Run away lorry and why im getting dismissed

[TteFAboB]

Sounds like the Lorry of Doom, Death and Destruction! :rotfl:
I'd like to have seen it, I like Demolition Derbies.

Anyway, it's not only the driver's and city council's fault. You don't park a Type S Jaguar outside and you definitely don't leave it out in the rain.

Wish you the best Kaptain.

[Iceman]

Sounds like what we call "An Act Of God"...**** happens...this is what insurance is for...and good point about the county/state not having gravel on the road etc...if they can admit they're fault it should simply be dismissed as an unforseeable accident..again this is what insurance is for...go after the state...I hope your union hangs tough with you....but there is one butt...if you the "Responsible" driver should/could have seen a potential hazzard then you I say "are" at fault..but again...insurance....not a firable offense just an accident....damn hope you come out all right.

[Kapitan]

All we were doing was collectiong bags of green waste, the driver was helping us as he normaly does its not an uncommon thing, we just wanted to get to the tip early as does every one and we were quite far ahead untill this.

We didnt refuse the road as we would have been sent back to to it later the same day to go and collect so we couldnt win and we would get a bollacking for not doing it, in reality we dont have the right to refuse to do a road.

The brake itself should have been adequate to stop the viechle, and it was.

The reason the council probably didnt grit that road is because its not a major road, and only 46 houses on the road.

Also im negligent for allowing the lorry to enter the road as i should have said it is too dangerous to stop the viechle.
But again if i had said no to doing the road we would have been sent back and forced to do it later in the day so the same thing may have happend.

As to making the press yes it made the metro on friday and also the london lite (i think it made london lite not sure though).

[The Avon Lady]

Well, it's either the merchant marine or the foreign legion for you now, Kap! :hmm:

[The Avon Lady]

Kap, are you sure your garbage truck didn't slide all the way to Minnesota? :hmm:

[badhat17]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Also im negligent for allowing the lorry to enter the road as i should have said it is too dangerous to stop the viechle.
But again if i had said no to doing the road we would have been sent back and forced to do it later in the day so the same thing may have happend.

Are you qualified to drive this vehicle Kap ? If you are not then you should not be expected to make that safety call, it would be your drivers decision.

Your driver left the vehicle unattended, he was helping with the collection you say. Is that his job ? I would imagine it is not. Was he doing this at your bequest ? Are you the team leader ?

Unless you asked the driver to help with the collection task then you ought not take any blame over this. It depends on what authority you have over the driver. Check you employment contract and your employees handbook for terms and conditions. If you were in charge of this vehicle team then you will share some responsibility, if not you shouldn't.

A driver is responsible for the vehicle no matter what though, he left the cab and is at fault.

Suspended without pay, that is unusual. They should keep paying you until you are actualy dismissed.

[Kapitan]

The veichle is classified as HGV class 2 and im not qualified to drive it but as i am chief loader as the other two guys were agency i have to make the decision.

The driver is required to help the loading of the lorry as and when he can, the brakes were fine only 30% worn but when the driver went through the paper work it appeared they hadnt been checked he told the supervisior and manager about this (after the crash) but they took it into the work shops and had it all off and found the brakes were only 12% worn.

And if the 6 weekly checks were ever done they would have rectified alot of the current faults such as the ones with the sliding doors that like to decapitate the loaders.



This is similar to the one i work on but this one is smaller and is 17 tonnes, the one i work on is bigger has another axle and carrys 26 tonnes, and has sliding doors.

[badhat17]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

The veichle is classified as HGV class 2 and im not qualified to drive it but as i am chief loader as the other two guys were agency i have to make the decision.

The driver is required to help the loading of the lorry as and when he can, the brakes were fine only 30% worn but when the driver went through the paper work it appeared they hadnt been checked he told the supervisior and manager about this (after the crash) but they took it into the work shops and had it all off and found the brakes were only 12% worn.

And if the 6 weekly checks were ever done they would have rectified alot of the current faults such as the ones with the sliding doors that like to decapitate the loaders.



This is similar to the one i work on but this one is smaller and is 17 tonnes, the one i work on is bigger has another axle and carrys 26 tonnes, and has sliding doors.

Forget about the brakes issue, it is unlikely to get you anywhere.

Did the driver refuse or question your decision to take that route or did he just get on with it? This is important, no matter what your employers may say about it being your decision. If you are not qualified to drive the vehicle then you can not make such a decision, you would ask your driver if he thought it was safe. I'm presuming he said yes. Or nothing was said at all and the driver just took the route and you went along with this. Being un-qualified to drive the vehicle you can not be expected to question the driver here, it is his call.
As long as you haven't over ruled your driver and told him to take the route when he said it was not safe then you are in the clear.

The driver is required to help with the loading as and when he can

Is that really company policy? Your union should be able to make a lot out of this. Had the driver been in the cab then the incident was avoidable, if he was within company rules to leave the cab and help with the loading then the company policy is badly at fault. Was the engine running on the vehicle when he left it ? Unless the law has changed then he has broken the law if he left the cab whilst the engine was running. As loading was in progress I would guess the engine was left running.

How long have you been with this company ?

[Kapitan]

For a start 90% of refuse lorry drivers sign contracts that say DRIVER / LOADER and in that contract there is a statement that says "you will be required to help with the loading when ever possible"

2ndly yes the engine was running standard proceadure as its a rotodrum which means if your engine is off the drum on the rear will not turn and will not crush and compact the refuse, also the same for the other lorries.

3rdly safety mesure means that you cant move the viechle when the blade is running it will automaticaly stop and the bin lifts will raise to travelling position same goes if its in gear regardless if the hand brake is on or not.

When we left the 2nd part of friday hill i said "next left to the top we will clear this one then tip", thats all i said, the driver took the next left and went up the hill was struggling a little but nothing to worry about.

Its not a company policy its more of a nation wide policy about drivers loading the fact is some roads your going to need 3 pairs of hands other wise it can take forever.

Its not that im not qualified this is my route the guy was an agency driver the other guy was agency loader niether of them knew the route there fore i was chief loader directing the driver as to where he goes but ultimatly the driver does still have the right to refuse to travel up the road he also has the final say as to what goes on the lorry, he didnt use that.

[The Munster]

Here it's down to the Driver. Even if a member of the public approaches a Loader with something they want to dispose of outwith the wheelie-bin, the Loader points 'Joe Bloggs' in the direction of the Driver and he makes the decision then it's usually what mood the Driver is in; different in this case when you're doing a special 'green waste' uplift.
I know what you mean about wanting to get the run finished then tip as quickly as possible, been there, done that.
Newer vehicles have 'weight display' in the Cab so when you reach the max point then it's leave everything that's left and tip = having to return later.
If it's any consolation to you, here, the Loaders wouldn't have ended up 'on the mat' but the Driver would have been hammered !

[Kapitan]

In our lorries we have no wieght display at all its all done by guessing, theres only one lorry that ive ever worked on and ive worked on alot of them, that have a cut out when they hit max wieght.

The driver may loose his class 2 for this one.