Truck Drivers

[XJ Dreamin']

I know there are some folks here who make a living off their CDL. I'm not trying to step on toes, but I would like the opinion of the professional drivers, here.

It seems to me that, of late, I have seen a decrease in skill/knowledge and an increase in poor judgement and arrogance among 18-wheeler drivers. Maybe the ones I've seen all got their licenses in Illinois, but a short list includes:

-two different instances of a driver losing contact off the shoulder of the road with the right side while trying to make a U-turn on a two-lane highway, thus blocking both lanes of traffic. Different drivers (I assume) on different days on different roads, but both within the last year. Fortunately, in both cases I was driving my XJ and was able to use the ditch to get around. There were some less fortunate folk who had to sit and wait.

-a driver who lost contact with the left side when the right side rode up on a curb while he was backing into a loading dock. He was stuck blocking two lanes of traffic and the last I saw of him he was trying to stuff a chunk of concrete from the curb under one of the left side tires. I presume he was trying to get traction but I didn't stick around to see what happened to the chuck of concrete when he opened the throttle.

-a driver got his rig stuck when he tried to cross from an interstate highway to the feeder road at a spot where there was no exit ramp. Now down here people do that a lot, but that's the first time I've seen a big rig try that.

-finally, just a general increase in forcing people out the way instead of waiting, pulling out instead of waiting, running yellow and red lights, etc. Granted, this is stuff that I've always seen from ordinary drivers, but either I'm getting crankier in my old age or we're getting some professional drivers who don't seem to know what they're doing.

Again - I'm not trying to step on toes or argue the need for trucks. I want to know if what I think I'm seeing of late has also been seen by those who drive for a living or should I just chill out.

Thanks.

[seanR]

...Maybe the ones I've seen all got their licenses in Illinois...
...I'm not trying to step on toes...


Realy?

[GSequoia]

Realy?

Now Sean, you really doubt his statement? I mean you are from IL and have THIS as your avatar!

http://www.naxja.org/forum/customavatars/avatar1811_13.gif

Seems pretty conclusive to me!

[RichP]

My son was working on some trees monday when a trucker from arizona pulled up, he had a bunch of prefab parts for a house on board and was lost, within 10 seconds he realized the guy was on meth and that he drove non stop from out there.....
Myself, I've not seen too much different than in past years, drivers who pull out on a hill to pass the truck in front of them becasue he's going 2mph faster...love that one, almost as much as the one pulls out and the one he wants to pass downshifts and speeds up, then it becomes a pissing contest for however long the hill is...

[anodyne33]

-finally, just a general increase in forcing people out the way instead of waiting, pulling out instead of waiting, running yellow and red lights, etc. Granted, this is stuff that I've always seen from ordinary drivers, but either I'm getting crankier in my old age or we're getting some professional drivers who don't seem to know what they're doing.


I've been squeezed out of the lane I was heading into at the Pa turpike tollbooth a couple of times recently. Never used to happen before. "Dude! I'll give you the lane if you use your effing turn signal to show me that you're planning on going there!"

[Rev Den]

As someone who drives 5-6K a month on the interstates I have seen a greater number of truck drivers that seem to lack the advanced skills required. HOWEVER....the increase in the number of brain dead car drivers FAR outnumber them. It is rare that I have a close call with a semi...but everyday there is at least 1 with a car driver. Now that summer is here it is getting worse as more and more famillies take to the roads for vacations.

Rev

[XJ Dreamin']

Realy?

That was a shot at Illinois where they were selling CDLs out the back door. Responsible drivers should not take offense from a shot at crooked bureaucrats.

[XJ Dreamin']

As someone who drives 5-6K a month on the interstates I have seen a greater number of truck drivers that seem to lack the advanced skills required. HOWEVER....the increase in the number of brain dead car drivers FAR outnumber them. It is rare that I have a close call with a semi...but everyday there is at least 1 with a car driver. Now that summer is here it is getting worse as more and more famillies take to the roads for vacations.

Rev

Point well made. Touche'

I know I've seen a decline in skill in many areas: sales and service, construction, etc. I was just wondering if the same trend was affecting transportation as well. I agree that I have more run-ins with doofus car drivers than truck drivers. What got my attention was that I hadn't seen the kind of gross errors in handling that I've seen lately until just the last couple of years. Thanks.

