I drive truck part time to make ends meet. Today I pulled up to a corner looked both ways And took off, unfortunately I didnt see a pick up coming from the right because of the mirror. I'm sure there are a few other drivers who have had this problem. Anyway I was about 10 ft from his pick-up when I saw him and stopped. He did the usual showing me how he was my #1 fan. So I took off towards the next town to pick up my load of beans. When I got there he pulled up as I was getting out of the truck and preceded to call me a lot of words that start with F. I did apologize and tried to explain what happened but he just kept on ranting with 4 letter words. When i finally snapped. I think he got my point when I told him to get out of his pick-up after I started using a few choice words myself. I just hate when people think that all people that drive semi's think they rule the road cause we don't. I'm just trying to make a living in these not so easy times. Sorry If I sound like I'm ranting & raving but I just had to get off my chest

 

If you ever have your CB on 19 and here the way they talk about 4-wheelers, it goes both ways.

There are A-holes in every profession. Some of them happen to be truck drivers. I'm nice to everybody on the road especially when it was an honest mistake. A wave and a smile can go a long way.

I especially like the extra respect some truckers give to us lightweights when we are towing. Then again, some of them don't.

 

I have done that plenty of times. Some newer trucks with those big plastic housing mirror covers have a bad blind spot!

 

I have a question for you Mr. Truck Driver: situation: on a two lane road, in the middle of nowhere, nobody on the road but me and two big rigs w/trailers. Ok, so they're both in the right lane going probably 65-70mph, one right behind the other. Now they're driving like this for a while, it took me a little bit to catch up. Anyhow, so as I go to pass them (I'm in the left lane) as soon as I start to overtake the rear truck, he puts on his turn signal and cuts me off so that he can pass the other truck! This forced me to brake fairly hard. Well now, the passing truck decides to only pass the other one by going like 2 miles an hour faster so it takes a good 5-10 minutes to pass. Then when he just barely gets clear, the other rig flashes his headlights and the passing rig goes back into the right lane allowing to to finally pass. Remeber now that there are NO other vehicles within sight on the road. Now this didn't happen once, not even twice, but probably in excess of 10 times on a drive from CA to VA. It was almost like they're just playing with other vehicles. Now I know not all truck drivers are like this, but I bet if I had a CB radio I would have heard them laughing and talking trash.

 

i agree, i find i gain a lot more respect (maybe coutesy is a better word) from a majority of the drivers out there with a load behind my pickup, most of all with my 5th wheel.

 

I hate it when someone runs up behind me and then tries to jam me behind another truck as I try to pass! Why do you try to jam the rigs up? it's a lot harder to brake and accellerate than a small car. Why don't you just accellerate around the trucks quickly when there's plenty of room?

 

They are not pick up trucks!!!!
In Utah we don't get any respect as truck drivers. Everyone should drive TRUCK SMART! We are not out to make any one angry. If anyone thinks they can do better try it.

 

My brother is a truck driver as well this is what he hauls as well as oil feild stuff but this is a picture of the truck he drives its a 2002 Tri drive Peterbuilt with a 550 twin turbo Acert CAT engine, winch truck and it has 62 wheels under to haul this Commander with the big tractor tires on it. Enjoy!!

 

Thanks for your input guys I dont think I said that I am one of the courteous drivers, thats what my Dad taught me when he taught me to drive truck. I just made an honest mistake that I APOLOGIZED for the guy was just being the south end of a north bound donkey. And I think I have the right to say he's **** luck I didnt Smack him right in his big mouth.

 

This is a little off the subject here, but I saw the coolest thing the other day! It was a wide load going down the highway with a tractor, and then a really long trailer with probably 10 axles and some kinda oilfield equipment on it, and then behind the trailer there was another tractor attached that was helping push and brake..it was the coolest thing!

 

Way I see it, you drive dumb, make me angry, my truck also gets angry. That is when it shows you it is mad and gives you a health black face. Road rage is such a nasty thing. Anywho, I think you were being sensible admitting you made a mistake, like everyone does, and apologized. End of story. That guy is just a petty fool.

 

You weren' wearing a mini skirt were you??

Little03......Heck of a set up, bet it takes a crew just to do the pretrip. Wish I had some picks back when they hauled some oversize loads up the Haul Road to Prudhoe Bay

 

ATA members govern their trucks at 65 m.p.h. . They have petitioned NHTSA to have manufacturers limit the speed of all new big trucks to 68 m.p.h. . Your post is an example of the problems this will cause . Trucks will be limited to a MAX of 68 m.ph. . A heavy load and any grade will slow them . Get a truck going 63 and a truck going 65 pulls out to pass and takes forever to do it . On an interstate traffic backs up and impatient drivers start passing on the right . Dangerous situation . ATA isn't interested in safety . They're trying to reduce income of drivers of competing companies so they don't lose more drivers to them . ATA is endangering the public to increase their profits . The "New York Times " recently wrote articles about the Bush administration appointing trucking company officials to positions in FHWA . People need to write their congressmen and oppose regulations that benefit ATA and compromise safety . ATA is also trying to get immigration laws eased to relace experienced American drivers with immigrants that will work for way less . WalMart contracted Schneider to pull their trailers and Schneider is the one pushing most to use more immigrants .

 

Lets put a little different slant on it. To conserve fuel I am driving 66 or 67 on cruise control. I am coming up on another truck doing 65 or 66. There is a car coming up behind doing 73 or so. As I close on the truck in front I am calculating if the car will pass before it have to pass the truck in front. I wait and wait, getting closer, the car lags some, when I get close I signal and pull out. The car now has to slow down, sorry charlie, it is the way it works.

For the car perspective, if I am going 74 I am speeding and dangeriously tearing up the road, if I am doing 67, I am holding up traffic. If I pass I am blocking the roads and being discourteous. The main problem is that the trucks are not wanted by the cars, sorry they have to be.

News flash... I have a right to drive my truck at an economical and safe speed. If that speed conflicts with your speed, slow down for a minute. Want to improve truck safety, slow down yourself, driving on the freeway is like being the slowest ant going up the anthill. Put a signal and on the cars close up so that you can't change lanes. Try not to tailgate and the cars pull in right in front of you. Stay at the same speed and get a ticket for tailgating.

Best thing you can do and many truckers for that matter, is get the chip off your shoulder, blend with traffic, pass when you can. You can pass when ever you want, the truck cannot. Many small grades that a car or pickup do not even see, slow a truck for a few minutes, the truck will go to pass when the grade eases and he can go a little faster.

Just for the record, if you happen to get behind me. I am doing 67, and when I catch a truck doing a little slower, I am going to the left lane, staying in cruise and passing, you can wait. You are on the phone anyway. This is not an attitude, I don't dislike cars, just a matter of fact, I have a job to do and don't really care if the car likes it or not. I try to drive with courtesy, let cars in, give them space, but in the end, I have a job to do and will do it, middle fingers do not bother me, just don't care. Have your hissy fit, go home and take it out on your wife, I really don't care to compete with you on the road.

 

Heres some neat oversize pics... Windmills going up at the Coal Creek OHV Area in Tennessee.....