First accident

[jonathan4201]

First off I'm a total newbie

In trying to set up for a dock back, I ran over a concrete barrier with the trailer damaging some of the cross members - managed to get it off the barrier and completed the dock and unload.

The trailer is cosmetically damaged - but fully functional. The consignee's property is not damaged and they neglected to even take a report. I reported it to my company and expect to have a determination of fault made against me.

It was my mistake and in hindsight I realize what I did wrong and what to do in the future to avoid a repeat.

Since this was a "preventable" accident (isn't that a contradiction)

Does the company report this accident on my DAC?

If they do report it - how would I know?

If it is reported - is there anyway for me to enter my side of the incident?

Thanks for any and all responses.

[rubberducky]

most but not all companies will put it on your dac. Care to say who your driving for? If its one of the bigger companies I would most certainly count on it.

[toner]

there is a way you can post a rebuttal - i think you have to call DAC and speak with someone there.

as far as the information they place on your dac - that depends. some companines only list the # of preventable and non-preventable accidents, some put more info. if they do put more info, it may look like this (this is a hypothetical, i'm making up the actual info but the style and categories are straight from a DAC sitting on my desk right now)

Accident/Incedent # 1
Date: 4/25/2005
DOT Recordable: No
City, State: Tulsa, OK
Injuries: 0
Fatalities: 0
HAZMAT: No
Description: Backing
Preventable Accident/Incedent


Also, I don't see how a preventable accident is a contradiction. If you were driving along, and a giant elephant fell out of the sky 3 ft in front of your tractor, and you hit it - that would be nonpreventable. it wasn't your fault, and you didn't have adequate time to stop before you had tusks thru your windshield. however, if there was an elephant behind you, it was stationary, and you backed into it - it's preventable. it was what YOU were doing in the truck at the time of the accident that determines a preventable or non preventable accident (right? that makes sense to me anyway).

[GMAN]

The accident will probably not be reported to DAC unless and until you leave the company. If you are terminated, they will most likely put it on your DAC. DAC comes under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and you can put a letter into your file. I would not do anything until you know for sure that it is in your file. Your safety department or dispatcher would be the first place to start. They are the ones who would probably be reporting your record. 8)

[Sheajar]

yes, i think so...

[Uturn2001]

Companies do not update DAC files until an employee quits or is fired, and that is assuming the company your work for reports to DAC. Not all companies do.

Regardless if your company reports to DAC your work history you can pretty much count on it being entered into your work file as a preventable accident.
If the company is honest they will probably enter it as something like:

Non DOT reportable accident on (date). Struck stationary object while backing.

If that is all they put in your file I would not bother with placing any type of rebuttal in your DAC file. Just list the date of the accident and a brief description like "backing" and preventable on your application(s) when/if you apply for another driving job somewhere and then if asked about it give your side of the story.

If this ends up being your only accident then it should do you no harm what so ever so long as you do not try to cover it up.

[classicxl]

rookie mistake can happen to anyone but now you know to get out and look. To take your time even if it seems clear. As long as you dont have anymore accidents and are honest if you apply for another company it should not hurt your driving career in anyway. Be safe

[One]

Truck driving-esp. backing is all about taking a good look while setting up for a maneuver and then going by memory if theres something in your path or not and what line you have to take to get it in there...Just keep checking your mirrors tomake sure nothing gets in the way and to check your tragectory by the points of reference you took note of while setting up.
GOAL is for people with bad memories or no 3d thinking skills...and of course if you get the feeling youre getting close to something.

I say this because getting a barrier tall enough to damage crossmembers signifies a big miscalculation. Keep an eye on those crossmembers, esp. with a heavy load and while the forklift is running over them. Have them fixed asap, they are a dot violation.

[Goin Fer It]

Johnathan,

I do not know if you read the May Company Trucking thread at all, but my husband had an accident the first solo trip out. If you are a newbie you can go and read what happend to him and prevent making that mistake there were some very good tips and pointer on the thread over there.

I do not know about your question regarding DAC! I am pretty certain my husbands will go on the DAC as he took out a tree and a light.

Goin FEr It's Wife

[nobotox]

What does DAC actually stand for? I asked my instructor at cdl school and she didn't know.

[mbadriver]

Out of sight, out of mind. It would have been between me and my God.

If you bumped a pole with your car and dented the bumper would you turn it into your insurance - probably not.

This is an old thread, but could open interesting discussions regarding what your company needs to know. Shippers beat the crap out of dedicated drop hook trailers without any consequences. But for some reason drivers feel obligated to rat on themselves for every little bump.

Newbies keep themselves stuck with dirt bag companies by reporting every little thing back to the company. They end up with a bunch of nonsense on their DAC and can't get a decent job.

In the words of the late great Chic, "no harm, no foul."

First off I'm a total newbie

In trying to set up for a dock back, I ran over a concrete barrier with the trailer damaging some of the cross members - managed to get it off the barrier and completed the dock and unload.

The trailer is cosmetically damaged - but fully functional. The consignee's property is not damaged and they neglected to even take a report. I reported it to my company and expect to have a determination of fault made against me.

