As some of you know i have a set delivery round for my job some drops are everyday and some are once a week kind of thing. Two of my every day drops are run/ managed by the same person that i get along with and help each other out. Yesterday afternoon i got a phone call from him asking if i had hit the wall at the sister site. I honestly didn’t think i had however they have video of my truck reversing into the wall. Apparently i scratched the plasterboard on the access tunnel reversing out. The only time i reversed out of there this week was Thursday yet i saw the guy that phoned me and the supervisor of the sister site on Friday morning and neither of them said anything to me and were both pleasant as usual.
I called the yard and told them as the building owner where the damage took place was insisting it was reported. Got told that i was to come in later on Monday and have the accident investigation done then. When I got back to the yard I went and spoke to the boss and said that i hadn’t seen the video yet and that i couldn’t add any more info but it was going to be sent to them. Was told that he had seen it and it looked as if I had almost done it deliberately and that i must of known i had hit it as i pulled forward and reversed back at a different angle. ie i took a shunt.
I have worked for this company both on agency then as an employee for just under a year. Unfortunately i have had 6 knocks 4 non fault and 2 fault however 3 of them were with in 4 weeks of each other. I was told after the last one that i would be getting a conduct interview which never happened despite me reminding them twice. (was told you will get it when you get it the second time).
What are peoples opinions of this situation. Does it look like they have made their minds up already.
It’s impossible to say, you know this company and what their general attitude is, we don’t.
I worked for the same company for over eight years, in that time there were a number of occurrences, eg scraping a parked car or a wall. None of them resulted in a dismissal. If companies only employed “perfect drivers”, there would be far fewer trucks on the road and far more empty shops!
Stuff happens when we’re out there, no one is perfect, but even if this one company bins you it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road. My personal philosophy is to always fess up to what’s gone wrong, that way I can be seen to have some integrity and honesty; if they’re so Draconian they have no leeway, then I wouldn’t want to work for them anyway.
It depends on their accident policy which you should know if you’ve been there for almost a year. Never too late to ask for a copy of it. At our place it’s 1st at fault accident - verbal warning, it’s recorded in your file and stays there for 6 months; 2nd accident - final warning (unless 6 months have passed, then it’s treated as a first); 3rd you’re out. Obviously severity and other conditions may be taken into account I would imagine so one might get the toss after the 1st one.
In your case what I find bizarre is that your boss thinks you did it on purpose - if someone said that to my face I’d be…well at the very least I would call them out on their BS. If you’ve been with them for some time they should at least give you a reasonable notice if they decide to dismiss you. You can try talking 1 on 1 to someone there who’s in the know, like a TM you trust if you want to have as much forewarning as possible or maybe they don’t plan on kicking you out so you have nothing to be stressing about.
You are asking a “how long is a piece of string” question as none of us know your company, nor how they operate when these things happen. There is nothing you can do till you go in for your meeting, that might not be what you want to hear as I guess you were after reassurance from people on here.
If they dismiss you they would be well within their rights and then there is not a lot you can do unfortunately - doesn’t make it right in my opinion as it was an accident and its not like you destroyed a building or injured a person but that is the world we live in and every company looks at and treats situations differently.
cooper1203:
Unfortunately i have had 6 knocks 4 non fault and 2 fault however 3 of them were with in 4 weeks of each other.
That’s not a good…
Record coop. There are drivers who have gone decades without bumps and your firm have to put up with the paperwork and downtime which costs money and we all know, it’s all about the money.
From your gaffers point of view, he’s got every right to try and find a driver who doesn’t prang into things and just does the job.
I know your heart is in the right place coop and I’d happily buy you a pint but, you’re quite possibly an expense your firm will no longer tolerate.
What will happen is down to your contract and your managers patience.
Whatever happens you are entitled by law to have a colleague (or Union representative whether or not they are an employee) attend any disciplinary meeting to act as witness to what is said and, if you so wish, to speak in your support.
cav551:
Whatever happens you are entitled by law to have a colleague (or Union representative whether or not they are an employee) attend any disciplinary meeting to act as witness to what is said and, if you so wish, to speak in your support.
cooper1203:
I have worked for this company both on agency then as an employee for just under a year. Unfortunately i have had 6 knocks 4 non fault and 2 fault however 3 of them were with in 4 weeks of each other.
Probably not what you want to hear but I would describe you as a liability, an expensive one at that!
Maybe not your gaffers decision, his insurance company will probably make the decision for him.
cooper1203:
Unfortunately i have had 6 knocks 4 non fault and 2 fault however 3 of them were with in 4 weeks of each other.
That’s not a good…
Agreed. Shocking incident rate. I think you’ve done extremely well to last there as long as you have. You’ve been given at least half a dozen opportunities to learn how to drive properly and still can’t get your ■■■■ together. Time to move on and find an industry where you can do the job without constantly [zb]ing up.
No-one has 4 so-called “non fault” incidents within an year unless they’re not using their brain and deliberately putting themself/their vehicle in harms way.
I think that some are being a bit harsh on here. We dont have enough actual facts! If you are driving a fairly big rig among the school run mums you could easily be involved in some non fault episodes. If its only a bit of plaster board on a wall then its not really a catastrophe.
alamcculloch:
I think that some are being a bit harsh on here. We dont have enough actual facts! If you are driving a fairly big rig among the school run mums you could easily be involved in some non fault episodes. If its only a bit of plaster board on a wall then its not really a catastrophe.
