First driver was pulling ahead off the CAT scale and following driver was climbing on before the first driver even got off the scale. First driver for some reason stopped with his trailer tires still on the scale and the following driver stopped with his steers on the scale. Each one in their own little world, butthurt about the other's actions.....
Hilarious thread, been laughing my butt off. Getting back to the OP's questions. Truck stops aren't bad if you mind your own business. The best piece of advice I can give any new driver is to become an absolute master at parking. Practice the Hell out of it as often as possible and get really good. As the sun goes down every night at truck stops, what I call "the circus" begins. OTR drivers all hit the truck stops at the same time trying to find an overnight spot for their 10 hour break. These days it seems like well over half of the drivers are new, and not a #### one of them can get a trailer in a slot between two other trucks. Oh they'll try, for hours sometimes. Blocking the isle so no other drivers can get through, and hitting other trucks in the process, taking off side mirrors and pissing off a lot of people. I'll offer to help when I can if the driver isn't too much of an ###, but there are so many you could spend your entire 10 hour playing traffic cop. Depending on what state you live in, most truck stops are full by the time it gets dark. So if you need to take a 10, make sure you find a spot before it gets dark. I tend to go for Flying J or Love's because the bathroom and showers are usually clean, but there are some great mom and pop places too. Chances are the worst nights you'll have at truck stops are from sleeping next to another driver that idles all night and has an air leak, so every minute or so his compressor kicks off and the sound wakes you up, or you'll have a guy with a reefer that starts every 10 minutes with a squeaky fan belt. Other than that, just close your curtains and you're off in your own little world.
I haven't been lurking here that long, but seems to me that Mr. X1 is a cultural Icon here, and should be respected as such. I can name on one hand the figures here that I have come to respect, and admire, thru my perusal of this Forum. He is on that short list. Point well taken that innuendo otherwise serves no purpose. I come here to encourage and uplift or educate if I can. The "or don't say anything at all" applies. I really enjoy the ribbing and good natured beatings, not so much any personal sullying of reputation. And BTW... truck stops are crappy - and for all the already listed reasons.
I remember when a bunch would hook up not knowing each other but everyone going the same way we had great conversations, good meals and made some life-long friends. Those days are pretty much over.
Violence and aggressiveness between truck drivers. Well, some of that could be some old school tough love. Like the dude that drives for Central, or that FAT tub of Monkey spunk O/O, both of which lost control of their trucks, and would have hit me, both of which I invited over and over to pull over so they could whoop my ###, for driving around with their heads up their #####? See there are instances of tough trucker love that prevent a serious accident in the future. I help countless people park at the stops. Give away showers, food, even a few bucks here and there. I think what you may see in the videos is not two truckers. You probably see a trucker, and an ignorant steering wheel holder, or perhaps someone that has lost their way in need of guidance.
I mostly just mind my own business and help people when I can. For me, the secret to avoiding all of the ugliness, is to avoid all the bigs. 99% of the time I'm parked in a place that holds 20 trucks or less. It makes me very happy