[XJ Dreamin']

Now Sean, you really doubt his statement? I mean you are from IL and have THIS as your avatar!

http://www.naxja.org/forum/customavatars/avatar1811_13.gif

Seems pretty conclusive to me!

Alright, Sean. Sorry about the jab at Illinoice. You should know, however, that growing up my address was West Alton, MO. Five minutes from Alton, Ill. All MO residents within 50 miles of the Ill border firmly believe that Ill drivers are a hazard. Just in case you didn't know.





j/k. kinda.

[XJ Dreamin']

I've been squeezed out of the lane I was heading into at the Pa turpike tollbooth a couple of times recently. Never used to happen before. "Dude! I'll give you the lane if you use your effing turn signal to show me that you're planning on going there!"

There are chithead drivers all over the highways, as Rev Den pointed out. What I've seen lately is not just disregard or poor manners, but embarrassing displays of inept skill. I recently saw a driver who wanted to turn right fail to fade left before the turn. The result was that he ran his tractor through three lanes of traffic. Another time a drive turning left failed to go wide and forced five cars in a left turn lane to all back up. The truck behind him went wide and made the turn without touching the yellow line. The second driver proved that there was room and made a good turn: the first driver failed miserably.

OTOH. Rev Den is correct in pointing out a general decline across the board. I'll list just two pet peaves as example. First, people (that's pc for soccer moms) driving Excursions and Escalades in parking lots when they have absolutely no idea where their corners are. They roll down the middle of the friggin' aisle and it takes them half an hour to get into or out of a spot 'cause they have no idea how much clearance they've got. Then, second, they slow down to 1/4mph to go over a speed bump. It's a truck for cripes sake! A speed bump is not going to hurt it.

Anyway, I don't want the professional drivers here to feel like they have to defend their trade. I just wanted an objective, knowledgeable assessment of what I've seen.

[XJ Dreamin']

My son was working on some trees monday when a trucker from arizona pulled up, he had a bunch of prefab parts for a house on board and was lost, within 10 seconds he realized the guy was on meth and that he drove non stop from out there.....
Myself, I've not seen too much different than in past years, drivers who pull out on a hill to pass the truck in front of them becasue he's going 2mph faster...love that one, almost as much as the one pulls out and the one he wants to pass downshifts and speeds up, then it becomes a pissing contest for however long the hill is...

Yeah, my past years are full of memories of my Dad fighting the truckers. Every mile of every family vacation was spent cussing out truck drivers. I've tried to be less reactionary in my own life. His actions were more a function of his own impatience, but occassionally he was justified. As I look at what I'm presenting here, I'm more interested in skill at handling the rig while manuvering, or rather the evidence of a lack of skill. On the highway, I find trucks to be fairly well behaved. It's when they get in town that I've seen some problems.

[bjoehandley]

Alright, Sean. Sorry about the jab at Illinoice. You should know, however, that growing up my address was West Alton, MO. Five minutes from Alton, Ill. All MO residents within 50 miles of the Ill border firmly believe that Ill drivers are a hazard. Just in case you didn't know.





j/k. kinda.


Where I live, that's about right on the money. I live/work closer to RevDen and he's right on both parts. I was nearly forced into an oncoming lane by a "limo" (unstretched Towncar with "Livery" plates) all right behind a state trooper in an unmarked Crown Vic on tuesday. She rolled up along side me in an area that lanes were being reduced because of road construction in in hte lane being closed and forced her way in when she was barely more than 1/2 a carlength ahead of me.

[jeepinxj01]

Alright, Sean. Sorry about the jab at Illinoice. You should know, however, that growing up my address was West Alton, MO. Five minutes from Alton, Ill. All MO residents within 50 miles of the Ill border firmly believe that Ill drivers are a hazard. Just in case you didn't know.





j/k. kinda.

Alton huh? I lived there w/ my crazy ex-fiance' for a time. Her parent's own a hardware store in Alton. Point to my comment? No, just don't hear anyone even mention Alton Il very often. Ok.....carry on.

