Rough Day (Update: Final Resolution)

[Kentktk]

There is a reason for Unions, here is an example.

[rodekyll]

Don't turn this into a union discussion.  It's about ST.  Leave the politics out of it.

[Muley]

The highway looks like an Interstate.  Around here, no farm equipment allowed - period.  If we were caught on the super slab with his rig, I imagine we'd be sampling jail food.

You can always come here and drive a log truck.  There is a big shortage.  One of my sons was seriously thinking about buying a new Mack (they had some kind of interesting finance deal), hiring a driver and making a small business out of it.

[Nic in Western NYS]

Glad you are ok and didn't roll the truck.  That would have been a situation.  All the best in whatever transitions are coming up - sometimes they can work out well, sometimes not.  You have lots of friends on WG to root you on.

[tris]

Sounds like you have a couple of key managers on your side

That can really help - whatever the "rules" are - I speak from experience 

Good Luck and hopefully they wont fool about for too long as having the Sword of Damocles hanging over you is not fun - doing that now!!!!!!

[Adk.IBO]

15-18 years ago I sat in on a trucking school recruitment day, almost bit. Drove school bus for a while. I like driving in general, won't drive school bus again... By the way, great attitude op, great driving too!! Best of luck.

Stay safe, John

[Lannis]

We have two terminals that are union, Decatur IL, the home terminal, and Langhorne PA.  All our other terminals are non-union, and are paid better than the union terminals. My terminal manger and driver manager have, are defending the job I do and don't want me fired.  If I am fired, I will land some where else, trucking.  ADM is the best driving job I've ever had. Great benefits, good pay, easy to get time off, and the best terminal and driver manager I've ever worked with. .  So I would be disappointed if I lost this job, but it would not be the end of the world, or my career. Life is a series of bad things happening to good people, and their moving on to the next thing. At least I'm not dealing with having killed a man, and Lorraine is not dealing with me having been been killed. So if the only thing lost in this crash is a job, I can live with that.

It would be great if you could keep the job you have if you like it, and having some of the managers on your side is a good sign that it might happen.    But if the Big Rule says you have to go on and look for another job, you're as well-equipped as anyone I've ever heard of to go and get it.   

That often turns out to be a great thing too ...

Good Luck!   American independence and self-reliance at its best.

Lannis

[Fuzzy]

You earn the support of your managers by being good at your job and easy to work with. Obviously this describes you. These characteristics will assure that you shouldn't have any trouble finding new work if you have to.
Keep your head up!

[rocker59]

Don't turn this into a union discussion.  It's about ST.  Leave the politics out of it.

 :1:

[rocker59]

The highway looks like an Interstate.  Around here, no farm equipment allowed - period.  If we were caught on the super slab with his rig, I imagine we'd be sampling jail food.

You can always come here and drive a log truck.  There is a big shortage.  One of my sons was seriously thinking about buying a new Mack (they had some kind of interesting finance deal), hiring a driver and making a small business out of it.

That's US-30 in Central Iowa.  It's not an interstate, and it's in farm country.

[Stormtruck2]

The highway looks like an Interstate.  Around here, no farm equipment allowed - period.  If we were caught on the super slab with his rig, I imagine we'd be sampling jail food.

You can always come here and drive a log truck.  There is a big shortage.  One of my sons was seriously thinking about buying a new Mack (they had some kind of interesting finance deal), hiring a driver and making a small business out of it.
[/quote

It is a four lane section of US 30.  Its a divided highway uncontrolled access.  No minimum speed limit until you get to Cedar Rapids Ia city limits, then it is 45 mph.   He was legally on the road.  He was not using legal signage or lights.  No Slow Moving Vehicle sign or flashing lights. Though legal, not a common sense place to be with that wide of a shoulder.  The shoulder is wide enough that he could have been completely on the shoulder and out of the travel lane.

[donn]

So, about that mower rig - the black thing he has his left hand on - is that really a steel prong, painted a hard-to-see black, that sticks out a foot or so from the wide part of the tractor?

Are they usually equipped with any other armaments that are designed to disembowel or otherwise inconvenience passing motorcyclists?

