The next time you bitch about that Truck Driver, think about his situation

[R8RFAN]

By: C.L. Miller
Dear Motorist:
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write to you. It’s not that I’m not thinking of you, but I’ve been busy. As we enter a New Year, it seems like a good time to get back in touch.
It may seem that I sit up here in the cab of my truck, looking out over the roof of your car, not paying any attention. The truth is I am always watching out for you. I’ve learned to see a slight movement of your head that tells me you are thinking of making a lane change. If we are approaching a freeway interchange or off ramp, I try to anticipate your next action. I know when you are on the phone, eating, changing the station on your radio, talking to your passengers, or shouting at your children in the back seat. I can usually tell when you are tired or impaired. I know when you’ve only got one hand on the steering wheel while the other is holding your cell phone as you tap out a text message (and of all the activities that get your attention, that one frightens me the most). I am keeping my eyes on you, all of you, all the time. I have no desire to cause injury to another human being and am well trained in doing whatever I can to prevent a collision, but I am only half of the equation.
Now I’d like to tell you some things about myself, so we can get better acquainted.
When my full sized semi is loaded, it weighs at least 80,000 pounds. If my truck were to land on you, it would be like dropping forty or fifty cars on your head. Since it takes four times the distance to stop my truck than it does your car, you can understand why I don’t like it when you cut in front of me. I am much bigger than you. I really need you to remember that when we are on the road together.
My truck is almost seventy feet long. I can’t make any sharp turns, and I need extra space to go around a corner. Left turns are much easier and I try to plan my city driving with those, but it isn’t always possible. I know you get impatient when I sit at a green traffic light, but I may be waiting to have enough room to make my turn without taking out a pole or running over another car. I always try to avoid starting a maneuver that I cannot safely finish, such as getting through an intersection before the light changes to red. I wish it was easier, believe me, but there is nothing I can do to change the way it must be done.
I have as many as fifteen gears in my truck, and it takes me awhile to go through them. I do wish my truck accelerated as fast as your car does so I could get on a freeway at 60mph instead of 45mph. I sometimes get very tired of having to go slowly up mountains and around curves. I would love to drive faster and I wish there weren’t slower posted limits for trucks in many states. But that’s how it is, and I have good reasons for wanting to obey the rules of gravity and the Law. Please be patient. I’m peddling as fast as I can!
The entire right side of my truck is a blind spot. A lot of the left side is too. And when you tailgate me, I can’t see you. As bad as all that is for me, it’s worse for you. Please don’t pass me on the right unless you are very sure I know you are there; I usually drive in the far right hand lane and I may move in that direction when you are next to me. It also makes me nervous to have you close behind me because I know you can’t see what’s going on in front of me. If something happens that causes me to slow down, you may run into the bumper that hangs off the back. It is called a D.O.T. Bumper, and it is a very solid object. It was designed to prevent cars from sliding under trucks in rear-end collisions, because those drivers were being decapitated. That bumper does NOT give way. Trust me.
I try to pass you carefully and with plenty of clearance. It is perfectly okay for you to flash your headlights to let me know I have room to move back over. I may not always acknowledge it but I do appreciate it, especially at night, in bad weather, and in heavy traffic; sometimes that flash is all I can see. Please only pass me when you know you have plenty of room. We both have to slow down for road construction zones. We both have to merge when lanes end. We both have to give emergency vehicles space. We both should be cautious of stalled motorists on the roadside. Because I’m bigger and wider and heavier, I must be more careful than you. Please give me room to make those changes. Don’t make me choose between your car and the guard rail or the construction worker or the highway patrol officer or the man changing the tire on his motor home.
I spend much of my work day driving in unknown areas. I may have no idea where my customer is, much less which street I need to turn on to get there. If I make a mistake, I might find myself trapped on a cul-de-sac in a residential area where I’m not supposed to take a truck in the first place. At the least, it will be a difficult situation to resolve; at worst I could cause damage to a building or a person as I try to get out. I prefer to drive slowly and get it right the first time. I know YOU know where I need to be but I can’t ask directions, and you honking your horn or gesturing isn’t making it any clearer. I’m not trying to be stupid or in your way. I’m trying to be careful.
I admit I’m not always driving at my best either. I may be tired, hungry, sick, or just wanting to get to my next stop so I can go home to my family. I may be thinking of my kids, worrying about my finances, mourning a loss, regretting the chili I had for lunch, or wondering which off ramp I need to take to get to my destination. I try to pay attention, to not get impatient, to be courteous to others, but sometimes being Human gets in the way. Please try be as aware of me as I am of you.
It will make both our travels easier and safer if you also pay attention to what I am doing. If I slow down, it may be because I can see something up ahead from my higher viewpoint. If our paths are about to cross as you merge onto a freeway, please either decrease or increase your speed so I don’t have to do it. You can slow and accelerate your car much faster than I can my truck. That also applies if I pull out to pass a slower vehicle in my lane; it will slow you down a bit if you let me in your lane, but it can grind my progress to a halt if you don’t. If I am merging left for what appears to be no reason, I may be trying to avoid a traffic jam or emergency vehicle or road construction. If you follow me it will go much smoother; if you try to out-distance me, we will still meet up farther down the road and you will save nothing. Please pay attention to those signs that are directed at truck drivers. Be aware of a reduced truck speed limits, an approaching weigh station, and travel lane restrictions. I must make those adjustments every day. I don’t make the laws, but I am expected to obey them. I’m always trying to be cooperative, and appreciate the same effort from you.
As a truck driver, I make deliveries to your grocery store, restaurant, mall, hospital, car dealership, and every other place you visit in the course of your day. Sometimes I am there when you are trying to conduct your business, and I may be in your way. I apologize. I do not set the times for my arrival, my customer does. Just as you expect good service, so do they from me. You cannot walk into any establishment and find an item used for business that did not spend at least part of its journey on a truck. Please let me do my job so you can do yours.
Truck drivers are vital to the economy of this nation. Without us, all commerce would come to a skidding halt within a week, probably much less than that. We aren’t being boastful because we know it’s the truth. We are proud of the role we have in making our country strong and giving our fellow citizens a good life. Please help us do our best for you.
And speaking of life, please remember I have one too. I spend a lot of time in truck stops because there is plenty of room for me to park. The truck stop offers showers and food and sometimes a few diversions, but after a while I get tired of the same old, same old. It’s a nice change to go to Walmart. Many Walmarts offer truck parking, but it isn’t always easy to thread my way through the lot. Sometimes I want to shop at a mall, or eat at a different restaurant, or go to a movie. I may get in your way, and I’m sorry. I just want a different view, a change of pace. Please take an extra moment of your day to make me feel welcome. I won’t stay too long and I may never be back.
We are out here together, you and I. We can make this work.
Thank you,
A. Truck Driver

