Oops...

Well I started with Prime back in June as part of the PSD , finished, went through TNT , upgraded and teamed with my trainer for a while. I even took his truck out for 2 weeks on my own so he could take care of things at home and not have to worry about his lease payment. I went and got my own truck last month and everything has been good... a little more sitting than I like, but thems the breaks.

All this time without a single Incident/Accident...Then yesterday while at a Streakin' Beacon I was in a lane when the attendant asked me to back up and move to the other lane so I could get through quicker. I was like sure, no problem. Well..Long story short I lost track of the blind side and knocked over a little yellow pole and ripped my mudflap off the right rear of my truck. I was looking forward to joining those that said 1 year accident free. But I'll have to settle with almost a year accident free.

The only redeeming thing about this is that it can be reviewed in a year and may be changed from Accident to Incident...Not that it changes anything in my eyes, I goofed. But, I learned, and that is what is important.

Well..Long story short I lost track of the blind side

Yup. The part you don't see. 'S alright, I didn't watch the right side of my trailer on a straight back and poked a hole in a wall with the trailer door.

I know you "re-lived" the incident fifty times already. Yes, you (and I) live with a black mark on our records for twelve months. But, you know, Ahbleza, I think you'll be a more careful "backer" for the rest of your career.

I tore the fairing and the panel (cab extender is what the mechanic called it...) off my truck the other day. They told me they wouldn't be able to fix it until Wednesday but it is DOT legal, so I'm running with it as is.

I've rerun the mistake through my mind a hundred times...there were so many things I could and should have done differently. . . Grr, I'd love to have that one back...

I've rerun the mistake through my mind a hundred times...there were so many things I could and should have done differently. . . Grr, I'd love to have that one back...

You know, I think it's good in a way to have that little cruncher. You're not so ****y any more.

Josh, making what amounts to a minor mistake in trucking is a blessing, really. Everyone makes mistakes. But in trucking, you can't afford to make a big one. We've all done things we wish we could take back. We've all done things we shouldn't have, but got lucky in the end. Those are valuable lessons that you take to heart and never forget.

This is a truly valuable lesson. Keep playing it in your mind and pull out as many lessons as you can from it. There were certainly things you did (like panicking) that you shouldn't have. But there are also a bunch of other little things you overlooked. And I'll bet a million bucks that in your mind you even had certain thoughts you should have acted upon but didn't. Those little details will help you stay safer in the future. From now on you'll listen to that little voice that says, "You haven't checked that other mirror in a while" or "Are you sure nothing is in your blind spot?"

Most of the worst accidents I witnessed over the years were in perfect conditions. It was warm and sunny, light traffic, blue skies and smiles all around. Those are the times people let their guard down and someone makes a big mistake. A great driver knows there is no such thing as a safe situation. Every situation can be dangerous. Heck, one time I was sleeping in the middle of the night in a truck stop and another truck forgot to set his brakes. He rolled down the slight incline in the parking lot and smashed into me. No injuries, but lots of broken fiberglass. So not even sleeping in a truck stop can be considered safe. Stay vigilant at all times and don't let yourself become complacent no matter how safe or benign a situation may seem.

You're not so c o c k y* any more

That "c-word" is a street version of "complacent". Complacency is a huge deal, and it means a lot when you're moving 40 tons down the road. Sure it's easy to be complacent when you're rolling west on US 50 out of Ely, Nevada. (There's nothing there!) But you didn't plan for that chest of drawers that fell off a U-haul a mile ahead.

Being mindful does not mean being on guard for any and all events. It means you are aware of what's going on around you. If you've had your backing-up cruncher, like those who confessed here, you'll now be more mindful of your surroundings.

*That's a legitimate word. I missed the auto-censor.