Why do drivers stare at you at truck stops?

I had the misfortune of thinking there was all kinds of camaraderie in the trukking community when I first started driving. I don't care if it's 30 degrees below zero or a frikking monsoon outside I will always do what I can to try to help out the next driver whether they appreciate it or not. Self centeredness is not in my nature. I blame my mother for that.

 

I call it the nightly circus. I plan my days carefully and arrive at my nightly stop by 4PM. Arrive much later than that and you're scrambling for leftover spots that can be tough to get into. Now that half the drivers on the road are noobs, if I helped every guy having trouble I'd be up all night. As others have said, I'll spot the guys parking next to me, but the other guys are on their own. By the time I park I'm tired, want to eat, and get to sleep.

 

I usually don't pay any mind to that kind of stuff. I know there are ######## out there, in fact they're EVERYWHERE these days. I just expect 99% of the folks I come across to be self centered jack #####, and when I come across a cordial individual, I'm pleasantly surprised. I try my best to always smile and treat people how I would like to be treated, but it's rarely reciprocated, and that's fine. I take the same course of action when riding my motorcycle, I expect most drivers whether it be big rigs or 4-wheelers, to be inconsiderate idiots not paying a lick of attention to anything, let alone looking for a motorcycle. It keeps you prepared, alert, and you're never surprised by stupidity.

I will admit I have seen folks staring at me when I back in, but the stares usually dissipate rather quickly when I exit the cab. Just for ####s and giggles a few times, I was backing in and spotted the usual suspects, chatting together thinking they were a few "Joe Cool's" like a scene from a 80's high school flick, just staring me down as I was backing in. So, just to #### with them, I got parked, got out, and just stood at the corner of my truck and shot them one of those "thousand yard stares" and they quickly retreated.

I don't think I'm some billy bad ###, I know what I'm capable of, I've been in my fair share of quarrel's and trained heavily in both boxing and MMA and even with my large "menacing appearance", (that was actually a quote from an interviewer once) I can still find it within myself to be nice to people, smile, chat when the time is right and help anyway I can when I see a fellow driver in a bind. I have nothing to prove to anyone, or myself. It's funny most that DON'T help, and do nothing but run their mouths and judge, are typically the unhealthy, out of shape, insecure know it all's, who couldn't fight they're way out of a wet paper bag, but boy they'll talk a good game at the lunch counter, or over the CB. The bantering and jokes that are made about other drivers is usually just way to cover up their own insecurities. It makes them feel good at the end of the day, whether it be glaring at other drivers trying to look cool, or give off the impression their "better" than you, or just sitting around blowing smoke and fabricating stories. I find it comical.

But at the end of the day I enjoy helping people. Hell tonight I was on the way with my wife and son to pick up some groceries, and noticed a car stopped at an intersection up ahead. They couldn't get the car to start, they were blocking traffic pretty badly and just looked overwhelmed. I could of stopped and just gawked at them, or just kept going, but I went ahead and parked in the KFC parking lot across the street, ran over and had the gentleman get in the drivers seat, and pushed the #### thing into an empty church parking lot. Not a single other soul even thought to stop. They were too busy honking their horns, shouting and trying to rush by, because we all know EVERYONE has some important to be, right now......at least they think so. But in closing, I (personally) feel as a society, we have steadily declined when it comes to helping others. It's just easier to not do anything anymore, pull out a smart phone, start recording and just watch the drama unfold. It's a shame. Anyway, I'll end the unintentional rant here.

 

I was confusing it with the New Milford, PA location (my bad):

Google Maps

 

Hell maybe they were worn out tired .. I've seen drivers myself included get kinda zombified after parking up for the night..most times though if a guy's having a tuff time in a tight spot I'll ask if they want me to spot for em...don't just jump out and start helping you might piss em off....

 

I would like to think there is enough entertainment to go around.

Ive been able to help here and there where possible. The culture or so called brotherhood is going away with the inflow of the next generation who don't know anything about that.

If you are tired after only 18 hours, that's not good. Im able to get through 30 or 50 hours straight though if need be it's easier the older you get.

DO NOT be afraid to scrap a bad spot and head out and find a better one. By the way the two watching are hoping you smash trucks up. They will not lift a finger to help you.

 

There IS a camaraderie...but it’s only among Men. The problem is, there aren’t many Men. The difference between a Man and a Male is the same difference between a Bull and a Steer. Huge difference.

There is this movement among Males called the MGTOW (look it up, I am not making this stuff up), where they are against women and want the rights of a woman (like maternity leave). They are basically a MALE feminist group. Seriously.

Checked into a motel in YorkNE, across the street from the Petro. There were two females working the desk, one cute the other ugly. I walk up to the counter and the ugly one says, “I’m lesbian.”

“I don’t care. I’m not interested.”

She looks surprised and cute girl laughs. See, that’s caused by bootysniffers who will hit anything with a hole...dogs, cats, farm animals, stuffed animals and big and ugly bufarilla women.

Anyway, there still is camaraderie, it’s just that there are so many more males than Men.

 

Most these guys are sitting shirtless in the driver seat, with nothing to do anyway.

 

I always assumed they stare at me because I am so handsome!