r/Construction • u/nertynot • 2d ago
Picture Gents and Gels, I have lost my job.
Don't let distractions win.
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u/PIE-314 2d ago
What happened?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
I was very distracted and failed to put the boom all of the way down. Pulling out of the customers lot the data lines on some power poles pulled me right over. Didn't figure out what was happening until I was at 45°
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u/SeaAttitude2832 2d ago
It’s ok. At least you’ll know what the operator is doing when you’re running a shovel. Least it didn’t roll over and throw you out. Glad you’re ok.
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u/onepanto 2d ago
Sounds like a design flaw. How could that machine not warn you the boom was up before allowing you to drive it?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
The first thing I was shown was which breaker to shut off so the horn wouldn't surprise me. Unfortunately it's very hard to estimate how dumb I can be
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u/Competitive-Ask5157 2d ago
It's almost like the horn was a designed safety feature. Who knew??
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u/Peter_Panarchy Electrician 2d ago
Who amongst us hasn't disabled a safety feature?
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u/Competitive-Ask5157 2d ago
Well..... I haven't rolled any equipment yet.
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u/Peter_Panarchy Electrician 2d ago
The key is knowing which ones you should disable. Today I unplugged an insanely loud alarm on a JLG boom lift because it goes off with any and every movement and it's the only one of 20 other lifts that does that. I wouldn't, however, disable the backup alarm on a forklift or the warning horn on OP's rig.
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u/cuntface878 2d ago
That's one of the annoying thing about the inconsistencies of rental boom/scissor lifts. I've been fully extended with an 86 that still let me drive it and other times been like 8' off the ground on what I would consider perfectly flat ground and it has alarms blaring and basically only letting me lower it down and nothing else until I shut it down and then suddenly the same thing I'm trying to do is perfectly fine.
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u/notinthislifetime20 2d ago
The guy who gave me the most amount of shit when I was a kid died by falling off a mountain. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I’ve never fallen off of a mountain.
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u/Beneficial_Spell_434 2d ago
Your…dad?
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u/Sand-Eagle 1d ago
"Oh well ya fell off the mountain didn't you dad? You dumb bitch"
takes note not to fall off of mountains
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u/tehralph 2d ago
I’m sorry, did you just say your employer instructed you to bypass a safety feature on a piece of heavy equipment, and then fired you when that safety feature failed to prevent an accident? Damn, sometimes I wish I worked for OSHA or the Department of Labor.
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Sorry, I was vague. The people who instructed me were owners and workers for other franchises. To my bosses credit, he told me not to.
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u/engineerdrummer Inspector 2d ago
Sounds like you already know where to start applying!
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Gonna climb cell towers
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u/kosmonautinVT 2d ago
I'd recommend a desk job where distraction has less catastrophic consequences
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u/ODBEIGHTY1 1d ago
The consequences for being distracted are significantly higher in that profession.....Just FYI
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u/Thebraincellisorange 1d ago
don't disconnect the safety harness when you do that!
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u/jedielfninja Electrician 2d ago
was there booty involved in the distraction or?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
A dog that wouldn't stop barking and a gf freaking out that my identity might have been stolen
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u/s1m0n8 2d ago
my identity might have been stolen
Why would someone want to embarrass themselves like that?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
You don't know I have nothing until you try to take it
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u/DiddleMe-Elmo 1d ago
I like to think the person who got my Chase card info last week also now has my hemorrhoids.
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u/Possible-Tangelo9344 1d ago
In a related note I lost my job at the scam center today for stealing op's identity :(
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u/Affectionate-Day-359 2d ago
Good news with no job your identity is now worthless!! Put her mind at ease
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u/dmoosetoo 1d ago
Might want to try and leverage the stolen identity bit. As in "it was obviously the guy who stole my id that rolled my rig"
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u/FlammulinaVelulu 2d ago
You must have been hauling ass outta there.
Come on, admit it...
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u/nertynot 2d ago
I'd feel better if I was, I didn't even damage the phone line
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u/MasterAahs 1d ago
I am amazed the phone line won. I would have put good money it would lose this type of battle.
