Stan,

Simple question, what are you saying is the cause of this accident?


And.... you cannot help but like me... I am very lovable

 

It is fortunate for Mrs. Fay that she (and her husband) are / were Washington State residents then, isn't it?

Because she will have the opportunity to sue not only Swift, but the "Trainer" that was in the truck with her husband, as well as the CDL Training School whom trained her husband.

Washington State is the northern most portion of "The LEFT COAST" after all. :clap::clap:

 

Sorry. But in that instance, trainee driving, and trainer in the bunk...
The facts speak for themselves. The trainee lost control of the vehicle. There was absolutely NO SUPERVISION over his driving. And, having lost control of the vehicle, strongly suggests that the trainee was not prepared to operate the vehicle alone. And, a CDL from a "CDL MILL" doesn't mean much in the real world. I've had trainees that had their CDLs, and could not find reverse on the shifter, much less back into a dock. Part of being a professional driver is being able to "READ THE ROAD". That is not something you learn from a book. And, if you are going to learn about that from your own experience, you will not survive in this industry very long. Winter is coming.

Yes, I do know you are from the northern latitudes. So am I. But, when I was learning to drive, my trainer taught me quite a number of things about "READING THE ROAD" that would not have affected me with my car. Things that have kept me from getting into accidents all these years. How do you get that benefit from a trainer that is sound asleep?

One of my trainees, on her home turf, took a corner at 55. She had been going 65, but when I told her to SLOW DOWN, she only slowed down to 55 for a 45 mph curve. When the truck went up on 9 wheels, she let go of the wheel, and I had to reach over and grab it. We did make it around, but her comment after we stopped on the shoulder... "I never take this one at less then 60 in my car. Can you imagine what would have been left of the truck, driver, and myself if I had been alseep in the bunk? If she had maintained 65 around that curve? And, that was not even wet pavement.

Please explain to me what kind of training goes on when the trainee is driving and the trainer is sleeping? Why even bother having a trainer? Just give the new driver the keys, fuel cards, truck, and load and go for it.

Ok. Maybe you're not a fool, idiot, or dummy, but going with a company that promotes team training is a very poor choice.

 

I am saying that "Bad" training practices caused this "death". If Mr Fay had been properly trained, he would not be dead. Poor training lead to the accident itself.

As I have already stated though...the WSP will issue a report on the "Causation" of the accident itself, after they finish their investigation. I am confident in my "assumptions".

Was Mr. Fay being in-attentive? It is possible.

Was Mr. Fay "Cut off" by a 4-wheeler and over reacted? It is possible.

Is it "possible" that Mr. Fay experienced a major component failure? Yes...it is possible.

The WSP will use video to determine all of those questions to the largest extent possible.

If Mr. Fay had been a "veteran" driver...I would still say the same things. I just would not be nearly as vocal about it. When "Rookies" die in an accident early into their career, "training" is what leads to that death.


Have you heard the phrase, "ALL GOOD KIDS LOVE MILK"?

Do you know what it stands for?

Do you know what "Trained Eye Lead Time" is all about?

All of that is taught in a proper "training" program. I had all of it in 1979.

I had "All Good Kids Love Milk" in drivers education when I was a freshman in highschool..........in October 1972. :hellno:


Proper training helps drivers deal with component failure, road conditions, weather, and traffic. Proper training should reduce "Inattentive" driving, or at least mitigate it to a "non-leathal" level.

 

I am not really debating the training. I can see everyone's points and they all have merit to their theories on proper training. I can contribute to what I personally went through in training, but there is no way I can apply any of it on this tragic accident because I haven't been presented with the facts that support a cause, only speculation.

What I do have a big problem is blaming training, lack of, losing control or what have you on a tragic accident using speculation.

To me what is clear, at this time with the information in a several paragraph newspaper article, is that a driver has died.

 

It sounds like... Orange texas guy... and... doberman for you... need a room at the holiday inn ...just my .02 cpm worth.

 

in my opinion orange is not bashing swift or any one person one this thread. but mearly thinking out loud what may have been had this 3 week driver TRAINEE had his TRAINER in the proper location to be overseeing said training. everyone here is attacking him, even though his just made an observation on the situation and stated his opinion. i agree with some of you, we do not know what happened. but i strongly agree with orange in that it may have been prevented with proper training, and the trainer doing his job. i do not like the 3 week training, then run as a team theory. i feel that it is unsafe, for everyone on the roads...just my opinion.

 

I am in no way bashing Stan. I have respected his post on CAD for a long time. I know he loves his work and has a passion for it. Pretty darn good in today's times. I believe him very sincere in what he is saying and he is has a real problem with the team training concept.

I just keep looking at the article and thinking of the driver, his loved ones, and the trainer that probably is going to struggle with this the rest of his life. Without really knowing what happened, I feel it an injustice.

 

I'm a trainer for my company and we hire only drivers with 2 or more years experience. With that being said, when I have a "trainee" with me, I will NOT get in my bunk while that truck is moving. I don't care if the person has been driving for 50 years. No matter what, if you are a trainer, its your JOB to be in that right hand seat while the truck is moving. Orangetxguy is only stating an opinion that MANY in the industry believe and I agree with him 100% on this.......thank God I've only got 2 years left in the trucks.

 

sounds you 2 just got back from the Holiday-inn ...that was quick ?...