[creeperjeep]

Its because the trucking boom is on the decline.
The truck industry needs drivers and have a smaller pool to choose from.
So they are forced to take the retards that may or may not have gotten a job before.
Its kinda like the army and them taking people that cant count or spell, just to get the numbers up.

[XJ Dreamin']

Where I live, that's about right on the money. I live/work closer to RevDen and he's right on both parts. I was nearly forced into an oncoming lane by a "limo" (unstretched Towncar with "Livery" plates) all right behind a state trooper in an unmarked Crown Vic on tuesday. She rolled up along side me in an area that lanes were being reduced because of road construction in in hte lane being closed and forced her way in when she was barely more than 1/2 a carlength ahead of me.

What did the trooper do?

When I'm driving the family around, in either the XJ or the wife's van, and when I happen to be driving the wife's van by myself, I always give way. But, when I'm alone in my XJ I always win at "Who's Lane Is It Anyway?" I win because I really don't care if my Jeep gets scratched. Now, I know that it never will get scratched, but I win because I really don't care. The other driver can act tough, but in the end they lose because they don't want their car scratched. I win because I don't care. The trick is, I don't have to care because I know that I will never be scratched because they do care. They lose.

Don't get me wrong. I don't go around stealing lanes from people. But, when the sign says the right lane is closed and the next sign says merge left, nobody's gonna roll up on my right and get in front of me. Not gonna happen. 'Cause I don't care, and they do. And to those who roll all the way up the right lane, right up to the cones and think they're gettin' in - you can sit there 'till Hades learns to figure skate. You had plenty of oportunity to comply. And to those who let that bastid in - they can...

I can't think of anything bad enough for them. I'd like to refer them to this thread (http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=90944). In my opinion, that qualifies for many of the creative execution techniques listed.

[XJ Dreamin']

Alton huh? I lived there w/ my crazy ex-fiance' for a time. Her parent's own a hardware store in Alton. Point to my comment? No, just don't hear anyone even mention Alton Il very often. Ok.....carry on.

I hear ya'. I just want to stipulate that I lived in the middle of a corn field a few miles outside West Alton, MO. I claim no affiliation with Alton, per se, except to assert that it is full of hazardous drivers - or was at the time. I haven't been there in a while.

[jeepinxj01]

I hear ya'. I just want to stipulate that I lived in the middle of a corn field a few miles outside West Alton, MO. I claim no affiliation with Alton, per se, except to assert that it is full of hazardous drivers - or was at the time. I haven't been there in a while.


My 6 months in Illinois or "Illinoise" as most hoosiers say it, was not the best time of my life. I'll attest to the ability of the drivers there, though; or lack of ability.

[5-90]

My 6 months in Illinois or "Illinoise" as most hoosiers say it, was not the best time of my life. I'll attest to the ability of the drivers there, though; or lack of ability.

It's not "Illinoise," it's "Illy-noy."

"Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God."

5-90

[XJ Dreamin']

Its because the trucking boom is on the decline.
The truck industry needs drivers and have a smaller pool to choose from.
So they are forced to take the retards that may or may not have gotten a job before.
Its kinda like the army and them taking people that cant count or spell, just to get the numbers up.

Are you in the industry? Do you have a reference to a source?
I'm not calling you out - I'm seriously interested. What I'm asking is - Can I cite you as a primary source or are you citing another source?

[jeepinxj01]

It's not "Illinoise," it's "Illy-noy."

"Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God."

5-90


I'm very much aware and cringe at the sound of "Illinoise."

Boilermaker.......that's almost as bad. :gee: j/k I grew up watching the Hoosiers.

[Lawn Cher']

Can I cite you as a primary source or are you citing another source?

Are you writing a frigging research paper? Just say you read it on the net, its gotta be true.

[XJ Dreamin']

It's not "Illinoise," it's "Illy-noy."

"Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God."

5-90

My parents taught me to say Illin-noy, but everybody around me said Illi-noice. Illy-noy I don't know.

Of course, Illinois was famous along the MO border for having a lower drinking age. Maybe that accounts for the driving.

[jeepinxj01]

My parents taught me to say Illin-noy, but everybody around me said Illi-noice. Illy-noy I don't know.

Of course, Illinois was famous along the MO border for having a lower drinking age. Maybe that accounts for the driving.

