What are some of the unwritten rules among truckers?

If you see a hand in need offer your help.

If you don't know ask.

Don't assume your priorities are mine.

Don't offer me an ### whoopin if you are not going to stop and give it to me.

 

If it fits....it sits (truck parking)

If she has all her teeth it's a cop (lot lizards)

 

This:

 

I roll the dice and hit the left lane, if I am fast enough to pass him. Then if I get pulled over, depending on my mood, I would plead my case telling him how those things have blowouts and I want to get around him or maybe that I REGRET NOTHING!

 

If the right lane was blocked, what would the double wide do? Go left, wouldn't he? Would he get a ticket for going into the left lane? Nope. Why not?

Usually, the widest mobile home is 16 wide. Anything more than 16 wide is a superload in most places. In quite a few places, they ship superloads through all the time...between 18-24 ft wide. If a superload is creeping in the right lane, GO AROUND THEM. Even if they have a police escort. If they are blocking 2 lanes and the left lane is truck restricted, GO AROUND THEM.

 

With a touch of common sense. For example, DON'T try passing on a bridge with no shoulders. Don't pass on curves where you can't see around the corner. Choose a straightaway with no obstructions.

A few years ago I was following such a load on a three lane freeway under construction. There were concrete barriers on both sides. The wide load was within a foot of the right concrete wall and within a foot of the lane on the left. It was midday and traffic was heavy, so of course both four wheelers and truckers were being complete idiots, trying to use all three lane to be first to pass him, even passing the pilot car (in the middle lane) on the right and power squeezing in front of him to squeeze into the left lane.

Both truckers and four wheelers were doing that. I was in the right lane about a quarter mile back, slowly overtaking a truck in the middle lane. I pulled even with him and hand signalled to form a two lane block to help clear the self centered mindless clucks from messing with the pilot car. We worked up to a safe distance behind the pilot car, a distance that wasn't inviting for anyone in the hammer lane to consider suicide by idiocy. The pilot car driver thanked us on the CB.

 

If there are 3 empty parking spaces next to each other, do NOT take the middle one. Newer drivers will thank you.

 

Here's another unwritten rule of the road I see violated frequently. If you follow this rule I guarantee you will earn a LOT more respect from your fellow drivers and the general public:

Let's say you're driving a truck governed at 62 mph on a two lane highway with a speed limit of 65-70 mph. Because there haven't been any good opportunities for the growing choo-choo train of trucks and four wheelers to pass you for the last ten miles there are now over 10 vehicles behind you as the speed limit drops to 35 mph in a small town and the road becomes four lanes for a mile with no traffic lights OR stop signs.

Here's the rule:. SLOW DOWN TO AT LEAST 10 MPH UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT GOING THROUGH THE SMALL TOWN. This gives AMPLE opportunity for all those behind you to pass in the town WITHOUT having to break the speed limit.

FAR too many times I see slow governed trucks cruise through that town 5-10 mph ABOVE the speed limit, trying to block anyone from passing, then settle in to their governed speed well BELOW the speed limit when it becomes a two lane highway again.

Passing a truck on a two lane highway is inherently hazardous. Don't force four wheelers and ESPECIALLY other truckers to have to make that maneuver if you can help it. In Texas the legal courtesy is to straddle the fog light to facilitate passing (which I do NOT do at night).

 

I don't have too many unwrittens. I was a little bit of a different sort.

Thinking about the unwrittens, I did not come up with too many. If I was to share some it will be team based because my time with the spouse really tested what is allowed or not allowed with a big truck.

If anything, the Dispatcher was the one I chewed on most of the time. You don't chew on dispatchers.

Finally but not last, I offer this one memorable story, you had to be there. Pretty in pink pete large car backed a spread reefer dane into the dock with 4 of us in unloading our trailers. She comes around with a stack of bills and they bring her a stack of small wood. Maybe 7 high, enough to sit on.

Next thing I see is the 4 others have pretty much abandoned unloading and moved into her trailer unloading same. She was completed in 20 minutes.

I thought it was something good. But unwritten? Nah. Just helping out.