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I'll stop bitching when they ****ing move over so I can merge on to the highway.

Negatory Ghostrider...

We let you on the highway and you sit there like a dumbass on my 5 and not let me back over...

Just because your merging lane ends does not mean you merge.

[POND_OF_RED]

The only thing I like about truckers is their unwritten code to speed up traffic delays by blocking off the right lane that's closed a mile up so the assholes can't drive up and cut off everyone who waited patiently. I slammed a car into a side rail that tried to pass everyone on the shoulder once. Idiot thought he could still squeeze by so I closed him off more and he ran right into the guard rail. ****ing idiot

[RealSNR]

Dear truckers:

Get the **** out of my way. You're getting paid. You're on the clock. I'm not. That means get the **** out of my way.

You should never be allowed to pass another truck. Ever. In fact, the left lane on the interstate should be 100% off limits to you. When 99% of the vehicles on the road are moving faster than you are, it's a pretty bad idea to clog up the passing lane going more than 10 MPH under the speed limit.

The semi ahead of you is going 55 in a 70? Sorry. That DOES NOT mean you should pass that guy going only 60, especially when you know that other cars are incoming and want to pass BOTH of you. You have ****ing brakes. Use them and go **** yourself.

I'm sorry to hear that people don't appreciate you or your job. Join the ****ing club. No, not the metaphorical club. A fitness club. You look like 300 lbs of bird shit.

