Re: How Do You Deal With *** Truckers?

Zeke wrote:
Just wondering how you all would deal with idiots on the road. The other
day I was passing a long line of trucks and cars on I80 in Nevada. I was
going along at 75mph and this *** comes up behind me and sits less than
8 feet from the rear of my trailer, driving with his left side tires on the
shoulder just in case I don't know he's there. All I would have to do is
tap the brakes and he's eating a trailer sandwich. After I complete the
pass and move back over to the right, he comes up beside me and lets me know
I'm number one and I can see him shouting into his cb microphone (mine isn't
on). As soon as his trailer clears me he jerks the truck violently into the
right lane. Then in a cloud of black smoke he proceeds to kick it back up
to 90 or whatever speed he was going. I was in the left lane only about 1
miles passing everyone at least 5mph faster.

What would you do? I'm guessing if I did a brake check it would be a
chargeable accident against me. Slow down to the point where 8 feet is 2
seconds?

Usually, I ignore 'em. Sometimes I vary my speed by 1-2 mph in 5-10
second intervals. Drives 'em nuts.

And more important, WTF is wrong with drivers these days?

Goddamned if I know what's wrong with so many truck drivers, but my
first guess is they're a bunch a fuckin' idiots. They seem to me to be
a collection of arrested adolescent NASCAR enthusiasts who like to
emulate their racing hero's driving techniques on public roads.

What really amazes me is guys who drive as you describe in rush hour
traffic. You have to be a pretty poor trip planner to be driving
through a city during rush hour and, despite the descriptive name, rush
hours is a damn poor choice of times to be in a rush.

I think the main problem is wages. What they are isn't high enough to
get smarter people to become drivers and the stupid think they've hit
the jackpot when their income approaches $40K. A rookie ought to start
at a minimum $60K/year and get a $10K raise every year. Moving
violations for a commercial driver ought to include a license
suspension for a minimum 30 days.
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- gpsman

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