Illi-noy was my first experience to drive up convienent stores. You could buy beer there! Thought I was breakin' the law everytime I did it. But, we'd go across the Alton bridge into MO for cigs, cause they were a hell of a lot cheaper. Go figure.

A little off topic. :)

[XJ Dreamin']

Are you writing a frigging research paper? Just say you read it on the net, its gotta be true.

I'm supposed to be writing a paper, but it's not on the trucking industry, no. It's just that it's such a good explanation that I was hoping for a reference. As far as the internet goes: Snopes.com is at the top of my Favorites list. Break the Chain and Urban Legends are right there at second and third.

Don't know if you're interested: I was in St. Charles over the 4th. I saw a "Rare 4-Cyl 5-Speed" XJ for sale in a small lot at First Capitol and West Clay. FYI.

[XJ Dreamin']

Illi-noy was my first experience to drive up convienent stores. You could buy beer there! Thought I was breakin' the law everytime I did it. But, we'd go across the Alton bridge into MO for cigs, cause they were a hell of a lot cheaper. Go figure.

A little off topic. :)

Would that have been at the Pit Stop or down at Meyer's Market? Or did Hood's sell cigarettes? I wasn't smoking then, so I never paid attention to the cigarettes.

[Lawn Cher']

Don't know if you're interested: I was in St. Charles over the 4th. I saw a "Rare 4-Cyl 5-Speed" XJ for sale in a small lot at First Capitol and West Clay. FYI.

Thanks, but I'm trying to keep my marriage intact. I'll pass.

[jeepinxj01]

Would that have been at the Pit Stop or down at Meyer's Market? Or did Hood's sell cigarettes? I wasn't smoking then, so I never paid attention to the cigarettes.

I honestly can't remember. That was 4 years ago. I know when you cleared the bridge going into MO, it was about a mile down on the south side of the road. Can't remember the name of that place. That's gonna bug me now, and make me want a cig. Damn!

Just out of curiosity....did you ever hit up Bon-Air? Reason I ask...I loved that place and whenever I mention it, no one knows what the hell I'm talkin' about.

[Lawn Cher']

Just out of curiosity....did you ever hit up Bon-Air? Reason I ask...I loved that place and whenever I mention it, no one knows what the hell I'm talkin' about.

Been there once, would go back just haven't gotten around to it. My wife loves it.

[XJ Dreamin']

I honestly can't remember. That was 4 years ago. I know when you cleared the bridge going into MO, it was about a mile down on the south side of the road. Can't remember the name of that place. That's gonna bug me now, and make me want a cig. Damn!

Just out of curiosity....did you ever hit up Bon-Air? Reason I ask...I loved that place and whenever I mention it, no one knows what the hell I'm talkin' about.

HAH! My recollection of where we went in Illinois to party is as good as your's for smokes in MO. I don't remember a dang thing. I was either riding along with someone who knew where to party or I was following someone who new where to party. I wasn't drinking in highschool so we're talking about summers home from college, and then only until I was 21. It was maybe 2 or 3 road trips a summer. Usually, somebody's house. There were a couple of clubs but I don't remember names.

Ahh. Those were the good ol' days. So many oportunities to die or be seriously mamed...it's a wonder any of us survive it.

[XJ Dreamin']

Thanks, but I'm trying to keep my marriage intact. I'll pass.

Yeah. That's why I passed on it.

[XJ Dreamin']

Sorry. I don't know why I was putting a 'c' in there. It's Illi-noise, with a 'z' sound. I got goofy there for a little bit.

Wow. Three pages and two solid leads on what's happening to the trucking industry. Still, it's been fun. I was hoping Sean would come back for some more Illinoise poking, but - all's good.

[bjoehandley]

What did the trooper do?

When I'm driving the family around, in either the XJ or the wife's van, and when I happen to be driving the wife's van by myself, I always give way. But, when I'm alone in my XJ I always win at "Who's Lane Is It Anyway?" I win because I really don't care if my Jeep gets scratched. Now, I know that it never will get scratched, but I win because I really don't care. The other driver can act tough, but in the end they lose because they don't want their car scratched. I win because I don't care. The trick is, I don't have to care because I know that I will never be scratched because they do care. They lose.

