Hit and run driver

[pandora2112]

Just had a team quit and drop off truck on a Sunday when no one was at shop. We got into town on Tuesday and it's obvious they've hit something, had some kind of accident and had some cover work done to truck. Any suggestions for tracking down any repair work done on truck they paid for themselves? They deny any thing of the sort of course but so far at three shops say damage appears to be from hitting something and having truck possibly pulled out of ditch or something of the sort...I would really like to prove damage was from them and seek financial compensation so I'm trying to gather hard core proof!

)0( Nasmaste )0(

 

[Doggie Daddy]

I'm not sure how your contracts are written, but I wouldn't think that it would allow for just dropping off a vehicle and leaving and calling that good.

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[zorry]

If you think it was recent, retrace recent routes.
If damage is obvious, repair it, pull repairs from escrow, document it well, and let them prove it wasn't their damage.
I don't know why a team wouldn't want owner at the turn-in. Too much at stake not to meet face to face.
I would think owner would want that too.

Isn't fleet ownership fun ?

 

[zorry]

How much $$ in repairs do you think they had done ?
See PM

 

[Refer Hauler]

if your truck has a QualComm contact them and have them give a 15 minute route tracking report for whatever time frame you need. You may be able to do it on your computer, I can track all trucks on what they call "Fleet Mapping"

 

[pandora2112]

No Qualcomm but based on Garmin activity I do have some leads. Unfortunately we don't own the fleet just manage, since no one was available to be at shop they were supposed to come back Monday. Didn't come in person just called of course! I'm definitely looking into making a new driver contract since we are taking care of repairs, etc and having issues with drivers trashing trucks!
On the bright side I will know what NOT to do if I ever decide to own trucks and have others drive them for me!!!

)0( Nasmaste )0(

 

[pandora2112]

How much $$ in repairs do you think they had done ?
See PM

Best guess...from the one who knows (and that's not me!) 700-800 bucks roughly.
After estimates we are looking at minimum of 3500 to make truck safe for new drivers...but in reality damage was probably 5000-6000 bucks. Thankfully a lot of it we can do and we have a shop that gives us good rates on work.

)0( Nasmaste )0(

 

[Lawrence]

I'd be concerned about "what" they hit. If they didn't want to disclose to you that information and tried to cover that up...what else are they covering up?

 

[davekc]

Outside of the QC tracking, you might be stuck. Good reason for the escrow. Not because you can't trust all drivers, it is just good business sense. You can call say Freightliner, and see if any parts or repairs were done under the trucks serial number.
Outside of that, just take pictures before and after.
"Keep'er simple".

 

[pandora2112]

I'd be concerned about "what" they hit. If they didn't want to disclose to you that information and tried to cover that up...what else are they covering up?

Exactly! It's even more than the damage to the truck but possible damage to someone or something...if they had been honest about damage knowing company owner he wouldn't make an issue of it. He would have fixed it and moved on.

)0( Nasmaste )0(

 

[pandora2112]

Outside of the QC tracking, you might be stuck. Good reason for the escrow. Not because you can't trust all drivers, it is just good business sense. You can call say Freightliner, and see if any parts or repairs were done under the trucks serial number.
Outside of that, just take pictures before and after.
"Keep'er simple".

Have some pictures but unfortunately not of some of the hidden areas where proof is...under the hood, inside wheel hub, etc.
And yes I'm definitely pushing for an escrow or "damage" deposit on our trucks...when money is on the line people tend to more responsible!

)0( Nasmaste )0(

 

[purgoose10]

You might track the last states he ran in and contact state police. Give them the trucks serial number and see if any accidents were recorded. If a wrecker did pull it and the police were called they would have a record.

 

[davekc]

You might track the last states he ran in and contact state police. Give them the trucks serial number and see if any accidents were recorded. If a wrecker did pull it and the police were called they would have a record.

Good advice. Even if they didn't tow it they likely would have a "incident report" with either the serial number or plate number.

 

[Turtle]

"... and let them prove it wasn't their damage."

Wow

 

[davekc]

"... and let them prove it wasn't their damage."

Wow

Probably not the right course of action. Fleet owner has to prove the damage, not the other way around. Documentation and photos would be necessary to prove anything.

 

[Murraycroexp]

I wonder if a call to the police or trooper'd office would be in order. Mainly to see if the truck shows up in an accident with a report. I don't know if that stuff shows up nationally. And run his license again to see if he has citations that may be related?? Just a thought.

 

[pandora2112]

I could be wrong but the way this is going down I'm highly doubtful it was reported...I'm seriously hoping that means no one else was involved because at least then that's one less thing to worry about.

)0( Nasmaste )0(

 

[davekc]

I could be wrong but the way this is going down I'm highly doubtful it was reported...I'm seriously hoping that means no one else was involved because at least then that's one less thing to worry about.

)0( Nasmaste )0(

As a fleet owner, I think you would be well served to do your due diligence to confirm nothing did happen. A follow up with state police would confirm or at least provide cover if something came up at a later date.

 

[zorry]

If the driver's brought the truck in on Monday, the damage was discovered, and they said We didn't do it, how does anything change ?

 

[mjmsprt40]

If the driver's brought the truck in on Monday, the damage was discovered, and they said We didn't do it, how does anything change ?

If they didn't do it, who did?

I don't hire drivers, but if I did I think a standard walk-around inspection before turning the truck over to the new driver would be standard. Photos are a big help too, that way you have documented proof that "those marks weren't there when we gave the truck to you". Then, when the driver brings the truck back with substantial damage that looks like it was repaired just enough to get under way again, you have him by the short hairs when he tries to say he didn't do it. "OK, who did do it? It wasn't like that when we hired you, here's the proof".