Also, shut the **** up.

Best,
SNR

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Dick Bull

I did and it was weird. He kept trying to pull my head down towards his lap. After the 50th time he got the idea and stopped at a truck stop and got his dick sucked by a guy named Russell.

At least you played hard to get, Russell.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

The only thing I like about truckers is their unwritten code to speed up traffic delays by blocking off the right lane that's closed a mile up so the assholes can't drive up and cut off everyone who waited patiently. I slammed a car into a side rail that tried to pass everyone on the shoulder once. Idiot thought he could still squeeze by so I closed him off more and he ran right into the guard rail. ****ing idiot

You know... traffic wouldn't get so backed up if everyone used the damn lanes until they needed to merge. Just because you have to merge a mile ahead doesn't mean you have to merge right now. Instead, you're suggesting we give up a mile of unused road, which is plum dumb. The way it's designed to work is both lanes get used, then the second lane merges into the first in a zipper style - 1 from one lane, 1 from the other lane, etc. etc.

So unless you're talking about the dickheads that drive up the shoulder, you're making the problem worse.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

You know... traffic wouldn't get so backed up if everyone used the damn lanes until they needed to merge. Just because you have to merge a mile ahead doesn't mean you have to merge right now. Instead, you're suggesting we give up a mile of unused road, which is plum dumb. The way it's designed to work is both lanes get used, then the second lane merges into the first in a zipper style - 1 from one lane, 1 from the other lane, etc. etc.

So unless you're talking about the dickheads that drive up the shoulder, you're making the problem worse.

Yep... very annoying to see a huge line of cars at a complete stop when simply slowing down a bit and allowing room for merging would make it so much smoother.

[Pablo]

I dealt with truck drivers quite a bit at my last job. Easily my least favorite part of the gig.

Like some have said, there are some real gravy slurping eat beasts behind the wheel out there. Morbidly obese, shit-smelling mother****ers are abundant in that profession. If you want to lose weight, just talk to one of these smelly mountains of goo for a couple minutes before your lunch break. You won't eat.

You might complain about their driving, but social interaction with these people is worse. General rule of trucks. They're bigger than you. They can run you off the road. They can throw piss jugs at your car. Just get around them as fast as you possibly can when you pass and don't sit in their blind spot because they probably can't move their neck more than an inch or two to look out their side view.

Not to say all truck drivers are fat and smell of shit, but an unhealthy amount of them are and do.

[Fire Me Boy!]

A little reading material for you early mergers (aka **** off).

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/

Zipper merge vs. early merge

When most drivers see the first “lane closed ahead” sign in a work zone, they slow too quickly and move to the lane that will continue through the construction area. This driving behavior can lead to unexpected and dangerous lane switching, serious crashes and road rage.

Zipper merging, however, benefits individual drivers as well as the public at large. Research shows that these dangers decrease when motorists use both lanes until reaching the defined merge area and then alternate in “zipper” fashion into the open lane. Watch a brief video of how it works.

So I'm supposed to merge late?
Yes! As you see the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic backing up, stay in your current lane up to the point of merge. Then take turns with other drivers to safely and smoothly ease into the remaining lane. Don't worry about being "Minnesota nice." When traffic is heavy and slow, it is much safer for motorists to remain in their current lane until the point where traffic can orderly take turns merging.

When not to do the zipper merge
When traffic is moving at highway speeds and there are no backups, it makes sense to move sooner to the lane that will remain open through construction. The bottom line is to merge when it is safe to do so.

http://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/...idezoomer.html

Lot's more at the link, but the pertinent part here:

The Case for Late Merging

When you apply the term "sidezooming" to late merging, it conjures up all kinds of negative images. But there is an argument for late merging: It's a more efficient use of the road.

Highway lanes offer a limited amount of space and, because of the volume of traffic, that space is becoming increasingly restricted. So the question becomes this: How can the maximum number of cars quickly move through a set space as that space narrows? Traffic engineers sometimes equate this situation to grains of rice flowing through a funnel. The analogy breaks down, however, when you realize that the grains are touching and sliding against each other as they move — we obviously don't want that with cars. But the comparison is still relevant.