Don't get me wrong. I don't go around stealing lanes from people. But, when the sign says the right lane is closed and the next sign says merge left, nobody's gonna roll up on my right and get in front of me. Not gonna happen. 'Cause I don't care, and they do. And to those who roll all the way up the right lane, right up to the cones and think they're gettin' in - you can sit there 'till Hades learns to figure skate. You had plenty of oportunity to comply. And to those who let that bastid in - they can...

I can't think of anything bad enough for them. I'd like to refer them to this thread (http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=90944). In my opinion, that qualifies for many of the creative execution techniques listed.

He turned left at the next light, if I didn't back off it would have been an accident, and I don't want to take this truck out of commission. Now if I had an old beater f/s truck/van, I may have let her hit me.

[5-90]

Yeah, that's why my 88 has dents in most major body panels, more dings than a doorbell factory, and only gets washed twice a year (just to see if the paint is still sticking.)

I'd like to get something a little more severe for driving around here - maybe an M113 APC with road tyres - but I just hate cheats to no end and would run them off the damn roadway if I could get away with it. I seem to be able to think past the end of my nose, why can't anyone else? Is it just me? Or are the roads becoming full of egomaniacal self-centred ****wits?

5-90

[bjoehandley]

I tinks it's just spreading east 5-90 (like all "good" things from Cali)

[Rev Den]

Are you in the industry? Do you have a reference to a source?
I'm not calling you out - I'm seriously interested. What I'm asking is - Can I cite you as a primary source or are you citing another source?

Use your CB on the highway for a week...it's common knowledge. Look at how many trucking companies are looking for people with no experiance....willing to train.

Rev

[Fergie]

Realy?
No, really.

[seanR]

Use your CB on the highway for a week...it's common knowledge. Look at how many trucking companies are looking for people with no experiance....willing to train.

Rev
Listen to the radio, esp. Sirius or XM, there are adds all day long for OTR drivers.

[RichP]

Listen to the radio, esp. Sirius or XM, there are adds all day long for OTR drivers.

Are those ads for truckers or trucker schools ? the schools always want new people/students, without them they don't make any money.
As for the industry, of course they want new drivers, that way they don't have to pay them, figure it takes a new non experienced driver at least 6 months to figure out he's getting shafted but then you have to start somewhere and learn the ropes..

[Rev Den]

Are those ads for truckers or trucker schools ?

Just today the big ads were for:

Schneider
PAM
CR England

and of course....
Swift (the slowest trrucks on the road)

Rev

[XJ Dreamin']

Hey, thanks Guys. It's good to know I'm not alone in seeing this trend.

I got no XM or Sirius. I listen to AM oldies now days. That's how old I'm getting.

bjoehandley: If they don't see you, or act like they don't see you, you got to get out of the way. What I was talking about only works if they know you're there.

Here's another one that kills me. There's an exit from the grocery store two car lengths from the intersection, and there's an exit from the same lot 50 car lengths from the intersection. Which one do you think most ayehoes go for? Then, when the light goes green they expect you to sit there and let them out. And then the guy in front of me actually does sit there and let them out and I miss the light. AAARRGGGHHH!!!! No way buddy! Go to the other exit and get in line. Then they nose out to the straight-thru lane and block the right-turn lane. Get the @##$^@% out my way you #$#$& stupid #$#$#$ ##$#$% #$%#%#^!

But, enough of that. Thanks again for the info.

[DrMoab]

I didn't read all this thread so If I repeat something someone else said...Im sorry.

I drive truck for a living. I usually drive between 10K and 12K miles a month. I see A LOT!

Here is my opinion. Yep...you are right on the money. More and more drivers are hitting the roads with less and less experience. The reason is simple. There is a HUGE driver shortage. With the population ever increasing there is just plain and simply more need to haul more goods across the country.

The problem is drivers are making just a little more then they did back in the mid 70s to 80s. The increase in driver pay nowhere near comes close to the inflation rate.

The other problem is companies like...Swift, Schneider, England, Werner, Central and a few others that all the other drivers on the road call "training companies". These companies basically offer you free schooling if you drive for them for a year. Problem is they know they have these drivers over the proverbial barrel so they work them to death, for no money, in horrible conditions.

