No more flashing!

While I've yet to attend/complete my CDL training course, the "mutual courtesy" y'all speak of was imparted on me in my youth when doing ride alongs with my father...and I still practice them in my 4 wheelers. My wiring has been modified with a temporary switch so I can "return the favor" when a trucker flashes me clear while I've towed a travel trailer.

I move over when I see a truck stopped along the shoulder, and will try to contact them om the CB to see if they've garnered or need assistance.

Don't pass on the right, and make my passes quick so as to not block an escape route for them should they need it.

If I'm getting ready to pass and see a trucker is coming up on someone, I'll flash and slow down to let him/her swing out to make their pass - cause I know how frustrating it can be to get "trapped" behind slower traffic on a 2 lane, and how long it takes to get back up to speed.

A person can still be courteous even if it's not reciprocated - and that's what I plan to be once I'm "out there".

While there are schools to teach charm and courteousness, they're not usually in the curriculum of a CMV training course. That means that "the traditionalists" have to pass those traits and attributes along.

 

I just graduated a month ago and should be leaving for my maiden voyage in a couple of hours. Ive ridden with my uncle a few times who worked for Penner out of Manitoba. Also, since I've just been generally interested in the industry most of my life, I've always tried to find out things that professional drivers do, so a lot of things i.e. flashing, I do already in my 4 wheeler. Also, when I was doing some research for the school I wanted to attend, I listened for key words when speaking with the recruiter, such as "Professional". Three of those schools never said the word once, in fact two claimed they would "Get you your license". Well, I don't just want my license. I can pay 800 dollars in Calgary to just get my license. I wanted to become a professional driver. And I'm on my way to doing it. If more new drivers took that sort of approach to it, the industry would be better off. If you ever see me on the road, and I'm doing something unprofessional, or unsafe, feel free to get on the radio and give me an earful, because that's how we all learn.
Keep truckin and Cowboy up,
Rob

 

gentalmen!very well said.but dont come to south fla there are some very courtious truckers and i pretty much figeure there form out of stat because alot of the cuban population here in south fla have the brains of a nat!!!!! the think they know all that and will cut you off in a heartbeat and you can tell who care and dont care about what they do for a liveing just look at some of there rolling bucket of bolts and dot lets them get away with it cause they fell sorry for them ,but on the flip side of that and you can tell buy how they take care of there trucks,there are some good one but the point being (GENERAL COURTESTY) and a little paitence and asssitsitng one another gos a long way!!!!!its tough enough out there,and if a flick of a switch is to hard for you to do while driveing to let an man know hes clear or a flash of a light then you need to pull over and turn you cdl in

 

My dad was a truck driver for 30 years. And even how, quite a few years retired from it, he still flashes big trucks over in his mini-van. But like the OP said he counted how many said "thank you"....and i side with him.

There is a total lack of being curtious anymore. Why is it so hard for drivers, regardless who you drive for, or whether you own your own truck or whatever, is it such a chore for you to blink a quick 'thank you'??? Why is it such a problem when you're getting passed to let up off the throttle, and drive a mile an hour or two slower for 30 seconds to make it a little easier for a slightly faster truck to get by? Seems those kinds of drivers who get so butt-hurt easily need to just stay home if their ego is going to get the better of them, and prevent them from being PROFESSIONAL.

 

Too busy sitting there doing....nothing?

 

dont forget about baton rogue la tohse people do not know what a blinker is if you pointed it out to them

 

Boyz,
It doesn't matter what ethnic back ground you come from! And believe me i'm not Defending them one little bit! It all comes down to COMMON SENCE! Looky here it's all about Courtesy and Common Sence! Do on to others as you wish were done upon you, hold no disregard or you will loose your sanity! I'm doing a youtube segment on bad drivers and it's hard....So hard to catch all the stupid crap that we get to see in a day!
I drive the Bay area(Caulifornia) Every Day! from up north where things are alot easier and i do my best not to blow a gasket! I keep my cool for the most part but....Some times you just got to ask ask yourself i wonder if they were a natural born dip #### or.....If they bought the Book!

 

I totally agree,NO BRIGHT LIGHTS DANG IT!!!!! I have around this industry all my life andcan still remember oncoming drivers flashing a "cop ahead". I always acknowledge a on off flash but never the bright lites flash,it's just rude!

 

I flash the highs during the day, so I KNOW they see it, and I have a headlight interrupt on the steering wheel I hit at night, so no one is blinded. and I always signal thanks with either the marker interrupt or my 4 ways, never know if they flashed you over, and if they didnt well, Hi to you sir!

and speaking of pride, keep your truck clean! I try to wash mine every 2 weeks when I get some downtime at a truckstop, I have a bucket and a sponge, 1-2 hours that you would have spent sitting on your ### has given you a shiny truck, polish the wheels once every 6 months and you'd be amazed how much more professional you look and feel. Good way to start up a conversation with a stranger too, usually get 1 or 2 people to come over and say "Nice truck" and its just a standard Swift International Prostar

 

are you buying the truck washes lol if so ill be first in line if not itll have to wait my trucking brother as i am broke as a joke...and it isnt from them dang cherry masters either i still dont understand why someone would spend 100 for a 5 dollar ticket