Had an accident, now I've got questions

[scratch]

I've known drivers that reported hitting mailboxes and offered to pay for them. Management sometimes like to cover up little accidents and look the other way. That keeps their numbers looking good. I have known a few that got fired for not reporting hitting a mailbox. If its a cheap metal mailbox they cost about ten bucks at Home Depot and four screws hold them on.

 

[Wally]

So I took a mailbox out today with my package car's tailswing. Didn't destroy anything, but uprooted it and, since it was zip-tied to a second newspaper box, I wasn't able to get it back into it's original position.

I called my supervisor and let him know. Got questioned a bit, received a couple more phone calls to run through the situation over and over again. Ended with them telling me "When the smoke clears, we'll let you know."

I qualified in June, this is my first incident. I'm curious how you all think it might play out? I spoke with another driver when I finished my route and got back to the building, and he was pretty adamant that I was going to get a warning letter and maybe a few ride-alongs. I'm worried that I might lose my job. Anyone have any insight here?

If the home owners is cool with it, it won't be processed as an accident. The last thing the management team wants is headaches.

 

[Jones]

I was out in the country one winter, slid on some ice and took out a whole cluster of mailboxes at the end of a dirt road.

 

[Zowert]

You’re fine, you reported it. We have drivers here that get into at least one ‘crash’ every year and they’re still employed. One dude has a dozen over his ten years with UPS. I think the rule is 3 accidents in nine months to get canned, not positive though.

You will see a lot of BS over your career with what UPS counts as an avoidable accident. Once I was parked blocking a lady’s driveway, she got in her car and backed into me. Didn’t even look. UPS said it was an avoidable accident. This was two months after I qualified. From then on I started blocking streets instead of driveways.

 

[Indecisi0n]

So I took a mailbox out today with my package car's tailswing. Didn't destroy anything, but uprooted it and, since it was zip-tied to a second newspaper box, I wasn't able to get it back into it's original position.

I called my supervisor and let him know. Got questioned a bit, received a couple more phone calls to run through the situation over and over again. Ended with them telling me "When the smoke clears, we'll let you know."

I qualified in June, this is my first incident. I'm curious how you all think it might play out? I spoke with another driver when I finished my route and got back to the building, and he was pretty adamant that I was going to get a warning letter and maybe a few ride-alongs. I'm worried that I might lose my job. Anyone have any insight here?

You'll have to listen to your sups and center manager telling you that you are a POS and should know better. They will treat it like you ran over a child. It will be the topic of the PCM and blah blah blah.

Reality
You did everything right by calling it in. You will end up with a warning letter at best. Smile and carry on. Also be on the look out for them coming to observe you for the next two weeks.

 

[Yeet]

Not always true. A guy in my building rear ended a lady that slammed on brakes unexpectedly because she spilled her coffee. Got cited for following too close. She went to the hospital due to burns (self inflicted) and "neck pain." He kept his job.

You guys have a strong local then. “Hit other in rear” is an instant walk to the gate here.

 

[Seymour Packages]

You guys have a strong local then. “Hit other in rear” is an instant walk to the gate here.

Wow. Is there any coming back from that? Or are guys done?

 

[PPH_over_9000]

You'll have to listen to your sups and center manager telling you that you are a POS and should know better. They will treat it like you ran over a child. It will be the topic of the PCM and blah blah blah.

Reality
You did everything right by calling it in. You will end up with a warning letter at best. Smile and carry on. Also be on the look out for them coming to observe you for the next two weeks.

Nobody said a word to me this morning about it. I also wasn't assigned a route with a few other guys and managed to go home.

At the PCM they did mention that our building was 1 and 0 for accidents and injuries yesterday... with the 1 accident being another driver that rear-ended another car and pushed them off the road. No mention of mailboxes.

I wonder if they're waiting for a customer claim/complaint to push any discipline on me.

 

[Yeet]

Wow. Is there any coming back from that? Or are guys done?

Yeah unless you are a headache, you will probably only have to go to a local hearing. If you are a headache you’re probably going to panel.

 

[Fido]

You hit a mailbox not a person or a tier 3 you will be fine

 

[11.19igrad]

1. A vehicle had to be towed.
2. Someone had to go to the hospital.
3. A citation was issued.

If you check two of those boxes, they can and will fire you. You took out a mailbox and reported it immediately. You’re fine.

wrong. none of these happened to me.

 

[11.19igrad]

You did right reporting it right away.
NOT reporting it is what gets people fired.
You're all set.

wrong i reported it right away

 

[IVE GOTTA PACKAGE 4U]

wrong i reported it right away

If you only listened to @burrheadd and you use your handbrake...

 

[Re-Raise]

U need five or six $100 bills now. One for every neighbor with cams...

Ring #AlwaysHome


This clown decided to turn his Progressive Rail truck around in my driveway this summer.. I contacted their corporate office and sent them the video of him crushing my mailbox..they sent me $300.

 

[purehavanne]

I’ve “settled” minor property damage in the past with cash. At this point in my career I wouldn’t do it. You can’t trust that a pesky neighbor won’t try to report it. When it’s found it WILL backfire. My advice: don’t hit anything.

 

[quad decade guy]

Used to carry a $100 bill in my wallet just for these occasions

This kind of advice.....covering up accidents(that's exactly what this would be if covered up)(it's also dishonesty)(cardinal sin).

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

 

[quad decade guy]

If they told you to keep working after you reported it, you'll be fine. Maybe a useless warning letter at most. Wipe your butt with it and get ready for peak.

Oh? First step of discipline. I've seen drivers fired for too many accidents. Have seen it with my own eyes. Actually a friend of mine. Yes, they were all MINOR accidents of this type. He was also very active in the union and a chronic "filer".

 

[MyTripisCut]

Oh? First step of discipline. I've seen drivers fired for too many accidents. Have seen it with my own eyes. Actually a friend of mine. Yes, they were all MINOR accidents of this type. He was also very active in the union and a chronic "filer".

Did they get their job back?

 

[quad decade guy]

Did they get their job back?

No. Fired as in fired. Is this rare? It is. But does happen. Most folks can manage to spread out their "accidents". Did you notice the OP called it an "incident". It could be I guess if not charged. But then, everyday is filled with "incidents".

 

[quad decade guy]

I’ve “settled” minor property damage in the past with cash. At this point in my career I wouldn’t do it. You can’t trust that a pesky neighbor won’t try to report it. When it’s found it WILL backfire. My advice: don’t hit anything.

My advice: don't "cover up" anything.