Most of the smart ones quit and take their licks for the schooling and then find someone else to work for. The problem with this is most of these company schools basically push these drivers through just enough schooling to get their CDL. They really don't get much training. The companies don't care because they know they won't stay working long anyway and they make up for the money it cost them in wrecked trucks by getting 3-4K out of the drivers who quit.

It's all a scam and really should be shut down.


Now onto the second part of my rant.

I get the finger pretty much daily from impatient drivers who think I am always in their way. An example is this... The other day I was in the slow lane doing about 75 MPH and I had trucks and cars and everything else right on my ass like I was holding them up. I had even more trucks and cars passing me.

This dude decides to get on the freeway doing about 55 in a Honda Accord. Could I have slowed down and let him in? Sure if I wanted to back the rest of the world up and cause a wreck. Could I have gotten into the fast lane? Not a chance. There was too much traffic. So I keep my speed up and also keep my foot resting on the brake in case this asshole decides to do something stupid.(which saved me in the end)

Well he did something stupid. Right at the end of the on ramp he speeds up so he can barley squeak in front of me then proceeds to slam on the brakes!!!
Then rolls his window down and flips me the bird!!!

No understand...I am in a rig weighing close to 120,000 Lbs. If I wouldn't have had my foot on the brakes I would have driven right over top of him.

This was a long on ramp and he was in a newer Accord. There is no reason in the world why this driver could not have matched the speed of the freeway. Plain and simple...he was an Ass and in my opinion doesn't deserve a drivers license.


Another example. Tonight on my way home I am coming off a fairly steep grade only to run into a mini-van doing about 30 MPH below the speed limit. I turn my blinker on to change lanes (lots of traffic) I wait for one car who was next to me...WAY back is another car but I have time to get in between them. Well as soon as he saw my blinker this numb-nuts decides to speed up and try to beat me. Wrong. I was half way in a lane change and he just had to wait. Once again...he gets in front of me and slams on the brakes.


So when you see impatient drivers in big trucks take a moment and think about what it is like to drive these things and what we have to deal with on a daily basis as far as stupid drivers in cars go.

[Ironmen77]

x2 Dr. Moab. One of my favorites when I was a driver was a car would drive like hell to pass me, then stop to make a turn as soon as he gets in front of me.

[5-90]

If it weren't for the fact that you'd have to look yourself in the mirror when you shave every day afterwards (and people won't why I only shave once a week...) I'd say both of those in-duh-viduals should have been rendered into a thick grey paste, just to get that sort of stupidity out of the gene pool (except they probably have already spawned, which takes things aside a bit...)

I see that all the time out here - I tend to drive in the second lane from the right (I don't like to stay in the right lane, and I don't drive fast enough for the left) and I still get harassed by all the nutless wonders out here that, somehow, get driver's licenses.

Y'ask me, perhaps California should get some highly competent drivers to evaluate the rest, and start rescinding driver's licenses. Not only would this help traffic, but getting incompetents off the road would likely have a salutary effect on my insurance rates (which are finally getting close to what I paid when I was 16.)

Last time I looked, driving is a privilege, not a right. Stop treating it like something everyone's entitled to (they are not,) and actually make a driver's license worth something again, above and beyond a bookmark. I'm getting REALLY tired of paying for other people blowing it in traffic; and with what I'm paying in insurance, I'm seriously considering running them off the damn road and getting them out of the way (and making my insurance company do the job I pay them to do...)

5-90

[XJ Dreamin']

I didn't read all this thread so If I repeat something someone else said...Im sorry.

I drive truck for a living. I usually drive between 10K and 12K miles a month. I see A LOT!

Here is my opinion. Yep...you are right on the money. More and more drivers are hitting the roads with less and less experience. The reason is simple. There is a HUGE driver shortage. With the population ever increasing there is just plain and simply more need to haul more goods across the country.

The problem is drivers are making just a little more then they did back in the mid 70s to 80s. The increase in driver pay nowhere near comes close to the inflation rate.

The other problem is companies like...Swift, Schneider, England, Werner, Central and a few others that all the other drivers on the road call "training companies". These companies basically offer you free schooling if you drive for them for a year. Problem is they know they have these drivers over the proverbial barrel so they work them to death, for no money, in horrible conditions.