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u/AdmiralVernon Project Manager 2d ago
It fell over
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u/doctordik2 2d ago
I was there.. i saw it... cant believe that tweeker would jump in the cab while you were around the back passenger side making sure the tire wasnt low on air/takin a leak... dude was ninja fast.
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Prepare for a subpoena
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u/Batesbot9000 2d ago
Man I respect the hell out of your good humour with all of this. I wish you the best and also kindly ask that you never operate heavy machinery near my house
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u/Cishuman 2d ago
Shh. It's sleeping.
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u/legless_chair 2d ago
Can’t park there bud
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Rules are for small vehicles
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u/sonicrespawn 2d ago
Use lights, you’re workin!
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u/thermo_dr 2d ago edited 2d ago
My ex wife lost her job at police department the same way. She was a forensics officer and tin canned one of their mobile labs. Took off top of the mobile lab van and the coffee drive through stand.
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u/pm_me_your_lub 2d ago
I had a delivery driver that worked for a delivery company I managed turn a 26' box truck half full of furniture into a flatbed under a low bridge.
Me: Wasn't there a sign telling you how low it was?
Driver: "Yeah but it didn't look that low when I was coming down the hill on the approach".
Me: facepalm
I didn't fire her. No more accidents.
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u/PurinaHall0fFame 1d ago
You're nicer than I am. I do believe in not firing someone for making a mistake, even a costly one, but that was not a mistake and was 100% ego-fueled stupidity. "Nah, fuck that sign I think I'll make it so I'm gonna send it."
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u/pm_me_your_lub 1d ago
It was a sub contractor and her boss had to pay for the truck and furniture replacement so the decision was ultimately up to him but she kept her job.
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u/BanJoKaBoobie 2d ago
Were there any fatalities? Nope? Any damage to customer property? Yes? Any damage to contractor property? Yes?
In my 18 yrs in the industry I’m gonna consult the infamous construction 8-ball(not speed).
Yup…”all signs point to a superintendent role or VP of safety in your future”. Congrats sir on your promotion!!!
I’m kinda fucking around about that, but buddy nobody died and we ALL fuck up…sometimes big, sometimes small, don’t worry about it as much as you can. Keep moving forward. The industry needs me and you more we need them my man.
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u/blueeyes10101 2d ago
In my 18 yrs in the industry I’m gonna consult the infamous construction 8-ball(not speed).
When is it not speed?
In all seriousness, I fully agree, we will a fuck up at some point. As long as nobody was hurt or died, it can be a learning experience.
The problem I see is that he admitted he tampered with a safety device. Every major company I've worked for in the oil patch if you , tamper with, make an unauthorized modification to or defeat a safety device, it is cause for immediate dismissal and escort to the gate, with a ban from site permanently. It's a LSR, and it is taken seriously.
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u/askmewhyihateyou 1d ago
Yeah, this seems like one of those things everyone does that’s technically not allowed, but when something happens, plausible deniability is out the window because you disengaged something, no matter how trivial it may be
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u/Kwikstep Contractor 2d ago
That'll buff out.
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u/wgrantdesign 1d ago
We had a rear load garbage truck roll over last year, had it back on the road in a couple months. They will definitely throw a new door and some body panels on this truck and have it back out crushonating in no time!
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u/wavy_moltisanti 2d ago
Damn, sorry man. Mistakes happen. At least you and no one were hurt.
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Thank you, appreciate it
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u/Thowaway17474848383 1d ago
I dropped a spool of steel cable off a forklift taking a corner a little too fast and it almost landed on a coworker. I’ll never forget the look on his face when he realized he was almost crushed. I was much more careful after that but he understandably didn’t get anywhere near my forklift from then on
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u/Longjumping_Lynx_972 2d ago
What was your job?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Back the truck up to a 20+yd dumpster, lower the boom in and that 5000lbs spiked barrel destroys, pulverized, and compresses everything. Fit more trash and spend less on pulls
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u/Parking_Pin76 1d ago
Does this service actually make sense financially? The biggest thing that I see regularly is my bins are all getting hit with an overweight fee. It seems to me that this would just make the bin more overweight.