High accident rates in construction zones triggered the Minnesota merger study, says William Servatius, construction programs coordinator in the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Office of Construction. He adds that when drivers are instructed to merge at construction areas: "Many times crashes occur due to aggressive driving, abrupt lane changes or sudden stops."

Using speed-sensing devices that display different messages depending on the speed of traffic, Minnesota DOT engineers developed what they call a "zipper," which meshes cars quickly. Signs advise drivers of the upcoming lane closure, tell them to use both lanes up to a point and then direct them to take turns merging. When traffic is flowing, drivers merge early to avoid unsafe maneuvers. But when traffic is congested, motorists make full use of both lanes. The data revealed that the change reduced traffic lines by 35 percent and also brought down "lane changing conflicts," says Craig Mittelstadt, Minnesota DOT's work zone safety specialist.

But most highways' merging zones don't display friendly signs that tell drivers it's OK to merge late. And so the conflicts continue. And along with the conflicts comes the inevitable finger-pointing (or finger-giving, in many cases).

[Demonpenz]

Truck drivers and mo dot workers walk into a bar, the bartender says sorry we only serve working men.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

You know... traffic wouldn't get so backed up if everyone used the damn lanes until they needed to merge. Just because you have to merge a mile ahead doesn't mean you have to merge right now. Instead, you're suggesting we give up a mile of unused road, which is plum dumb. The way it's designed to work is both lanes get used, then the second lane merges into the first in a zipper style - 1 from one lane, 1 from the other lane, etc. etc.

So unless you're talking about the dickheads that drive up the shoulder, you're making the problem worse.

Making the traffic worse for people that like to pass the patient people, making traffic better for the patient people who don't try to drive around the traffic. If you close off the lane a mile ahead there aren't any cars behind you that can pass. Which makes the traffic faster for everyone who's patiently waiting.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers

Alot of them still are... Especially these low paying companies that can only get truck driving school drivers.....

These dudes wander all over the lanes at night and when they look out their mirror, they weave halfway in your lane.

Scary profession nowadays

Yep. I was one LOL. A yr OTR now and no accident or tickets.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I'll stop bitching when they ****ing move over so I can merge on to the highway.

Drive on the shoulder, bitch.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Cool story.

I'll think of the trucker the next time the mother ****er cuts me off when I'm in the left lane and he decides he doesn't want to be behind another truck in the right lane. You know, the other truck was doing 68, and he wanted to do "almost" 70, while I was going 80MPH in 75MPH zone. So yeah, let me jam on my brakes and swerve so your fat ass can "zoom" by this slow poke in front of you.............

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

He deserves it. That's a ****ing bullshit story. We all have tough jobs to do. Their job is to safely drive a truck from A to B. I could give a F about their personal life, or that they are tired or away from their families. Guess what Mother ****er's, I travel all the time, I'm away from my Family, I get tired and sick when I am on the road, etc. I don't write a ****ing 50 line Sonnet telling you to feel sorry for me. It's my job. I get paid for it. Period. Next.

There are shitstains in every profession.

You don't have to care about my personal life, but traveling by car is not in the same galaxy as traveling by tractor-trailer.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by SNR

Dear truckers:

Get the **** out of my way. You're getting paid. You're on the clock. I'm not. That means get the **** out of my way.

You should never be allowed to pass another truck. Ever. In fact, the left lane on the interstate should be 100% off limits to you. When 99% of the vehicles on the road are moving faster than you are, it's a pretty bad idea to clog up the passing lane going more than 10 MPH under the speed limit.

The semi ahead of you is going 55 in a 70? Sorry. That DOES NOT mean you should pass that guy going only 60, especially when you know that other cars are incoming and want to pass BOTH of you. You have ****ing brakes. Use them and go **** yourself.

I'm sorry to hear that people don't appreciate you or your job. Join the ****ing club. No, not the metaphorical club. A fitness club. You look like 300 lbs of bird shit.

Also, shut the **** up.

Best,
SNR

Clock? I get paid by the mile. So, I will gladly pass someone going 60 at 64mph.