Can I Get Hired After A Rollover Accident? Details...

Hello, I've been a semi driver reefer trailer for 24 months and had a single truck roll over accident leaving a truck stop. Fully loaded 54 pallets double stacked. As I was avoiding 2 trucks that were entering a "Exit only" driveway. The rear tandem rode the rear edge of the exit / soft soil resulting in a rollover. I was a lease operator

I was uninjured. No citations issued during the rescue and I reported the accident to Safety and submitted photos. No drug or alcohol testing was requested, which surprised me becuase it was a rollover accident. I was onsite for 4 hours during the accident cleanup. So it's been 3 weeks and I've applied to a local FL company, revealing the information about the roll over accident, the recruiter found nothing on my DAC report or DMV reports. The new employer when they called for a job reference they stated the accident is still under investigation.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks, Shawn

A DAC entry from a previous or current employer can take months or even longer to appear, especially if an investigation is ongoing.

In regards to another driving job, your future is essentially done for many years. A rollover is one kiss of death for insurance companies. The description you wrote clearly illustrates a preventable accident.

Shawn, PackRat points out your biggest issue. This roll-over was clearly preventable. You could have easily waited for the trucks who were entering the lot to clear the exit area. So many incidents out here can be avoided by being patient.

Whatever perceptions you come up with concerning the other driver's mistakes, they do not minimize your responsibility. It's unfortunate but this will probably knock you out of your driving career for a few years. If you really want to keep driving then you'll have to start applying everywhere. Expect a lot of rejections. If you can land a job, hang on to it and stick with it for a few years.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I hope you'll get lucky and be able to get started again.

I'll share a couple of conversations I had with my current FM and my previous FM.

In both conversations, they mentioned that they had a rollover, but then went on to say that it wasn't really a "rollover" per se. In one instance, a flatbed driver parked on a slope and the truck rolled over. In the other instance, a tanker driver parked on soft dirt and the truck rolled over. Thus, in both circumstances, the truck was stopped. It wasn't an issue of driving to fast for the conditions or as you describe, cutting a corner.

In both circumstances, my FM expected the driver would be fired, because a rollover, no matter the cause is a rollover.

While you didn't mention it in your post, I'm assuming you were released from the company because of the rollover accident.

Here's the problem I see with your situation. If the company you worked for released you even before they completed the investigation, they were not even willing to consider keeping you on based on the details of the rollover accident. And that company will, as part of the investigation they have to complete, learn the details of the rollover accident. I doubt that any prospective employer will even look beyond the fact that you have a rollover accident.

Also, for the edification of others reading this, I've learned that tanker drivers have a 6th unforgivable: imploding a tanker. When pumping off a load, the driver is responsible to make sure the tanker is vented. This applies even if the customer pumps off. Venting simply involves opening the top hatch to allow air into the tank. If you don't vent the tank, the tank will implode from the vacuum created.

Additional details: I was relieved of my contract due to this accident, My fleet manager advised it was due to the costs related to the damaged trailer, offloading of the overturned load contents and the tractor damage, I was billed & paid the $1500.00 deductible. ($500.00 each for tractor, trailer and cargo) Luckily, nobody else was hurt, injured. Also, the officer working my accident actually had to redirect { yelled at them for being oblivious to emergency vehicles with flashing lights) 3 trucks who failed to follow signage advising no truck entrance.

As I noted earlier, This driveway is an exit only and constantly is violated by wrong way drivers. Although ultimatelty my responsibilty as the driver. I was approached by 4 truck drivers over a course of several hours while observing the rescue, informing me that that this particular driveway is incorrectly engineered. And suggested that I contact an attorney to have the issue looked at. I accept my role in what happened and it is what it is. As normal I will contimue to disclose it and hopefully get hired or maintain my CDL and endorsements until a time that I can get hired

You say you accept responsibility but continue to make excuses. Even if it's not engineered correctly hundreds of trucks safely navigate it daily. Others did something incorrectly but ultimately you made the decision to move your vehicle in a way that caused you to roll. To me it doesn't sound like you're taking responsibility.

It doesn’t matter if Helen Keller designed the exit, you should have taken the room you needed to safely clear the exit and intersection and obviously weren’t watching that passenger side mirror or you’d have stopped before dropping the trailer tires off the edge. Constant awareness to everything around you is a requirement in this profession and so is patience.

The liability for the accident and your future employment prospects are two completely different things.

Let's say you hire an attorney who successfully recovers from the owner of the property for the poor design. You'll get your $1,500 back and your company may recover the cost of damages to the truck in the trailer.

Now you're applying to another company for a driving job. You disclose that you had a rollover accident but you explain you won a lawsuit against the property owner for the design of the entrance. I expect the response that you will get is "good for you. Wish you the best in your endeavors."

You say you accept responsibility but continue to make excuses. Even if it's not engineered correctly hundreds of trucks safely navigate it daily. Others did something incorrectly but ultimately you made the decision to move your vehicle in a way that caused you to roll. To me it doesn't sound like you're taking responsibility.

I didnt make any excuses I simply gave the details. SMH

Yeah, throw away more money. Definitely get a team of high-dollar lawyers on this one....

"Job Application For Driving Position.

1. Have you ever had an accident while operating a CMV?

2. Was it deemed as Preventable?

3. Have you ever had an accident that resulted in a tow?

4. Have you ever had a rollover while operating a CMV?

5. May we contact your previous employer?"

These questions will be asked and/or investigated by any insurance agency or reputable commercial carrier. What's done is done and you will not be able to escape what happened.

Honestly, if I were in your shoes right now, I would look into becoming a diesel mechanic. These folks are in as high a demand as drivers, maybe more.