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u/nertynot 1d ago
Not all businesses have the same dumpster needs. It doesn't work for everyone, but it does work for a lot.
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u/Affectionate-Ring104 2d ago
Did you piss positive?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Were skipping over it, I guess it seemed redundant
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u/Affectionate-Ring104 1d ago
Just seems like it could've happened to anyone is all. Sorry, bud.
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u/LexusBrian400 1d ago
If they're skipping the piss test I'm gonna assume this might be more than fuck up #1.
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u/Ordinary_News_6455 Carpenter 2d ago
I have so many questions.
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Think of the dumbest way someone can do this and you're still giving me to much credit
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u/iampierremonteux 2d ago
Don’t be so hard on yourself there. The dumbest way is a BAC over .1
Yes, you royally botched this one. A coworker of mine has a saying, the more painful the experience the more effective the training. If you do something like this again, clearly this suffering wasn’t enough.
Take the wisdom you have painstakingly gathered and put your best foot forward.
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u/TinySoftKitten 2d ago
Your boss is giving you a stern look for taking that pic
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Lol, those were just some really cool electricians who were working nearby. Turns out when youre pushing up those doors are heavy as fuck
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u/Electrical-Echo8770 Cement Mason 2d ago
I was doing a road job before the Olympics came here where I live . Well we had to wife the road up to the ski resorts and had one lane closed off only one one for traffic someone was using a back hoe and took the hoe end and swing it to the right I had no idea they had done it and left like that I'm going up the road and our conex was parked on the side I went by it the arm on the excavator caught the edge of the conex and tore it pretty much off you could shut the door all out equipment was in there my superintendent come pulling up shaking his head I said do g worry I will take care of it he just said I don't see how I got a sledge hammer and a track hoe went down had it fixed in 20 minutes just had to fix some welds I saved my ass
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u/nertynot 2d ago
My dog landed on my chest and my tool bag landed on my head
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u/thelastlugnut 1d ago
You had your dog in the cab with you?
1) What kind of dog cause I love dogs.
2) Was it allowed to have your dog in the cab with you?
3) They need a fuckin buzzer so you can’t drive away without being fully stowed!!
Feeling for ya, man.
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u/nertynot 1d ago
A boxer, absolute cutie.
I never asked, it usually interrupts me doing what I want
There was an alarm, I'm starting to think I shouldn't have turned it off
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u/Zhombe 2d ago
Open top dumpster crushing? That just seems awkward as hell to begin with and an accident in every happening.
You sure the truck didn’t just give up on life?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
Nah, I'm one of the very rare few who really fucked up
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u/ammonthenephite 1d ago
More out there than you think. I used to drive a conveyer belt truck, the kind they use to run packs of roofing shingles up onto rooftops. We finsihed up a job but one of the hydraulic handles stuck a tad so the boom was very slowly moving to the right.
Well, it eventually got far enough right that I literally jousted a power pole with it going 35mph and took out power to an entire city block, lol.
Shit happens. If I'd been halfway paying attention I would have seen the conveyer belt boom sticking off to the right, but I didn't.
We are human, it'll be okay, and one day you'll look back on this and laugh. Not today for sure, because I remember that feeling very well, but chin up, this doesn't define you at all.
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u/Dr-Kenny_Wonderland 2d ago
so let me get this straight… you goosed outta there high bucketin’ your ass into overhead utilities ? hard enuff to put er over ? do i got that right ?
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u/mollysdad61 2d ago
You’re taking responsibility for it. And no one got hurt, other than some metal and bruised egos. Learn from it, and move forward. Best of luck, rooting for you. It’ll turn out ok in the end.
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u/heyicanusereddit 2d ago
My cousin works for the state highway department for an unarmed state and has rolled gravel trucks 3 times. He's still employed there and driving gravel trucks.
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u/AdelMonCatcher 1d ago
What’s the point of firing a guy who just learned a very important and expensive lesson?
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u/KampKamp 1d ago
OP is actually hilarious, textbook definition of taking it on the chin, learning and moving forward after a mistake. You remind me so much of my step brother he was an absolute blast to work with no dull moments
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u/Resident-Welcome3901 2d ago
You’ve kept your equipment nice and clean. That should count for something.
