Coming back to work just three days after my father’s funeral was hard. I was emotionally drained, mentally exhausted, and still trying to process everything that had just happened. But as many of us in this business know, the job doesn’t stop—and life sure doesn’t slow down for you to catch your breath.
A couple of days after returning to work, I was given a routine delivery to a company on the southwest side of Indianapolis. I had delivered there before and knew the lot was extremely tight. There was a single industrial chiller positioned in a narrow area of the lot, leaving virtually no room for error.
That day, as I was trying to snake my way through the cramped space, I brushed against that chiller. It wasn’t a full-on collision—just a bump. I got out, checked for damage, and while there was some visible contact, it didn’t appear catastrophic. I immediately reported it to Conway, as was company policy. That was the right thing to do.
Within a couple of hours, I was called in and placed on immediate suspension. I had to surrender my truck keys and was told an investigation would be opened. It was shocking how quickly the situation escalated. I had never before been suspended for an accident in my entire career. The chiller I bumped was already in rough condition—weathered, unsecured, and sitting in a high-traffic area without any barriers. It could’ve been protected. It should’ve been protected.
A few days later, I got the call.
Termination.
No room for discussion. No chance to explain further. Just… done.
That hit hard. I had worked too long, too hard, to be thrown away over a minor accident—especially while I was still grieving. The experience left me stunned and bitter. After all I had given to that company, they couldn’t even extend me the basic human decency of a second chance.
The appeal process was my only remaining hope—and I planned to take full advantage of it.
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