A U.S. truck driver speaks his mind

[General Zod]

As some of y'all know I drive long haul truck here in the U.S. I've even been to Canada four times Nice place Anyway I've been doing it for almost seven years I just can't understand why we truckers are pretty much viewed as scum Yes we have some idiots that drive truck But not all of us are like that
We have to deal with weigh stations and the Dept.Of Transportation (D.O.T.) They weigh our vehicles and can pull us out back and inspect our rigs I have no problem with that What I don't understand is why they can't do the same thing to the smaller vehicles ie your family car/pickup/minivan or RV I have lost count of how many pickups I have seen going down the road that are seriously over loaded If they put any more weight on the pickups,the front wheels would be of the ground

Then there's a real pet peeve of mine Split speed limits For example California Here is what the speed limit sign says Cars with trailers Trucks 55 MPH Now I obey the speed limit,but I constantly see cars towing trailers going over 55 mph,and I wonder if the CHP will pull them over for speeding Probably not
Now y'all might think that would be for safety because it takes longer for a heavy vehicle to stop Well why would a Greyhound bus be allowed to do more than 55 mph? they weigh a lot more than a car It's all about money

Then there is the log books Current rules are I can drive 10 hours then I have to take at least an 8 hour break I agrre with that rule
But there is no law saying that you can't drive 24 hours straight in your family car I think everyone who drives any kind of vehicle should have to fill out a log book and go through the same laws as us truck drivers have to Especially people who drive an RV They should be made to have a special liscence to drive them I guess the AARP would put a stop to them

If all of us truckers would get together and stop driving for five days it would shut this nation down Because everything you own was delivered to the store you buy stuff from by a trucker

Sorry about the long rant,but I just wanted to get that off my chest
Y'all be careful out on the road And for Gods sake,please don't get in gront of a big rig and slam on the brakes because your at your exit

Chad aka General Zod

 

[Stitch62679]

Both my grandfathers drove trucks and I'm startin' to think I'm the only person on the road these days that gives a truck right of way, or any respect at all. I can't stand people in SUVs cutting off a Mack truck then slamming the breaks in front of them. I give you guys a lot of credits, and I think it's mostly pop culture that put that stigma of stupidity on truckers, since I know a whole host of my friends who wish they qualified. As for speed limits, that's rediculous, the trucks out there are the safest things going!!!!
I live in NJ and all I see are yuppies on cell phones driving their big ass SUV's 90+ in the left lane of the parkway, now THAT's a hazard.

 

[Celticrose2001]

Zod,
I know what you mean.. even tho I am not a very frequent driver( only do it when totally necessary) Have you ever been on the 401 in Canada( goes from Windsor to Toronto). Man, the disrespect you see for trucks and rigs on there would blow your mind!😱 WHen i'm drivin I usualy give the bigger vehicles the right of way if at all possible.
Maggie

 

[Limeoutsider]

My dad drives a truck. The co. that he works for, if he's in an accident, even if it isn't his fault, the co. still blames him.

 

[qjakal]

Logs and hogs...

Beats me why anyone messes with anything that big with so much inertia...I sure as hell give 'em a wide berth and try not to give rigs any reason to have to make fast decisions around my vehicle! Not all drivers respect either the truck or the driver, but I think more of us than you might imagine have a healthy respect for both, Zod. I don't disagree with the DOTs regs and inspections, since many trucks are run by companies with profit on their minds rather than safety.

Friend of mine in the computer business went quietly broke a few years ago, and went back to driving long haul. I think he's actually happier as a Steel Cowboy, and he looks twenty years younger on the rare occasions I see him nowdays.

Anyway, don't despair or let the small % of nutjobs get to you too badly, ok? Just remember that you tend to notice and remember bad behavior a lot more than good. It's human nature to do so, and truckers (most of 'em..lol) are all too human. Pass on the left and don't blow that damn horn too much, ok?

😉 Q

 

[General Zod]

qjakal,about the only time I blow that airhorn is if I see someone passing me askin me to For those that don't know the sign for that,just close your fist and pump your arm up and down If I see someone doing that I'll blow the horn Put's me in a great mood Glad warm weather's not far off It means women sitting in the passenger seat with their bare feet either on the dashboard or hanging out the window If my arms were long enough I'd have to reach out and tickle them
Likeoutsider That sounds about typical My company will suspend you for awhile if tour swinging wide to make a right turn and a car tries to get around you and hits you Hasn't happened to me
Celticrose2001,I have been on Highway 401 up there Fun road isn't it?
I will agrre with you there Stitch62679 about those yuppies in New Jersey I drive over there a lot I'm in southern California now Hope to be on the road soon Had to get some work done on it Glad I'm not makin payments on it Fuel's too bloody much

 

[amk714]

Well why would a Greyhound bus be allowed to do more than 55 mph? they weigh a lot more than a car It's all about money

You got that right! I see buses and trucks speeding all the time on the freeway, but they almost never get ticketed.

It's too bad trucks and truck drivers aren't treated with more respect, though. They are vital to the economy, without them we wouldn't be able to transport food and other products across the nation. Keep on truckin'! 😀