Newbie fender bender

[Duffer]

:D First off I am new to this board but have been lurking and trying to learn for a few weeks. Many thanks to all who post and run this board!! All kinds of info for us new guys . I,ve been researching the different training co's and have settled on a few to try out . I have a very clean driving record and am 34 yrs old. No tickets or accidents for ten yrs. till yesterday. Some guy pulled out in front of me there was no way to avoid him and I did hit him but was not issued a ticket he was. There was no injury just property damage. The question is will this hurt my recruitability? I have been told even though it wasnt deemed my fault it will show up on my driving record. No points because I didnt get a ticket but will still show up. Sure was bad timing thats for sure . Any help you all can give would be appreciated. Thanks Duffer

[Jack5]

As long as it appears on your driving record as nonpreventable you have
nothing to worry about. Im glad that idiot was given a ticket. Some people will have to learn the hard way. Remember,only preventable accidents count against you. Since the police report says the car was at fault and you received no ticket Im sure this was a nonpreventable accident. Welcome to the industry and good luck. :classic:

[Duffer]

Thanks there Jack5. It sure was unpreventable. He just appeared l;like a deer out of the ditch Thanks gotta go to work Duffer

[tommy]

Tell your new company up front and explain what happen, but not so in detail that it looks like your trying to hide something. The company that does not understand is Not worth talking to any more let a lone driving for..

That is a very good Question to ask and if you have more, you know where to ask them, your very welcome to ask ALL you want to learn more about what your getting into.. :)

Good Luck in your new venture Duffer..

[windcatcher]

Tell your new company up front and explain what happen, but not so in detail that it looks like your trying to hide something. The company that does not understand is Not worth talking to any more let a lone driving for..

That is a very good Question to ask and if you have more, you know where to ask them, your very welcome to ask ALL you want to learn more about what your getting into.. :)

Good Luck in your new venture Duffer..
BP has given you excellent advice! I too would wish you God speed!

Be honest in reporting. Be careful about adding details...

For example:
A truck driver is going to be judged by safety and management based on what was 'preventable' not by who caused it or who was cited. Therefore any details you add may be scrutinized to see if it was possible for you to have seen the movement of the other vehicle upon your approach (as in an unobstructed parking lot exit) and your opportunity to observe the failure of that driver to look in your direction or to slow down to check for traffic (which would suggest to the company of the commercial drivers decision to prepare for stopping and begin slowing down, and checking boundaries on either side of truck to see if an opening existed to 'escape or add distance' to the corrective efforts of other driver. The more details you add, the more carefully your statement will be judged by the standard "at this point if you had been alert/observant of this condition could you have altered your decisions to avoid connecting with the other vehicle".

[Big_Dave]

Get a copy of your MVR before you start filling out applications.

I was involved in an accident last January. I wasn't issued any citations. I explained what happened to one of the companies I applied to, they hired me. They sent me to get a current copy of my MVR and the accident didn't show. So, I gave them 'more info' than they needed and if their insurance company would've been 'real strict' about who is hired, the trucking company might not have hired me.

[Duffer]

Sure enough just tell it like it is and I agree not too many details unless asked. I sure appreciate the responces!! I am about to make a big lifestyle change and am trying to get prepared as much as possible . Thanks again Duffer

[Uturn2001]

Get a copy of your MVR before you start filling out applications.

I was involved in an accident last January. I wasn't issued any citations. I explained what happened to one of the companies I applied to, they hired me. They sent me to get a current copy of my MVR and the accident didn't show. So, I gave them 'more info' than they needed and if their insurance company would've been 'real strict' about who is hired, the trucking company might not have hired me.

Maybe, maybe not Dave. Companies can and do run "insurance" checks in which they will see if an applicant has had an insurance claim made against or by them in the past to help determine driving fitness. It is not well known, but insurance companies share a lot of information amongst themselves, supposedly to help prevent fraud, but as we all know info is info and you can do whatever you want to with it once you have it.

It is a good news bad news sort of thing I guess since accidents on private property will almost never result in a citation being issued so long as the parties involve do not do a hit and run, and if you were doing the hiring for a company would you want to hire someone who had the habit of taking the hoods off of trucks and wiping out fuel pumps?

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Any way back to the original question...... Go ahead and mention it to any companies you apply to. Just be factual about what happened and answer any questions the recruiter might have. This should not hurt your chances of being hired at all, but one thing for sure. Not mention it and the company you are applying to finds out you were involved in an accident and they will toss you away like a bad egg for integrity issues.

[Duffer]

I'm gonna just be truthful. From the sounds of it it shouldnt be too big a mark against me. I havnt even had a speeding ticket in around 8 yrs. I have hit a couple deer though and that ran through the insurance co. Oh well from all the advertising you would think that these co's need drivers pretty bad a clean driving record ought to be enough. We'll see because I am gonna start trying to get a driving job in earnest this week . Enough research time to get to work!! Thanks all Duffer