way to go trk. 3773

So yesterday I'm rolling East on US-60 just west of Sikeston, MO. I'm 14' wide with a rear escort and just like clock work a Swift sitting on the North side of the highway waits while a half dozen cars go by ahead of me then right out in front of me he comes. Guess he couldn't see the giant box with all the flashing lights coming at him at 50+ mph. Maybe he just became a professional truck driver and reverted back to his 4-wheeler muscle memory while he waited on his fellow 4-wheelers to pass before pulling out in front of the truck.

The today I arrive at my destination with my load which is scheduled to off-load at 9:00 tomorrow morning. The contractor parks me at the Wal-Mart across the freeway because he doesn't want to pay for 2 pilot cars to sit for 24 hours. I'm parked right at the entrance and immediately to my right is the car drive with the big yellow 12" pipe going over the drive to keep the truck from turning into a spot where they don't need to be. You can drive straight into the lot here where I'm parked, turn around and park like all the rest but noooo, that's too complicated. I've been parked here since 10:30 this morning and in that time Central (Swift) has turned and hit the pipe but he didn't care, he grabbed another gear, tore the **** out of the top of his sleeper, knocked off the satellite communication stuff which he subsequently ran over and did god knows what kind of damage to the top of the trailer. He went in the store, came out with his bags and departed, never once did he look up at the top of his sleeper or trailer and according to the signs on his truck he was Leased To Swift.

An hour later and here comes USA truck flying into the lot through the truck entrance, cuts out through the cars and loops around for a second qualifying lap under the same pipe. Same result, sleeper mucked up, satellite communication box tore off and who knows what kind of damage to the trailer. Didn't slow him down one bit, he continued his hot lap, parked, went inside, came out, left his garbage in the cart and without ever looking at the damage departed on hot lap #3 back under the pipe.

Amazing is all I can say. Not about the drivers, that's normal, just look at the parking lot at the truck stop, amazed at the strength of the pipe that these jokers use to streamline the tops of their trucks and trailers.

 

Geeze, when these guys have their cruise set, just stay out of their way.

 

Just to be fair, it's not just the big name companies. I moved over today with two pilot cars (had to have a lead in Alabama) to let two trucks on coming down the ramp. Billy Big Rigger in his big International doesn't like the speed at which the truck in front of him is getting up to speed so one flash and a slam on the brakes by me then he's out in the left lane in front of me at 40 mph in a 70 zone. He then elephant races the other merging truck all the way up to 70, spends 5 miles creeping by him then just like he did me, one flash and less than a car length in front of the passed truck and he's jerking the wheel back to the right. I ease on by him, set my cruise back at 68 and within a couple miles I was well away from him. We get to Montgomery and slow down to the posted 60 and here comes Billy Big Rigger in his big International blowing through town, trying to take out my front pilot and as soon as the speed limit was back up to 70 we caught and passed him.

So the moral, it's doesn't have to be a large company to be an idiot behind the wheel.

 

Agreed, and we all seem to arrive at the same time. Imagine that. 69 is a great hwy for seeing the rat race in action. Those Billy Big Riggers break every law in the book racing through town, then get lapped legal style out on the playground.

 

i see many people passing the oversize trucks. like everyday. literally everyday. if you guys are going 35mph whats everyone suppose to do? not trying to say anything bad. but i see people passing them each day on 80. if you guys are going slow people will pass you guys.

 

No one is saying you can't pass oversize trucks. The problem is passing them in an unsafe manner like using a turning lane in the middle of a town.

 

So the morale of the story is this o.d load that paid $2 a mile wasn't worth it?

 

He's just trolling. I applaud your effort in following up with the companies safety department. I'd do the same if I thought it would change a thing. They might make him watch a movie or something about safety. He'll just text his friends the whole time, might even get a free lunch while he's at the office.

 

OD drivers don't expect everyone to stay behind them when it's safe to pass. I was behind one the other day in IN behind escorted not only by his pilots but 3 squads out front and 1 behind as well. Once thru town and the OD could hang over the shoulder, he did so. After letting him know on the radio like I always do that I was coming by, I did so also using the left shoulder with my left wheels at a safe speed giving him plenty of room. He thanked me for letting him know and the squads had no issues with it either. There's a right way and a wrong way. If it's not safe, stay behind him til it is.