It’s certainly not a catastrophe - but what is regarded as serious is a driver who has a “knock” (to use the OP’s term) but says nothing about it until some time later when the property owner reports it. You don’t go scraping a rigid against a wall (even a plasterboard one) hard enough to damage it without knowing, or at least suspecting, that you’ve done it. And if you thought you might have scraped it, surely you’d stop to check…?
Im not quite sure how i am to blame for a non fault accident as one of them i wasn’t in the vehicle at the time 2nd i stationary in traffic and a tipper took my mirror off coming the other way 3rd one a learner driver sideswiped me 4th someone went in the back of me again in a queue of traffic.
I cant comment about the plasterboard incident as i haven’t seen the video yet. I was completely unaware had i known i had done it i would of gone straight back to the goods in and owned up. as i have done in every other situation there has been an issue regardless of fault. However as it took the company 24 hours to call me im assuming the damage wasn’t noticed till a while after it was caused and as someone walks up and down past it to let 99% of the vehicles in its very slight
I guess i was after reassurance but also advice on where i stand given the fact that the gaffer had said to me no more accidents and that i would need a conduct interview but never had it.
alamcculloch:
I think that some are being a bit harsh on here. We dont have enough actual facts! If you are driving a fairly big rig among the school run mums you could easily be involved in some non fault episodes. If its only a bit of plaster board on a wall then its not really a catastrophe.
It’s certainly not a catastrophe - but what is regarded as serious is a driver who has a “knock” (to use the OP’s term) but says nothing about it until some time later when the property owner reports it. You don’t go scraping a rigid against a wall (even a plasterboard one) hard enough to damage it without knowing, or at least suspecting, that you’ve done it. And if you thought you might have scraped it, surely you’d stop to check…?
alamcculloch:
I think that some are being a bit harsh on here. We dont have enough actual facts! If you are driving a fairly big rig among the school run mums you could easily be involved in some non fault episodes. If its only a bit of plaster board on a wall then its not really a catastrophe.
It’s certainly not a catastrophe - but what is regarded as serious is a driver who has a “knock” (to use the OP’s term) but says nothing about it until some time later when the property owner reports it. You don’t go scraping a rigid against a wall (even a plasterboard one) hard enough to damage it without knowing, or at least suspecting, that you’ve done it. And if you thought you might have scraped it, surely you’d stop to check…?
Start looking for another job .Judging by your post they will probably sack you.Find another job then come in on a Monday and do an immediate resignation .I always have the satisfaction of walking away on my terms.
Mick Bracewell:
No-one has 4 so-called “non fault” incidents within an year unless they’re not using their brain and deliberately putting themself/their vehicle in harms way.
Mick Bracewell:
Agreed. Shocking incident rate. I think you’ve done extremely well to last there as long as you have. You’ve been given at least half a dozen opportunities to learn how to drive properly and still can’t get your [zb] together. Time to move on and find an industry where you can do the job without constantly [zb]ing up.
No-one has 4 so-called “non fault” incidents within an year unless they’re not using their brain and deliberately putting themself/their vehicle in harms way.
I worked under the condition of 3 ‘avoidable’ , as opposed to non fault, accidents in a year game over.
I’ve also still got the safe driving and service thanks letters.
It wasn’t an ideal situation to have to work under.
So tell us all these so called scenarios in which the driver would be ‘deliberately’ trying to crash the thing.
If that was the case it obviously wouldn’t need a year to find the opportunity if anyone was that way inclined.
cooper1203:
I guess i was after reassurance but also advice on where i stand given the fact that the gaffer had said to me no more accidents and that i would need a conduct interview but never had it.
And that’s what I referred too in my earlier comment. Your post came across as “please tell me everything will be okay” but no-one on here can give you any reassurance as we don’t know your company or how they operate with these things.
alamcculloch:
I think that some are being a bit harsh on here. We dont have enough actual facts! If you are driving a fairly big rig among the school run mums you could easily be involved in some non fault episodes. If its only a bit of plaster board on a wall then its not really a catastrophe.
It’s certainly not a catastrophe - but what is regarded as serious is a driver who has a “knock” (to use the OP’s term) but says nothing about it until some time later when the property owner reports it. You don’t go scraping a rigid against a wall (even a plasterboard one) hard enough to damage it without knowing, or at least suspecting, that you’ve done it. And if you thought you might have scraped it, surely you’d stop to check…?
This. I’ve had the odd bump in my time… …and absolutely without a doubt the very best often job saving tactic is for the boss to find out from you before anyone else and be honest if you’re at fault. They’ve heard all the stories before a million times and they can see right through excuses. Own up, be contrite, learn from it.
alamcculloch:
I think that some are being a bit harsh on here. We dont have enough actual facts! If you are driving a fairly big rig among the school run mums you could easily be involved in some non fault episodes. If its only a bit of plaster board on a wall then its not really a catastrophe.
It’s certainly not a catastrophe - but what is regarded as serious is a driver who has a “knock” (to use the OP’s term) but says nothing about it until some time later when the property owner reports it. You don’t go scraping a rigid against a wall (even a plasterboard one) hard enough to damage it without knowing, or at least suspecting, that you’ve done it. And if you thought you might have scraped it, surely you’d stop to check…?
Antics of a non-native.
Comment of a racist.
Ah! Brilliant. Out comes the raysis card right on cue because some delicate SJW snowflakes can’t accept reality. I expect your Welsh mate will be along any moment to join in the party. Fine by me, it’s water off a duck’s back. If you want to defend a guy who’s had 6 smashes in the space of the year then go ahead, you employ him and deal the carnage left in his wake wherever he goes along with the flak and repair bills from your disgruntled customers. Such “drivers” shouldn’t even be left to move a wheelbarrow unsupervised.
