Big truck != own the road

[Reyneth]

Last week at an intersection, the semi truck opposite me decided that he would turn left on the solid green. I had been waiting all through the red light and wanted to turn right, but being a semi he took up so much of the road turning that I had no option other than slam the breaks and wait for him to finish the slow turn.

This morning, there was someone ahead of me turning right into a biz parking lot. A semi coming the other direction decided to piggyback the turning car and turn left in behind him. Um, sorry - I had the right of way seeing as I was going straight! But yet again, had to yield to the big truck.

Just because you're bigger than the rest of the people on the road doesn't mean you get to bully everyone else out there! There are a lot of good truckers out there, but I'm tired of dealing with the sucky ones in the mornings.

[ditchdj]

The main problem I have with truckers is when you're coming up on a road construction zone, and a few miles before it begins they'll decide to "Play Traffic Cop" and ride side-by-side at 20 mph, blocking both lanes of traffic and causing a massive backup of cars. I recently read that they are NOT supposed to do that, so next time I see it I'll report them to the state police. I've even seen them throw their weight around and cut off speeding cars, almost causing a wreck themselves. I'd say these drivers are anything BUT "professional".

In fact a buddy of mine said he was driving on the Interstate in Michigan and one of these dicks was straddling BOTH lanes. He said he tried to pass on the right and he crowded him. So he punched it and went to the left and the trucker gave him the finger. So be it.

[Dave1982]

I once had to throw the car I was driving into reverse and back up a good 25 yards or so to avoid getting run over by a semi that took an ill-advised right turn in a very tight intersection. It wasn't even my car, and I know that if the truck didn't kill me, then the owner would once they pried me out of the wreck.

Luckily, no one was behind me, so I was able to get the hell out of the way.

I also once witnessed a truck sideswipe a traffic signal, stop, then the driver looked at the bent pole, then just drove away (yes, I reported his ass to the police).

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

At our strip mall, we've got a handicapped parking space sign just chillaxin' on the curb. Somebody must've hit it hard enough to rip it out of the pavement.

[edible_hat]

Working at a service station with high flow diesel pumps and a car wash big enough to take trucks, I can tell you they're not just arseholes when they're behind the wheel.

[Hitokiri Akins]

Having worked at a truck stop, at Idleaire, right on the lot with them, I have a defense for truckers; we, as in regular drivers, make their lives miserable. These people are on the road 14 hours a day, more if they lie on their books, and they have to deal with every idiot on the road; drunks, cell phone drivers, people who can't control their kids, the whole nine yards. They get paid by the mile, and they have to get their freight to their stop within a certain time limit. When we get in their way, or when there's road construction, or any number of factors that slow them down, they make less money than they could.

So, give truckers a break. Their lives are hard enough as it is without normal drivers getting upset with them. I firmly believe that in the trucker adage; "If you got it, a truck brought it." So, ease off of the truckers. They're just trying to make a living, and to them, we're the sucky customers.

[ditchdj]

I dont doubt there are good truckers that DO obey the road and are respectful. There are the handful that give them a bad name. BTW Hitokiri I know someone that owns a trucking business. He said to be wary of talking to those in the truck stops because a lot like to make themselves out to be victims a lot.

[Cat]

I agree, truckers have a hard job that I sure as hell do not want....however, this does not make them exempt from traffic laws.

Assy truckers= assy "regular" drivers in my book, just with a bigger vehicle. All ripe for a 1 finger salute or a call to "how am I driving."

[ditchdj]

The only real thing that pisses me off about them is when they try to enforce the rules of the road THEIR way. If anyone pulls that shit on me I WILL pass them on the shoulder or the median. Besides, if you have a problem with someone's driving the thing you're supposed to do is call the police. It's not up to regular citizens to take it upon themselves to enforce traffic laws on their own.

[AriRashkae]

I agree, truckers have a hard job that I sure as hell do not want....however, this does not make them exempt from traffic laws.

Assy truckers= assy "regular" drivers in my book, just with a bigger vehicle. All ripe for a 1 finger salute or a call to "how am I driving."

I had to do that one time. Every question the rep asked (can you describe the driver, was there another person, etc) I had to answer with "I couldn't tell. He was so close I could only see his grill until he passed me."

[Dave1982]

I had to do that one time. Every question the rep asked (can you describe the driver, was there another person, etc) I had to answer with "I couldn't tell. He was so close I could only see his grill until he passed me."

Wait wait wait.....when you call the "How Am I Driving?" number, you have to describe the driver? I thought the whole point was you give them the truck number, date, time, and what they did, and they can figure out who by the records of who had that truck that day. I mean, how the hell are you supposed to get a meaningful description of the driver when the truck is so much higher than any private passenger automobile?

[AriRashkae]

I think they wanted to be sure that the driver was who it was supposed to be. Either that, or they wanted to know if he looked stoned/drunk/not fit to drive.

Either way, I have a feeling that said driver got ripped a shiny new one. After all, I shouldn't be able to see my reflection in his grill.

[Red Hand of Ulster]

So, give truckers a break. Their lives are hard enough as it is without normal drivers getting upset with them. I firmly believe that in the trucker adage; "If you got it, a truck brought it." So, ease off of the truckers. They're just trying to make a living, and to them, we're the sucky customers.

Even when they're ignoring traffic laws? Like the one who illegally turned left in front of Reyneth?

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Having worked at a truck stop, at Idleaire, right on the lot with them, I have a defense for truckers; we, as in regular drivers, make their lives miserable. These people are on the road 14 hours a day, more if they lie on their books, and they have to deal with every idiot on the road; drunks, cell phone drivers, people who can't control their kids, the whole nine yards. They get paid by the mile, and they have to get their freight to their stop within a certain time limit. When we get in their way, or when there's road construction, or any number of factors that slow them down, they make less money than they could.

So, give truckers a break. Their lives are hard enough as it is without normal drivers getting upset with them. I firmly believe that in the trucker adage; "If you got it, a truck brought it." So, ease off of the truckers. They're just trying to make a living, and to them, we're the sucky customers.

Yeah, okay, whatever. Still doesn't give them the right to break traffic laws. Unless we're going to decide it's more important to "keep America moving" than keep everybody who isn't in an 18-wheeler safe.

[Bella_Vixen]

My brother in law does over the road trucking. My sister works for a moving company, sometimes over the road. I'll be sure to run this thread by them.