[GearheadGrrrl]

I'm an ADM stockholder, and you just made the best of a bad situation and saved ADM from a multi-million dollar accident... And ADM wants to fire you? As a retired Teamster shop steward, if an employer we had a contract with had tried to fire a driver with 4 million safe miles for a nonchargeable accident like that, we'd get it thrown out as harassment. It's right to fire a driver for repeated bad behavior that causes accidents, but for an accident you didn't cause, kept the truck and load upright and together, and prevented a catastrophe?

[Lannis]

I'm an ADM stockholder, and you just made the best of a bad situation and saved ADM from a multi-million dollar accident... And ADM wants to fire you? As a retired Teamster shop steward, if an employer we had a contract with had tried to fire a driver with 4 million safe miles for a nonchargeable accident like that, we'd get it thrown out as harassment. It's right to fire a driver for repeated bad behavior that causes accidents, but for an accident you didn't cause, kept the truck and load upright and together, and prevented a catastrophe?

It doesn't make sense, but sometimes companies have business rules that don't make sense.   

At my house, I'm 7 miles from the fire station.   There are some homeowner's insurance companies that will therefore not write a policy on my house for ANY premium - I could offer them $5000 a year and the answer would be "no".

It's stupid, but it prevents them from having to think or analyze.   Same with the "zero-tolerance" rule about road incidents.

We have a trucking company headquartered here where I live.   They have 250 trucks at 4 depots in three states (VA, NC, MD).   They do "regional" hauling, usually contracts with quarries or construction outfits.   Most all their drivers are home every night.   I was talking with their office manager the other day, and they are having a really hard time finding competent drivers that can hold a CDL.   Drug problems, alcohol problems, the accompanying attendance problems .... they're constantly about 15 drivers short of where they want to be.

I told her "Economics 101 - you need to pay more" and she agreed that it's going that way, otherwise they'll be like the Luftwaffe in 1945 - planes lined up ready to fly, and no pilots to fly them ...

The Navy has a similar rule for ship captains, I think ... or did.   You "ground" your ship, you're relieved of command.   Doesn't matter if it was uncharted, doesn't matter if the helmsman didn't steer straight, doesn't matter .... But relieving someone with 4 million safe miles for something that was a result of someone else's illegal behavior - what do you want to bet they reverse it?

Lannis

[rocker59]

So, about that mower rig - the black thing he has his left hand on - is that really a steel prong, painted a hard-to-see black, that sticks out a foot or so from the wide part of the tractor?

Are they usually equipped with any other armaments that are designed to disembowel or otherwise inconvenience passing motorcyclists?

It's the hub for running it with dual rear wheels, when needed...

[Lannis]

So, about that mower rig - the black thing he has his left hand on - is that really a steel prong, painted a hard-to-see black, that sticks out a foot or so from the wide part of the tractor?

Are they usually equipped with any other armaments that are designed to disembowel or otherwise inconvenience passing motorcyclists?

"Messala has a GREEK chariot!"

[ken farr]

Matt:

I am glad your walking and talking.
The environment of your collision was as good as you could hope for, little or no traffic, fixed barriers, etc.

I shudder to think of the consequences of your episode in my neck of the woods.....

Good job..

kjf

[Stormtruck2]

Had a final meeting with ADM and found out the results of the investigation. Final result: Termination.  Not surprised.  ADM takes safety very seriously.  Not the result I had hoped for, but it is the final result.  I don't blame ADM, I am the one that was operating the truck, and I did hit the tractor. I have nothing bad to say about ADM, my job, or the people I worked with.  Without a doubt it was the best job I have ever had in trucking. I regret losing it, but if that is the worse that comes out of this accident, I'm getting off cheap.  At least the gentleman on the tractor is alive, I didn't kill him.  I am beyond words grateful for that fact. So as this chapter closes, I wish Doug, Matt, Tom and the others I worked with at ADM nothing but the best in their future  Great people one and all.  Now where to go from here.  Retirement is sounding really good, but can't access my retirement trust for another 10 years.  I'm tired enough for retirement, but not wealthy enough me thinks. Not sure sweet Lorraine could tolerate me home 24-7 either.    So I'm gonna take a weekend off, and have a new job by next Friday and drive on.  Can't unring the bell, so time to find a new bell to ring.

[Lannis]

Had a final meeting with ADM and found out the results of the investigation. Final result: Termination.  Not surprised.  ADM takes safety very seriously.  Not the result I had hoped for, but it is the final result.  I don't blame ADM, I am the one that was operating the truck, and I did hit the tractor. I have nothing bad to say about ADM, my job, or the people I worked with. 

