Hi!
I was offered to ride with a trucker, a father of a friend of my son's, to allow me the opportunity of what a trucker experieces every day.
This individual seemed okay and I agreed.
Since I did not see the country, outside of my home state, I knew this opportunity would assist me with dealing with traffic in other states.

One thing I noticed was at the truck stops the driver's would complain that they had to peel right away and then I noted that they would just sit there. I am confused...if you got to get rolling, then why sit awhile, I mean several, if not many , minutes ? I realize that you have to deliver goods on time, that is something I understand, yet you have to have time to eat and sleep. Are all driver's suffering from lack of sleep ?

The 1st day was okay, the 2nd day began okay. That afternoon things changed. As soon as we stopped at a truck stop, I made a bee line for the rest rooms. As soon as I was back out in the lobby, I began looking for the driver. I coud not locate the driver in the convenience store nor did I see this person in the restaurant. I continued to look for about 1/2 hr to 45 mins. I returned to the truck, since I did not know the area and soon as the driver got to the truck....oh boy. I was within seconds of being kicked out of the cab.

As soon as we got to a major city, I grabbed my gear and found my way home. The driver acted surprise for a second.
I am still a bit shooked up. Will I go into trucking ?? At the moment, I am not sure, I am just glad I got home.

You need to communicate with the person tell them where you were going and either have a key to the truck or a meeting place. That is what my hubby and I do so he knows where I am we also have cell phones . Sorry that happened to you

Yes. I did tell the person where I was going. There was more to it than what I posted, in a nutshell...I am fortunate to be unharmed and was able to get home safely, thanks/

Time management is an extremely important skill for a trucker. Some drivers lack the ability to use their time wisely, and these are the ones lacking sleep, rest, etc. As long as you plan well, have a backup plan or two or three, you'll be all right. Occasionally, something unexpected will come up that throws your schedule all out of whack, but if you've planned well and left time for the unexpected this isn't a problem.

The drivers you're seeing are probably the ones who waste time, then drive like bats out of he!! just to get there on time. If you're smart about it, this really isn't necessary.

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Cowboy up!

Now you have me curious
Please do tell the rest of the story

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Yes please elaborate

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I am a Camaro Girl because IROC!

You have unlimited chances to go too slow, but only one to go too fast.

Yeah! Finish the story... you can't just hook us all like that then leave us hanging.

Did you find a head in one the truck cabinets or something?

we were at a truck stop to eat. As I said, I made a beeline for the rest room. when I was im the store/lobby of the truck stop, I looked in, I did not walk into or through the restaurant area to locate the driver which I guess I should have done, and then I walked into the store area. From there i walked back to the outside and retraced our steps. I coninued this pattern for 1/2 hour.I tried to remain visible by being out in the open and several times called out the driver's name. No response, no driver seen. As I said, I should have walked into the restarant.

When the driver returned to the truck and started talking, I began to suggest my cell phone # to which I was shouted down and "informed" that I would follow him and not lose sight of him at all times and then I was informed that this was not a bus stop and was I getting into a shouting match? Then I was informed that I would be kicked out of the cab and take a bus home. The arm went up into the air and the angry voice became louder. It was at this point I thought I better get to the next large city and when I did find my way home. I was scared...the last thing I should experience< I thought, was to be left stranded in an area where there were no cities.

Oh yes, I should mention that this driver overslept two hours before the trip for the day began.

At a truck stop down the highway, maybe 50 miles down the road, the driver acted okay and asked if I was hungry. Once this individual left the cab, I located the charger for my cell phone, the battery was low, and contacted my relative who promptly called the spouse/significant other. That individual contacted the driver who angrily restated that I was within second's of being kicked out of the cab and that this individual was pushing it to get to the city on time.

When I did arrive safely in a large city, in the early morning, the driver promptly went to sleep in his berth. I had my belongings by me and noted the major streets and highway's of the city.

At the truck stop in the city, near a highway and mjor transportation links, is when I noticed the trucker's saying to the cashier that they had to "peel" and then they would sit for 20 mins or more. There was no physical contact by the driver, yet the events and body language indicated that there was potential for physical contact to be made.
I could only get 3 to 4 words verbalized/said before I was shouted down and I was informed not to say anything--per drver's demand.
There was a little more to it but at this point, I am shaking recalling the series of events.

Thankfully, I am safe and home.

I think you did right -

whether or not he would actually have done something is immaterial - you felt threatened, you left.

As for drivers sitting for 20 minutes or so.. I dunno. Never run into "peel".. it might be a conversational gambit to get them away from that person. Or, they could be catching up their log before they leave (I do that - though it usually takes about 2 minutes, since I don't let it lag. Even moving to a new log shouldn't take more than 5 minutes).

It's also possible they drive a piece of crap and are waiting for their air bottles to charge.

They could be having a conversation with their dispatcher/wife/dog.

just some random thoughts on the topic

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Keep the big doors at the back!