Hey chaps
Been visiting often but not posted in a while.
I’ve been doing casual weekend work every other Saturday for the last year for a local hauler who’s let me do casual shifts in their artics for experience. Lately I’ve just been doing collections from a company half hours drive away and taking back another trailer to be loaded etc. Usually get a good 12 hours and been really enjoying it.
Had a bad shift yesterday though,started off great and I don’t get too nervous at all now before the shift. The bays I need to collect from and deliver to are very tight and indoors. As I was straightening up my trailer while coming in I hit the left indicator and shattered it just on the corner on the tractor unit. It’s the first time I’ve ever done any damage (besides a tiny tear in a curtain months ago). Went back to the depot with my full trailer,dropped it and then got it fixed. No problem they said,didn’t even get a telling off and some people don’t even bother to report them apparently.
Just after getting it fixed I was asked to use a certain trailer for the next collection. I noticed it was a little higher than the ones I normally take there but to cut a long story short I coupled up and took it but when reversing into the loading bay I heard a scraping sound,got out and checked and the trailer was indeed literally half an inch too high for the bay door and it stripped the protective metal from the top of the door. Was a stupid,stupid mistake.
Found the guy I deal with there who wasn’t best pleased as it had just been fixed last week from when someone else did it. We couldn’t use the door as the metal was hanging down so he loaded me in the yard and arranged for the door to be repaired.
I tried to call my manager who had his phone off so I sent him a txt instead. Got back to the yard and luckily a person of authority was there so I reported it to him. He was fine about it and just said to fill out an accident form which he left on my car bonnet as I was alone in the depot when I got back later which is usual.
The firms been nothing but really great and supportive to me since passing my test. Problem is my confidence has taken a knock now and the last reverse of the day for the customer I just couldn’t get right,I’m not the best reverser cause I’m still inexperienced and it’s normal for me to take a few shunts to straighten up but that one was something else.
To top it off there’s a local guy who I met recently and he’s happy for me to do weekends for him too with the possibility of a well paid full time job depending how I get on,which to be honest sounds like my dream job without going into too much detail. Doing a day with him next weekend as managed to get some time off from my full time non driving job to satisfy the rest periods etc. Want to make a good impression of my skills as I’ll be going out for a day with him hopefully.
Anybody got any advice? I’d love to get out of my food related full time job in the new year,possibly before but keep thinking about those couple of mistakes yesterday and winding myself up. 
#1, Don`t stress too much. No one died, and both companies involved seem pretty cool about the damage.
Questions,
Q1 Is the height of the door you were reversing into marked ?
Q2 Is the height of the trailer you were pulling marked?
Q3 Did you adjust the in cab height marker for the different trailers you were pulling?
Insert your answers and draw your own conclusions. Learn.
Mistakes will happen. It’s learning from them that’ll make you improve. Even the most experienced drivers drop a bollock now and then. If something doesnt look or feel right (I. E the trailer height) don’t just think it’ll be alright CHECK IT and DOUBLE CHECK IT. As for the days drive just treat it as a driving test /lesson. Good thorough check of the vehicle. Check the load security etc and drive like you were taught to do. Don’t be afraid to ask questions neither.
You’ve been doing repetitive work, which by its very nature you get into a routine and stop thinking, easy done.
As for the roof scrape, was the trailer marked up and the door marked up?, if either one wasn’t then you have a valid excuse, though it could have been an awful lot worse and you’ll be wary of heights again.
In your favour, you’re feeling bad about it and took responsibility for sorting the damage out as best you could, you are already ahead of half the long termers i’ve worked with by that action alone, so many just sod off home leaving the regular driver to sort the damage out
Stop the robotics, start thinking about everything again, in some ways the job has been too easy because it’s been repetitive, you haven’t had to think, so give yourself a mental kick up the arse and start checking stuff again.
Same thing happens to me, i have my regular tractor and tanker trailer, i can set up and start blowing in about 3 minutes with me eyes wide shut, but every now and again i have to use another tractor or tanker, takes me ages cos of all the thinking to do.
When you go for the new job keep an open mind, the place you are currently at have been decent with you and not gone off on one about the skirmishes, so be absolutely sure the new job is what you want and the local bloke isn’t getting himself a handy body for the Christmas rush 
Wow,thanks so much for the awesome responses guys!! This is why Trucknet is such a great forum.
I must be honest and say the trailer and bay door (in metres) were both clearly marked. I was always told not to take a trailer higher than 14’8" to this customer so I always before made a point of taking trailers no taller than 14’5" which is what most of them are. The trailer I was told to take was 14’8" but it was 100% my responsibility to double check. Afterwards I was told that if I’d have used the other loading door (I use both of them during the shift) it would have gone under no problem as it’s a few inches taller,which was another kick in the nuts.
The other job I’m looking at is driving for a local waste tanker firm,which is something I really wouldn’t want to damage. I’m sure a torn curtain or cracked light is nothing compared to a cracked tanker leaking waste all over the highway. The meeting with the guy went well and he was a decent bloke. I said I wouldn’t skip any agreed shifts with the other firm I work for nor my full time job to work for him as it wouldn’t be fair which he really thought high of. The money will be much better than both my other jobs but obviously there’s less room for error and I was told fairly they don’t think highly of damage. I will be out in the country alot though which I would love and won’t be on my backside all day so should keep my occasional sciatica happy. It won’t be just sucking up ■■■■■ all day either as they have alot of waste from industrial factories too.
