, my chances are slight to none. Thank you truckers!

No hostility, whatsoever. You call that hostility? I simply pointed out what I saw as a flaw in your description of the accident. Not once did you take ownership, and that can have a serious effect on your chances of either keeping your current job, or landing a new one.

I do appreciate everyone’s time and comments. Guess my only option is second chance companies or a different career. As I read on some of the other forums here, my chances are slight to none. Thank you truckers!

If that's your only accident in the year you've been driving your career isn't over. It may cause some carriers to not hire you at this time though. You'll find that they'll tell you put in about 6 months of safe driving elsewhere (like your current job) and then they can hire you.

TractorTey, I see nothing hostile with the reply you received from Turtle.

Tractortey nobody here said your only options were going to be a second chance company or a different career. Turtle ended his first response to you be saying accidents happen and you need to show that you have learned from yours. That’s what carriers will be the most interested in.

So move forward with Koch. Get an accident report to them asap. You may even be able to call what ever leo agency handled it and have one emailed to you. Let them know you need to get a copy to a new employer. Get it over to Koch and see what happens from there.

A good example of taking responsibility for one's actions and sincere regret:

https://youtu.be/Di7vbNJwzZQ

A real example of hostility:

https://youtu.be/9FnO3igOkOk