NEWBIE From AK!

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Welcome to the forum! I'd say take the CB along but be really careful about who you let listen to it as most drivers tend to be pretty crud or nasty. Good luck!

 

Welcome to the forum. I am KH, a greeter. Welcome to the best trucking network site a trucker or active duty AF has in his/her tool belt. Check out these sections:

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You can adjust that radio for optimal performance; consult your owner's manual if you still have it, otherwise ask a trucker at a truck stop to help you out. A trucker's atlas will come in handy for your trip, as will an Exit Guide if you really want to plan it out. With your wife, newborn son, and dog on board, you'll want to take special notice of rest areas en route, where all of you can stretch your legs and get a little fresh air. Remember, truck stops and travel plazas are open to the public (and you can buy fuel there for your 4-wheeler), but you'll have to watch the dog, as these places are generally busy at all hours. A good Exit Guide will also list Walmart locations, in case you're on a budget and you're taking a cooler along. I would definitely run with the CB, especially if you plan on making time down here in the Lower 48... another option is to turn it on now and then and holler for a "bear report" ("Hey, westbound, how's it look behind ya?" or "Hey, westbound, how's it look over your shoulder?"). Just remember that that westbound driver is hoping for a reciprocal report. Gotta run, be safe with your family on board, don't forget to check those weather monitors at the travel plazas to see what's in store for you down the road... "Adios!"

Okay, I'm back, had to deal with something there... you can pick up a trucker's atlas and Exit Guide at any large truck stop or travel plaza. With your wife and newborn son along, a larger truck stop with plenty of lights and maybe even some security personnel present might be safer than some service station in a bad part of town... some rest areas offer security at night, others are so far out in the middle of nowhere that you don't have to worry about crackerheads bothering you. Going back to those bear reports, you'll want to pay attention to the "yardsticks" or mile markers. If someone keys up and says, "You got a full-grown bear sittin' in the middle at the 48, looking at the westbound side!!!," that means there's a State Trooper or Highway Patrolman parked in the median at the 48 mile marker, and you know the rest. Key phrases you're listening for will be:

"Full-grown bear"---State Trooper
"County Mountie"---Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff
"Local", "Local Yokel" or "City Kitty"---local or city cop
"D.O.T. bear"---like a full-grown bear, but generally involved with commercial vehicle enforcement (however, if you blow past him at 90, he can and will chase you down and give you a "driving award" or ticket)
"Revenue collector"---any of the above
"Bear in the air"---helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft involved in traffic enforcement
"Plain wrapper"---unmarked cop car, usually with a color thrown in for good measure ("Plain white wrapper rollin' east at the 172," for instance)
"Shootin' you in the grill" or "Shootin' you in the face" means the cop is clocking you as you're coming toward him
"Shootin' you in the #####" or "Shootin' ya in the gashole" means the cop is clocking you as you pass and head away from him (up on an entrance ramp, for instance)
"Sittin' in the dark"---the speed cop is waiting for a customer, and he's sittin' with his lights off so he's less noticeable to speeders
"Sittin on a bridge"---speed cop is shooting or clocking traffic from an overpass

These are just a few expresions you'll hear on your trip, but I reckon they'll do for starters... the best policy is to keep your speed at or just above the limit, that way you're less likely to get a driving award. A lot of Western states have 75 m.p.h. speed limits... don't know what route you're considering, but you can make good time in those states. Hey, here's another tip: don't hang out near trucks, and don't ride off their quarter with your lights in their mirrors at night (irritating). Pass on open straightaways rather than on curves or bridges, especially when you're passing oversized vehicles. Don't come zooming up on trucks and then fly out to either side---truck drivers don't like surprises. Get out and be seen as you roll up on trucks---you'll be safer that way. If you're going to "flash" a truck in or out at night, don't use your high beams, or you'll just blind the driver; you can briefly kill your headlights and send the same message, just get a good look at the road before you do this. Run with your lights on for safety, especially in crowded urban areas, even if the weather is clear and sunny---people ahead of you can see you better in their mirrors, 10-4? Alright, that's enough with the safety lecture, I wouldn't have bothered if you hadn't mentioned your wife and newborn son (and dog too, I reckon). "Arrive alive" and enjoy your change of duty station; plan on heat and humidity once you near your destination. Good luck to ya, and be safe out there! "Adios!"

 

Hello and Welcome to the Site

Thank you for your many years of service for our Country!!!
Congratulations on your newborn son That is fantastic.

We look forward to posting with you!!!

Take Care

 

Hi Dodgefan01:
Welcome to this forum! You're gonna love it here.....everyone is super great!! Enjoy!!