The haulage firm I work for alternate weekends have said that after xmas the work will dry up as the regular shift I had previously with them (aside from the odd delivery) for another warehouse has actually been closed down. They’re really busy at the mo due to xmas and as they’ve been good to me so I’m happy to do shifts until the time comes.
Also I’ve been at my low risk but but not well paid full time job coming upto 20 years now. The owner is selling the business after xmas though and the new owner is keeping the staff so there’s 0% chance of a redundancy pay off which to be honest was one of the only things keeping me there until now,besides 6 weeks sick pay a year (assuming of course I’d even benefit from it,I’ve only used the full 6 weeks twice for operations,one optional routine and the other a life saving emergency surgery,scary stuff indeed). Problem is I’m well in my comfort zone there and the world is a scary place now full of zero hour contracts and the constant risk of losing your license for whatever reason etc and with a mortgage it makes me think twice.
I’ve got a tonne of thinking to do over the next few weeks.
Juddian:
You’ve been doing repetitive work, which by its very nature you get into a routine and stop thinking, easy done.
As for the roof scrape, was the trailer marked up and the door marked up?, if either one wasn’t then you have a valid excuse, though it could have been an awful lot worse and you’ll be wary of heights again.
In your favour, you’re feeling bad about it and took responsibility for sorting the damage out as best you could, you are already ahead of half the long termers i’ve worked with by that action alone, so many just sod off home leaving the regular driver to sort the damage out
Stop the robotics, start thinking about everything again, in some ways the job has been too easy because it’s been repetitive, you haven’t had to think, so give yourself a mental kick up the arse and start checking stuff again.
Same thing happens to me, i have my regular tractor and tanker trailer, i can set up and start blowing in about 3 minutes with me eyes wide shut, but every now and again i have to use another tractor or tanker, takes me ages cos of all the thinking to do.
When you go for the new job keep an open mind, the place you are currently at have been decent with you and not gone off on one about the skirmishes, so be absolutely sure the new job is what you want and the local bloke isn’t getting himself a handy body for the Christmas rush
Think you hit the nail right on the head there mate,it has been very robotic lately aside from the reversing which I still have to think about but it’s no excuse for stupidity. Was still 100% my responsibility and I’m yet to see what happens on Monday when the company send the paperwork of the damage to my boss. The firm I’m with have been really good to me fair play,the hourly rate isn’t fantastic but I’d be happy to do the odd shift for them in the future if I had any free time.
Have you got any advice about tankers? I’m wondering how they’re different to curtain siders? I’m assuming they’re not as high and in most cases not as long but If you get chance to read my reponse post I’d really appreciate some input 
You weren’t stupid mate, just made a small error, nothing to lose any sleep over.
Tanks? yes great job, some places better than others as in every field.
Specialised though and most specialised jobs tend to be a bit of a closed community, where you make a name for yourself or rather a reputation.
That can work two ways, a good rep can open doors for you but a bad rep can close them just as quick.
Nothing wrong with having ambitions to move into tank or any other work in due course if that’s what you fancy, but my honest advice would be to get some miles and some experience under your belt first on general type work, then as your confidence and skills improve you will know when the time is right to make your move.
If you move too soon, and bear in mind a torn curtain on a tautliner might be an £80 fix, a dent in a pressure tank might be an £8000 rebuild, you want your rep to be a good one.
Just my thoughts mate, skill yourself up and look for your own niche in due course, don’t try to run too soon.
Juddian:
You weren’t stupid mate, just made a small error, nothing to lose any sleep over.
Tanks? yes great job, some places better than others as in every field.
Specialised though and most specialised jobs tend to be a bit of a closed community, where you make a name for yourself or rather a reputation.
That can work two ways, a good rep can open doors for you but a bad rep can close them just as quick.
Nothing wrong with having ambitions to move into tank or any other work in due course if that’s what you fancy, but my honest advice would be to get some miles and some experience under your belt first on general type work, then as your confidence and skills improve you will know when the time is right to make your move.
If you move too soon, and bear in mind a torn curtain on a tautliner might be an £80 fix, a dent in a pressure tank might be an £8000 rebuild, you want your rep to be a good one.
Just my thoughts mate, skill yourself up and look for your own niche in due course, don’t try to run too soon.
Thanks for the input mate,to be honest that’s my thoughts on tankers. I’d love to get experience on them but I don’t think I’m that good a driver to be confident on them yet if I’m 100% honest with myself.
I’m due to do a day with the guy or one of his drivers next weekend and it’ll be experience at least as I really wouldn’t want to mess him about. I did tell him I’m not that good a driver yet and was honest about my lack of experience which he appreciates and is why he wants me to do some weekend work first before we go talking about possible full time. But then I’ve been given a chance to learn a bit more about a job I know I’ll enjoy more than general haulage and I may not get another so I’m keeping an open mind as to what to do for the best.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve effectively only been driving for about 5 or 10 weeks if I’ve read you right. Tankers! Liquid load in the back requires a different approach to driving but the company will go over this with you. I’ll give you one tip for now. Take a bit of care hooking up to one as they have a less visible profile in your mirrors than a curtainsider making them more difficult to see, especially in poor light conditions.
