Does driving a straight truck make you a better driver?

Not particularly.

A straight truck loaded to say 45000 is the same as a truck tractor with a trailer on it with minor differences.

However Mr Tippy three axle cement mixer and other rigs require a little bit of sass and attention when driving. I would never try to take a 18 wheeler off road doing things that I have done with mixers and so on. Then again, I have taken plenty of old iron tractor trailers off road and did well without getting stuck, even in deep rain and mud etc. Todays computer crap would just get stuck and need a big hook in a day.

You learn lessons like green grass = get stuck, water below. Brown grass = good solid dry ground. Thats where you want to take a big truck.

 

It should, I like to think it does, but sometimes the Truck habits overlap with auto driving. Driving my car too slow, being too careful pulling out into traffic. Getting the #1 sign. Occasionally I catch myself being too aggressive in my car, all things being equal. But for the most part, I drive very careful, so not to get a ticket, while everyone else drives like maniacs. But when I retire, I’m going Street Racing, Lol. Lookout!!

 

I was in touch with a road track in Vegas that has a business of teaching driving to those who wants to learn racing, such as it is. Or possibly those like me who wants to pay for a vehicle and track time to find out what is possible without stressing about the law. The people were very down to earth and they said if I ever had the money and the time, show up. They have the hot cars and a big enough track to run em in.

With that said, I think we should reintroduce stock truck racing, bobtail style. Then again 61 around the track would be a bit slow.

 

Depends on how far past the rear axle the box extends.
Some straight trucks will make you intimately familiar with tail swing.

 

Really?
Have you actually watched truck drivers driving?
Running up to the bumper of both cars and trucks trying to shove them aside.
Tailgating or cutting off for no good reason.
Running stop signs and lights.

Unsafe drivers will still be unsafe, no matter how many hours a day or miles a year they drive.

 

That's what I did. About three years straight truck first. Learned how to load trucks, how to keep stuff from moving around, how to get into tight spaces without hitting anything.
Then when you do screw up, it doesn't cost so much to fix.

 

Not every one drives that way, Some 4 wheelers make very good money by taking advantage of those kind of drivers.

 

No...just more agitated.