Would like the perspective of someone with a cdl.
Posted by smallsipbigtea@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 20 comments
I drive a small horse trailer on a pick up truck and have for years as a field service representative. I spend half my day driving to clients around the county with specific routes requiring the freeway. Semi trucks are a mixed blend of either, kindness and sharing đ OR cutting me off then slowing way down then blocking me from being able to pass in either slow lane when I legitimately cannot exceed 55mph. So my question is, whatâs the reason? I had to take specific courses in order to get the jobâalbeit not a cdl licensing, I follow the laws because I wouldnât want to jeopardize my career + misrepresent the company I work for and it always shocks me a bit to receive aggressive driving from the big guys on the freeway along with the little sportsy non existent blinker cutting off cars too. Thereâs also no bowing happening to the hitch due to poor weight distribution and I am driving during the day, headlights should not be an issue. Is it a âthere can only be one of us in the 55 mph range and itâs gonna be me đ«đ â type deal going on? ⊠I want us to be friends so bad.
Auquaholic@reddit
As a trucker, I am getting treated like this also. It's been getting worse every year. You go to pass, they speed up. They get in front of you way too close and then slow down. Everyone is eentitled assholes these days. It makes my job even harder, as I haul really large stuff and must be careful. I'm constantly having to give up my right of way to those who don't have it.
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
It happened exactly like this yesterday. Semi is in the second slow lane, I was in the first, and he cut me off just to take the speed down with no other cars around to warrant it. It was the first time I wanted to have the radio you guys have, so I could tune in and ask âquick question, wtf?â
18-Spinning-Wheels@reddit
Im confused, how do you come to the understanding of 2 slow lanes?
I have been driving for over 30 years and always known the extreme right lane is for slow traffic and exiting the highway.
Are you aware many states regulate tractor trailers to the 2 right lanes when the highway is 3 or more lanes wide?
That is not me suggesting trucks never use those other lanes though. I have seen many drivers operating in lanes they are restricted from. I've even been issued a ticket for doing it myself in the past, so not holding myself above anyone with my statement.
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
The defensive driving course I was required explains the freeway to operate fastest lanes in the left, slower traffic in the right lanes. The two right lanes are the only lanes I am able to drive in with the trailer.
Auquaholic@reddit
The ones that drive like that, probably don't have a cb.
AndromedanPrince@reddit
simply put, half of us are idiots half of us arent.
jqmallah@reddit
Most guys just want predictability. Hold your speed, signal early, do not hover next to the trailer, and if you need to pass, pass clean. If you are slower on grades, that is fine. The sketchy part is when a smaller rig hangs in the blind spot or brakes late.
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
đ«Ą this I can do! No passing necessary, you guys travel faster and I live by a five second reaction time
hamrmech@reddit
There are a number if different types of truckers. Old school drivers Take the job seriously, obey the laws, maintain the equipment, drive with care and courtesy. We are getting rid of them.
navlgazer9@reddit
Make sure you have a good dash camÂ
Itâs worth itâs weight in gold if you get into an accidentÂ
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
This is a clutch task to invest in and Iâm grateful to you. One other fsr set up a dash cam for this reason and I was apprehensive until now. I want to see the tomfoolery in real time.
MajorHymen@reddit
I donât see why theyâd be mad 55 is an easy speed to pass so I wouldnât even notice. If youâre going 55 then speed up to 65 when I go to pass you then Iâd be upset. But if youâre maintaining the same speed then your speed isnât an issue.
paulbunyanshat@reddit
People are shitheads
Dangerous_Ad1115@reddit
100% correct.
AsphaltPirate74@reddit
It's the foreigners but also the decline in driver quality and the decline in the morals of the people in this country and the decline of courtesy and politeness.
I just got rear ended the other week by a newish semi driver and I've had 2 semis cut me off so close that they almost hit me even though I was laying down on the air horn and I was going 65 and it was open highway with no reason for doing so.
It's not because you're not in a semi. If this was the wild west my body count would be in the double digits right now from giving out darwin awards by doing pit maneuvers and shoot outs.
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
This gives me a decent understanding and also relief itâs not an overall outlook from the trucker community. Pretty insane to consider the newer semiâs are not listening to that earthquake of an airhorn you carry, if I heard that iâd probably retire my coffee and swiftly exit the freeway to think about whatâs the meaning of life etc.. not paid enough for that!
post_mah_bone@reddit
It's a miserable game played by the mentally unwell who have consumed too many calories and energy drinks just to sit behind the wheel all day. They wind up aggressive with nothing else to do. We get it all the time. Passed up while going 59 only to have that driver who merged over too closely going the exact same speed and now I have to let off to make room. They love it. It gets their nipples hard.
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
I have to drive as zen as one can manage because I work from clientâs homes with their behavioral case pets and itâs a bite risk prone career. This kind of driving etiquette is a liability on my end but reading this comment helps me make sense of who else Iâm sharing the road with. Itâs happened enough times over the years with my company trailer that I was feeling like there was a pattern emerging. Itâs just some people who take on driving semi trucks werenât very kind to begin with, as with any career.
Radiant_Swan187@reddit
Naw. Its me too. After 7 years I could care less about a 4 wheeler crying that I do the same thing that happens to me 1000 times a day
smallsipbigtea@reddit (OP)
This is also enlightening. Thank you for your honesty đ