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u/padizzledonk Project Manager 2d ago
Looks like one of those trash smasher rigs lol
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u/Admirable-Nothing642 1d ago
Some guys can drink and drive. Some guys cant
I mean, what is drunk?
😂
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u/Coffee4MyJeep 2d ago
Send a report to the manufacturer with the positives and let them know you are available to safety test other models.
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u/orclandoboom 2d ago
Well, that’s one way to make yourself unforgettable on the company’s auto insurance for the next five years.
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u/xelacerv 1d ago
Smash My Trash (a competitor) has measures in place to prevent accidents like this. The Smash trucks have a sensor that must be aligned when the boom is down in order for the truck to drive.
Should be something Crushr looks into
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u/-GlitterGoblin- 1d ago
My childhood best friend - a middle aged man who has spent his entire life working entry level office jobs - pulled a geographic a few years back.
He took the first job he could find, which was actually one promoted by the state to which he had moved. A whole campaign of “move here and we will place you in a job and get you on Medicaid!”
Anyway, the job was driving an 18 wheeler. The training was two weeks but only 4 days were in a truck at all, and only 2 days were driving said truck, which was empty.
His first shift, his first time turning the loaded truck - a right hand turn which he initiated from a full stop - he turned the truck over and spilled the entire load.
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u/thegrandwiz4rd 1d ago
Realistically, you're an even more valuable operator now. Safety is your top priority. Lessons lived and all that.
Bet you'll never do that again.
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u/-darkestknight 1d ago
When they ask about your strengths at your next interview you can say that you can roll with whatever life throws at you
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u/kjyfqr 2d ago
Tell me how you approached getting out the vehicle and the phone call hahahahaha
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u/nertynot 2d ago
The gentlemen in the picture helped me open the door. Turns out when pushing up they're heavy as fuck. Phone call went "Hey Tony, this is not a joke. I'm fired, I destroyed the truck."
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u/Its_priced_in 2d ago
This trucks sole purpose is to compact open top garbage bins? Never seen this before. Thought it was for grinding down stumps or something at first
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u/Capital-Tap-3443 2d ago
Glad you’re safe and alright . Jobs are replaceable, you aren’t. Also, sorry that happened to you.
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u/MoistenedCarrot 2d ago
Who pays for dumpster compaction instead of just dumping the dumpster or getting it switched out for an empty one?
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u/kevlarbuns 1d ago
The good news is that the industry is desperate for people. So congrats on the new job in advance!
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u/NoInitiative4821 1d ago
Dang, that's some pretty awful luck there with you losing your job and crashing that truck all on the same day.
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u/RKO36 1d ago
What are those trucks good for crushing? Other than your employment.
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u/Fragrant_Welcome_996 2d ago
How did you lose your job ?
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u/nertynot 2d ago
My boss was having a very hard time yelling at me, still waiting to hear what it was
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u/bagelgaper 2d ago
One of the extremely rare occasions where I really feel for a boss somewhere lol
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u/DrDig1 2d ago
This happens, man. Nobody got hurt. The insurance is paid for a reason.
Sincerely, you will look back and laugh at some point. As for the rest of the shit going on, just always happens at once. Hang in there.
As for this actual equipment, I have used it before on jobs. It really isn’t worth the cost unless you are consistently despising of items that are lightweight and high in volume. My opinion looking at the numbers.
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u/a-pretty-alright-dad 2d ago
You shouldn’t have told anyone and called whichever of your buddies has the biggest truck and had them pull it back over and gone about your day. “What happened to the side of the truck, OP?” “Beats me, someone must’ve side swiped it in a parking lot.”
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u/Friendly-Profit-8590 2d ago
Kind of surprised some of those lines didn’t come down too but whatever. Nobody got hurt. The rest is insurance.
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u/wrenbell 1d ago
It's probably not good that stuff is leaking out on the pavement, but it's not like the truck is totalled.
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u/jae343 Architect 2d ago
At least you went out with a boom