Helping people out …
Posted by xxenoscionxx@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 8 comments
I see this the more I pay attention. This isn’t just tractor drivers but there are a few situations unique to us.
Last night I drop my dolly, go find my first trailer and come back to a sleeper cab clearly struggling. It’s dark, it’s not a great spot on any day.
I see people pressuring her, getting real close or kinda rocking their tractors forward. Am next inline but am now blocking off one access point so I have a line behind me.
I got out and spotted her , helped hook it up because it’s in all of our best interest to get her in and out. I just saw watchers and hands being tossed in the air.
homucifer666@reddit
You have to gauge whether or not your attempts to help will be well received though. Some people have unwaivering egos and don't want to be helped; especially if you're a lady trucker helping a guy out.
This is compounded by the idea that if you try to help someone and they fuck up and hit something/someone, they'll insist that it's your fault for "giving bad directions."
Also consider that if you're on a major roadway like an interstate, just because you use your larger CMV to block traffic doesn't mean you're immune to being hit. People do stupid things when they're in a hurry to be somewhere, including other truck drivers who are in your weight class.
Add all that together, and it's not much of a wonder why you don't see people eager to help people in trouble. There's a lot of personal risk and not as much benefit by comparison. 🤷🏻♀️
Baddy001@reddit
Also one might think they know better than you. Sometimes it's difficult to back into a spot with with my truck, I have guys sometimes come up to me and try and give me directions. I politely tell them to fuck off. I can back, quite well actually. I also sometimes have 84k lbs sitting on the deck of my trailer. Backing a tridem with that much weight isn't anything like backing a 53. Just because it appears I'm struggling, I'm not. There is a technique and I don't want to destroy my trailer tires or flip it over.
xxenoscionxx@reddit (OP)
Ya I can see how that would be annoying but fuck off is weird , I would just nah am good, thanks though.
Baddy001@reddit
I've done it many times, I'm good, I've got it. Most of the time if they feel the need to walk over and try and help they usually have the mindset you don't know what you're doing. Fuck off works perfect.
xxenoscionxx@reddit (OP)
I hear ya, am not the asshole try hard out there flagging everyone. I always ask if they would like me to spot them. I haven’t had a negative response yet.
With the on ramp , I figure I was going to be stopped regardless. That was my right, so traffic would have got backed up no matter what. In retrospect I probably should have pushed it with my cow pusher but that gets into liability as I don’t own the truck.
I mean these cars can’t be too worried about safety, I watch them drive like lunatics all morning.
When I was younger I have had people help me push my various shitboxes lol
When I got hit by a car on my motorcycle, I woulda been in a bad spot with a broken ankle pinned under my bike if a bystander didn’t block traffic and help me up…
homucifer666@reddit
Just be careful. Don't want your act of kindness to be the end of you. Seen a lot of trucks get plowed from behind sitting on the side of the road.
xxenoscionxx@reddit (OP)
Man , that’s not what I want on my grave stone.
Ironically my grandpa and grandma used to own a tire service company. My grandpa was crushed to death when a semi rolled over his mid section.
NotEvenLion@reddit
Yup be proactive