Most of the smart ones quit and take their licks for the schooling and then find someone else to work for. The problem with this is most of these company schools basically push these drivers through just enough schooling to get their CDL. They really don't get much training. The companies don't care because they know they won't stay working long anyway and they make up for the money it cost them in wrecked trucks by getting 3-4K out of the drivers who quit.

It's all a scam and really should be shut down.


Thanks Doc. I appreciate the info. As I said, I don't want to step on toes here. I respect the responsible driver. It's just the trend toward less skill that worries me.


Now onto the second part of my rant.

I get the finger pretty much daily from impatient drivers who think I am always in their way. An example is this... The other day I was in the slow lane doing about 75 MPH and I had trucks and cars and everything else right on my ass like I was holding them up. I had even more trucks and cars passing me.

This dude decides to get on the freeway doing about 55 in a Honda Accord. Could I have slowed down and let him in? Sure if I wanted to back the rest of the world up and cause a wreck. Could I have gotten into the fast lane? Not a chance. There was too much traffic. So I keep my speed up and also keep my foot resting on the brake in case this asshole decides to do something stupid.(which saved me in the end)

Well he did something stupid. Right at the end of the on ramp he speeds up so he can barley squeak in front of me then proceeds to slam on the brakes!!!
Then rolls his window down and flips me the bird!!!

No understand...I am in a rig weighing close to 120,000 Lbs. If I wouldn't have had my foot on the brakes I would have driven right over top of him.

This was a long on ramp and he was in a newer Accord. There is no reason in the world why this driver could not have matched the speed of the freeway. Plain and simple...he was an Ass and in my opinion doesn't deserve a drivers license.


I don't care what your rig weighs, the merging traffic must yield to existing traffic. It is the responsibility of the driver merging to find a hole and match speed. There is no obligation to move over. To do so is to forfeit all right-of-way. No one can say I must give up my right-of-way when I am established in a lane. I sometimes move over just to avoid the hassle, but if I do not have room to move I do not change my speed. To slow down is to obstruct traffic. No one can say I must obstruct traffic. That temp lane over there is called an "Acceleration Lane." It's called that for a reason. You're supposed to accelerate to match existing traffic. Then you have to find your own hole.


Another example. Tonight on my way home I am coming off a fairly steep grade only to run into a mini-van doing about 30 MPH below the speed limit. I turn my blinker on to change lanes (lots of traffic) I wait for one car who was next to me...WAY back is another car but I have time to get in between them. Well as soon as he saw my blinker this numb-nuts decides to speed up and try to beat me. Wrong. I was half way in a lane change and he just had to wait. Once again...he gets in front of me and slams on the brakes.

This is a classic numb-nuts. He'd do that to me as soon as you. They're all over the highways. I agree that general chaos is increasing on the highways across all classes of vehicles. I was interested in those specific examples of inept skill that I had seen.


So when you see impatient drivers in big trucks take a moment and think about what it is like to drive these things and what we have to deal with on a daily basis as far as stupid drivers in cars go.

Impatient...I still don't have a lot of tolerance. The lack of skill I've seen scares me. Truth is, on the highway at highway speeds I got no beef with trucks. That's why I tried to be as specific as possible with the examples I presented.

Thanks again for the info. I appreciate it.

[creeperjeep]

Im in the industry,,,,well not now because im in Kuwait, but yah.
DR Moab pretty much summed it up to driver shortage, truck boom has retired, and those trainer companies.
I saw an online magazine that specifically touched on that subject, but I dont remember where it is...maybe google for some terms, I tried but im retarded and cant find it.

[Sarge]

Just out of curiosity....did you ever hit up Bon-Air? Reason I ask...I loved that place and whenever I mention it, no one knows what the hell I'm talkin' about.

Call it Fast Eddies and more people will know what ya mean.

Sarge

[Sarge]

We have a lot of problems here in the St Louis area with inept truckers. Several truck driver schools here and they get 'em in and get 'em out fast. So we end up with a lot of "not really trained" drivers floating around.