Firstly, not so much don’t worry about the little scrapes, it does happen, but you need to learn from them not dwell on them.
Much as I respect Juddian my advice does differ from his, if tankers is the way you want to go and somebody is offering you a go at it or even just a chance to try something different then give it a go, the opportunities to make a change don’t always come along when you think you’re ready, so sometimes we have to grab them when they do come along and just hang on for the ride.
I assume the bloke with the tankers knows about your lack of experience, but is willing to give you a chance, so hopefully he won’t expect too much too soon, I know some employers like to pick a seemingly decent new driver and train them up rather than get somebody who thinks they know it all.
As for experience and confidence, well you know you lack experience and confidence, but doing the job and challenging yourself is the only way to get it, if you don’t you just end up doing the same old thing in your comfort zone.
Just remember if you get too over confident that’s when karma comes back to remind you you’re not as good as you thought. 
I keep that in the back of my head all the time in my job.
TiredAndEmotional:
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve effectively only been driving for about 5 or 10 weeks if I’ve read you right. Tankers! Liquid load in the back requires a different approach to driving but the company will go over this with you. I’ll give you one tip for now. Take a bit of care hooking up to one as they have a less visible profile in your mirrors than a curtainsider making them more difficult to see, especially in poor light conditions.
Thanks for the input mate. In a way I’ve had less than 5 or 10 weeks driving,I’ve been doing alternate saturdays since January. Used to be mainly shunting from one depot to another which the only way to get in was to reverse off a T-junction into a diagonal bay,was very challenging especially for a new driver and took more than a few shunts. That depo closed and then I did the odd delivery. Now I’m mainly doing collections for another company (same employer though). I am a newbie driver and will be for a while but I’m getting a little experience.
Cheers for that tip,I’ve noticed the wheels of a tanker come out much further than a curtain sider so makes sense they’d be less visible in the mirrors thinking about it.
muckles:
Firstly, not so much don’t worry about the little scrapes, it does happen, but you need to learn from them not dwell on them.
Much as I respect Juddian my advice does differ from his, if tankers is the way you want to go and somebody is offering you a go at it or even just a chance to try something different then give it a go, the opportunities to make a change don’t always come along when you think you’re ready, so sometimes we have to grab them when they do come along and just hang on for the ride.
I assume the bloke with the tankers knows about your lack of experience, but is willing to give you a chance, so hopefully he won’t expect too much too soon, I know some employers like to pick a seemingly decent new driver and train them up rather than get somebody who thinks they know it all.
As for experience and confidence, well you know you lack experience and confidence, but doing the job and challenging yourself is the only way to get it, if you don’t you just end up doing the same old thing in your comfort zone.
Just remember if you get too over confident that’s when karma comes back to remind you you’re not as good as you thought.
I keep that in the back of my head all the time in my job.
Cheers pal. I was in two minds about tankers but i always saw it as what I’d like to end up in so I’ll keep an open mind and at least get some casual work in them before I make the jump from my full time soul destroying job.
I think a little over confidence was what got me last weekend with the incident,had no problems at all before then but it’s reminded me what a massive responsibility HGV driving is and how even a small mistake can totally screw up your day (and other peoples property).
GhostRider17:
muckles:
Firstly, not so much don’t worry about the little scrapes, it does happen, but you need to learn from them not dwell on them.
Much as I respect Juddian my advice does differ from his, if tankers is the way you want to go and somebody is offering you a go at it or even just a chance to try something different then give it a go, the opportunities to make a change don’t always come along when you think you’re ready, so sometimes we have to grab them when they do come along and just hang on for the ride.
I assume the bloke with the tankers knows about your lack of experience, but is willing to give you a chance, so hopefully he won’t expect too much too soon, I know some employers like to pick a seemingly decent new driver and train them up rather than get somebody who thinks they know it all.
As for experience and confidence, well you know you lack experience and confidence, but doing the job and challenging yourself is the only way to get it, if you don’t you just end up doing the same old thing in your comfort zone.
Just remember if you get too over confident that’s when karma comes back to remind you you’re not as good as you thought.
I keep that in the back of my head all the time in my job.
Cheers pal. I was in two minds about tankers but i always saw it as what I’d like to end up in so I’ll keep an open mind and at least get some casual work in them before I make the jump from my full time soul destroying job.
I think a little over confidence was what got me last weekend with the incident,had no problems at all before then but it’s reminded me what a massive responsibility HGV driving is and how even a small mistake can totally screw up your day (and other peoples property).
If you keep that in mind I doubt you’ll go far wrong as a truck driver. It takes far less time to double check than, deal with the crap that happens when it goes wrong, because you didn’t double check.
P.S I am far from a perfect driver, I make mistakes, but then only been at it for 25 years so still got a lot to learn.