Well shucks.    We were hoping ....

Sure you can't take more than a weekend off?   When I left my job of 27 years at age 52 (with a mortgage and kids in college), I took a couple months off, 'cause how often does a guy our age get to do that?

Of course, the bank account may say NO WAY, and it's off to another job post haste.    But I'm sure it will come out well.

Lannis

[Stormtruck2]

I can't take a couple of months of, my personality won't allow it.  I NEED to work until I retire.  I feel lazy if I don't have a paying gig. Time off sounds good, but my sweet bride can't stand me when I'm unemployed/disabled/recovering. Its just in my make up to work at a job.   

[Nic in Western NYS]

Had a final meeting with ADM and found out the results of the investigation. Final result: Termination.  Not surprised.  ADM takes safety very seriously.  Not the result I had hoped for, but it is the final result.  I don't blame ADM, I am the one that was operating the truck, and I did hit the tractor. I have nothing bad to say about ADM, my job, or the people I worked with.  Without a doubt it was the best job I have ever had in trucking. I regret losing it, but if that is the worse that comes out of this accident, I'm getting off cheap.  At least the gentleman on the tractor is alive, I didn't kill him.  I am beyond words grateful for that fact. So as this chapter closes, I wish Doug, Matt, Tom and the others I worked with at ADM nothing but the best in their future  Great people one and all.  Now where to go from here.  Retirement is sounding really good, but can't access my retirement trust for another 10 years.  I'm tired enough for retirement, but not wealthy enough me thinks. Not sure sweet Lorraine could tolerate me home 24-7 either.    So I'm gonna take a weekend off, and have a new job by next Friday and drive on.  Can't unring the bell, so time to find a new bell to ring.

You're a class act.

[Demar]

OP, my hope is that you find work soon that is meaningful to you and profitable to you and your wife.

Best of luck in your search.

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Very interested in knowing what your next job is going to be.  My guess is that you will just go work for another trucking company. 

[Gliderjohn]

Best of luck. Things happen in weird ways at times and many times turns out even better.
GliderJohn

[travelingbyguzzi]

Good luck to you, Matt. You have the attitude of a true professional. An inspiration to us all.

Bill Lovelady

[Lannis]

Time off sounds good, but my sweet bride can't stand me when I'm unemployed/disabled/recovering. Its just in my make up to work at a job.   

I get lazy too, but here's what I did to solve both problems.

The week after I turned in my notice, two friends and I hopped on three of my old BSAs and spent three weeks on the road.   Three weeks of just riding and not worrying about where we needed to be.   We hit the BSA International Rally in Massachusetts, and Niagara Falls, and the Ohio Valley BSAOC rally, and had a great time.  And my wife had the house to herself ..... so no one was driving anyone crazy.

Then I got home and got to work looking for another job.    Took longer than I thought but worked out fine.

But hey, if working sounds better than touring the country on a bike ....    We're all motivated by different things, and if you enjoy your work, fantastic!

Lannis

[Bill Hagan]

You're a class act.

I find that kind of maturity depressing ... because I am incapable of it.   I wish that last part was a joke; it's not.

Seriously, Matt, you'll going to be just fine because you are, as Nic says, a class act. 

This thread proves it, and I have seen ample evidence of it in "real life" time with you.

In the meantime, don't overlook some of the "take advantage of some off" counsel here.  Might do wonders on all sorts of levels.

Best wishes.

Bill

[rodekyll]

Here's what could have happened if our hero hadn't been the driver he is:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TANKER_ROLLOVER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-08-18-16-55-14

[Xlratr]

You're a class act.

 :1:
Unthinkable outcome over here. Really!
But I have to agree on that sentiment.

[Lannis]

I can't take a couple of months of, my personality won't allow it.  I NEED to work until I retire.  I feel lazy if I don't have a paying gig. Time off sounds good, but my sweet bride can't stand me when I'm unemployed/disabled/recovering. Its just in my make up to work at a job.   

Sooo ... how's the job search going?   I suspect that some of these nice mornings lingering over coffee is feeling pretty good .. don't know if it will overpower this "Gotta work NOW" thing, but just thought I'd check ....

Lannis