Sarge

[DrMoab]

The shame of the whole situation is the fact that 90% of the truck drivers out there are still very professional but the 10% of the numb nuts makes us all look bad. Our size and visibility doesn't help either.

[w_howey]

Hunt, Swift, England,and Schneider all have bad drivers. But hands down the worst drivers are the rail container haulers. 95% don't speak english, 100% can't drive. I had one drive off an outside dock two weeks ago. I took the tow company, bringing out the super hook to get the truck free.

The feds(FEMA/DOD) paying twice the going rate for flat beds down south has drained the local population of qualified independant operators. The trucks are hauling crap from the Houston area to NO, and to FL, for transshipment to the gulf.

[bjoehandley]

I was talking to Dad about this last night, one thing he's noticed it some of the worst drivers he's seen here in Illinois have been the police themselves when they aren't on an emergency call (not lit up)!

[RichP]

Hunt, Swift, England,and Schneider all have bad drivers. But hands down the worst drivers are the rail container haulers. 95% don't speak english, 100% can't drive. I had one drive off an outside dock two weeks ago. I took the tow company, bringing out the super hook to get the truck free.

The feds(FEMA/DOD) paying twice the going rate for flat beds down south has drained the local population of qualified independant operators. The trucks are hauling crap from the Houston area to NO, and to FL, for transshipment to the gulf.


No, flat out, hands down, no holds barred the WORST drivers are the trash haulers. The trucks from NY and NJ heading to the dumps in PA and OH are unsafe, flat out crappy drivers that are the cause of more accidents than any other issue. They haul ass going and coming, every time there is a fatality on interstate 78 or interstate 80 involving a truck you can almost guarantee it will be a trash hauler.. I dont know where they get these cowboys from.
The really funny thing is when the state announces a month of 'equipment' and 'safety' inspections on RT 80 they all shift to RT 84 in NY state and down to 78. When they announce RT78 they shift up to 80 and 84, they fooled em one year and announced 80 then setup on 78, understand the tow companies were running round the clock trying to keep up with ones that the state inspectors deadlined... now they don't announce anymore...

[DrMoab]

I was talking to Dad about this last night, one thing he's noticed it some of the worst drivers he's seen here in Illinois have been the police themselves when they aren't on an emergency call (not lit up)!
people don't believe me when I say this but its a true story. The drivers (cars) were so bad in Chicago when I used to drive there that when I needed to make a lane change into the lane left of me I would turn my right turn signal on and vice versa. The reason was because the asshole drivers would always look for your signal and do their best to jump in your way. If you turned your right signal on and went left everybody would be trying to get into the right lane and the left one would clear up.


True Story.

[bjoehandley]

Not suprised in the least Doc, what agrivates me is when I'm driving along in one lane running near speed limit or higher I have somebody decide they need to change lanes just before I get close enough to overtake them, and then they'll hit their brakes from time to time. Those are also times I'd like to have a beater f/s truck or van too......

[5-90]

people don't believe me when I say this but its a true story. The drivers (cars) were so bad in Chicago when I used to drive there that when I needed to make a lane change into the lane left of me I would turn my right turn signal on and vice versa. The reason was because the asshole drivers would always look for your signal and do their best to jump in your way. If you turned your right signal on and went left everybody would be trying to get into the right lane and the left one would clear up.


True Story.

I believe it - I'm about to start doing the same thing out here, and that's in my XJ!

"Merge" also seems to be an invitation to mate out here, and I've got no intention of trying to see what the offspring of an XJ and a riceboy looks like (and I'd probably have to abort it - and the other driver - anyhow.)

5-90

[w_howey]

No, flat out, hands down, no holds barred the WORST drivers are the trash haulers.


Same pool of 'quality' individuals around here.

[bjoehandley]

Come to think of it, one almost ran me over a year or two ago when I went out for a walk one morning. I was walking up to an intersection where the driver had a stop sign and I could tell by the way he was rolling up he wasn't going to even attempt to stop, so I didn't walk onto the street until I was sure of what he was going to do. I was right and he slowed down just enough to make the corner and kept going, so I called and turned him in for that plus I think he collected the garbage from home and just threw the cans where ever he felt like(street, sidewalk, driveway front yard, etc), so he got turned in for that too.