It was my mistake and in hindsight I realize what I did wrong and what to do in the future to avoid a repeat.

Since this was a "preventable" accident (isn't that a contradiction)

Does the company report this accident on my DAC?

If they do report it - how would I know?

If it is reported - is there anyway for me to enter my side of the incident?

Thanks for any and all responses.

[Creek Jackson]

there is a way you can post a rebuttal - i think you have to call DAC and speak with someone there.

as far as the information they place on your dac - that depends. some companines only list the # of preventable and non-preventable accidents, some put more info. if they do put more info, it may look like this (this is a hypothetical, i'm making up the actual info but the style and categories are straight from a DAC sitting on my desk right now)

Accident/Incedent # 1
Date: 4/25/2005
DOT Recordable: No
City, State: Tulsa, OK
Injuries: 0
Fatalities: 0
HAZMAT: No
Description: Backing
Preventable Accident/Incedent


Also, I don't see how a preventable accident is a contradiction. If you were driving along, and a giant elephant fell out of the sky 3 ft in front of your tractor, and you hit it - that would be nonpreventable. it wasn't your fault, and you didn't have adequate time to stop before you had tusks thru your windshield. however, if there was an elephant behind you, it was stationary, and you backed into it - it's preventable. it was what YOU were doing in the truck at the time of the accident that determines a preventable or non preventable accident (right? that makes sense to me anyway).

Preventable or non preventable accident? All accidents with no exception are preventable.

[Trukrswyfe]

Creek but what if your parked and some dip backs into you. Preventable on their part but not yours.

[mbadriver]

Preventable or non preventable accident? All accidents with no exception are preventable.

Boy is that an arrogant statement. Right about the time a person utter's such nonsense the "rusty rod of reality" get's stuck up their rear end.

[xcarsalesman]

ok! say your doing your final testing with a company, and you hit a concrete barrier backing and done some minor damage to the tractor. does that go on your dac report, even though your on their property? also, they let you go for hitting the barrier? just wanted to know

[Fredog]

What does DAC actually stand for? I asked my instructor at cdl school and she didn't know.

it stands for Drive-A-check. they are now usis, which is united states information service.

it probably wont do any good to post a rebuttal. that is only for if a company reports something that isnt true, if a prospective employer wants the details, they will ask.

[Skywalker]

Preventable or non preventable accident? All accidents with no exception are preventable.

Boy is that an arrogant statement. Right about the time a person utter's such nonsense the "rusty rod of reality" get's stuck up their rear end.

"mba".... I agree with you! That statement he made sounds like something uttered by some brainless 21 yr old twit right out of college....who lucked out and got a job in "Safety or Dispatch", who couldn't even figure out how to start a tractor!!

There is a significant difference between a "preventable" and "non-preventable" accident or incident. It boils down to a matter of control or non-control of the vehicle or circumstances.

I guess by "Creek's" standards....if he was sleeping in a truckstop, in the sleeper berth, and the person parked next to him pulled out and raked his tractor and ripped the hood off leaving it on the ground.....he would say it was his fault for lack of anything else....because he was born and happened to be there?

I would have to award him a t-shirt with this on both front and back: :withstupid:

[Fredog]

Preventable or non preventable accident? All accidents with no exception are preventable.

Boy is that an arrogant statement. Right about the time a person utter's such nonsense the "rusty rod of reality" get's stuck up their rear end.

"mba".... I agree with you! That statement he made sounds like something uttered by some brainless 21 yr old twit right out of college....who lucked out and got a job in "Safety or Dispatch", who couldn't even figure out how to start a tractor!!

There is a significant difference between a "preventable" and "non-preventable" accident or incident. It boils down to a matter of control or non-control of the vehicle or circumstances.

I guess by "Creek's" standards....if he was sleeping in a truckstop, in the sleeper berth, and the person parked next to him pulled out and raked his tractor and ripped the hood off leaving it on the ground.....he would say it was his fault for lack of anything else....because he was born and happened to be there?

I would have to award him a t-shirt with this on both front and back: :withstupid:

maybe he means preventable on the part of the person who caused it? after all, in your example, the driver who took your hood could have prevented it, but you couldnt..

or, maybe he is just an ass??

[Skywalker]

maybe he means preventable on the part of the person who caused it? after all, in your example, the driver who took your hood could have prevented it, but you couldnt..

or, maybe he is just an ass??

Not sure.....he certainly didn't clarify it.....so I guess its about 50/50? 8)

[Mattangcobra]

I had 2 drivers back into my truck twice in one week. I wasn't in the truck either time. One in Cali and one in Texas. I told my boss (he also owns the truck) about the first one. He said I shoudn't have parked in a parking spot in a truck stop. I wasn't even on the end where a truck could rip my hood off with his swing.
Anyway No more than 500 dollars damage on both. I didn't tell him about the second one till I got back. I wanted him to tell me to my face it was my fault. Needless to say his tone was way different when I wasn't 2000 miles away.