Out-of-control operators in d.c. Area!!!

1) Don't get yourself into the position of relying on a CB to get you around.

2) Unless the highway is closed, NEVER stray off your planned route. If the highway is closed, find a place to park and consult your road atlas. Remember that you have a 2 hour emergency extension on your 11 hour clock if you run out of hours sitting in a traffic jam.

3) As much as I hate to say this, get a truck specific stand alone GPS. Rand McNally, Cobra, and PC Miller are the best ones in the market IMO.

 

I agree with what you stated as far as getting reliable info. That said, the CB is still a valuable tool for the driver. IMHO a driver should always keep it on, squelched down if you want, but still able to hear a truck he is meeting. Especially on two lanes and other non interstate highways. I live up in the hills. When there is an accident, or other reason to stop traffic, a driver needs to know this before coming around a curve and finding his lane blocked by stopped traffic. I have seen a big increase in smoking tires the last few years because drivers aren't running their CBs anymore. It is only a matter of time before something really bad happens, which could be avoided if the drivers would keep their CBs on so they could hear about upcoming road hazards/blockages. (just food for thought for you drivers out there)

 

My brother had driven trucks for 34 years, usually pulling refrigerated trailers, and that was how he ran his CB. Squelched for someone close so he could listen to his books on tape. In the winter (early 1980's) up on I-80 in Wyoming one year he was hammering 75 for hours going east on dry interstate. Just before he topped a big hill he heard a shout "oh my God they're crossing the median". So he shut it down to 45 just before he crested the hill. Going over the top was a sheet of ice as far as you could see going east. And a station wagon with a family sliding across 20 feet in front of him heading for the ditch on his right side, they had been west bound going too fast on the ice and lost control. If he had not slowed down they would have been in a head on collision the timing was that close. They were doing probably 50 when they crossed the road in front of him and wrecked off to his right. So he ended up pulling over and helping a carload of kids instead of wearing them in his front grill. That was one of hundreds of CB saved my a55* stories I heard him tell over the years he was alive. He drove 18 wheeler full time his whole adult life and was the best I had ever seen at it. Taught me my first winter lesson about chains. Only use them to get somewhere safe to park. Not to get over the mountain and keep on going like it's a sunny day.

*Note: a55 = ### but the over censoring nanny board settings will not even let you have a human conversation.

 

I sold my CB a year ago. The only time I ever used it was when I was at a customer, but now I either give them my cell number or I watch the dock light.

When it comes to traffic accidents and traffic jams, I watch other trucks and other vehicles. If vehicles are hitting their brakes and there's no exit or intersection around, there's something wrong. I'll start hitting my brakes.

When I see all of the other trucks merging lanes in front of me, I play follow the leader.

 

"I play follow the leader."

So do lemmings.

However what I cannot figure out is age 30 but trucker for 50 years?

 

I did that because every time someone disagrees with something I state they throw my and their experience in my face. It should show how stupid that argument is.

 

So what you're saying is that since you have no use for CB, nobody else should either? Way to contribute something useful.

 

Way to only respond to part of what I say. That isn't what I implied at all.

 

Why do you always play like a victim....aka a liberal?

 

The rest of your post was even less relevant to the thread, so I just snipped it out so as not to clutter it up any more. The guy doesn't need a lecture on defensive driving, he wants to be able to use his CB, and gave us some examples of why it frustrates him that he can't.

That might be because you played the "experience card" yourself, and it turned out most of your "experience" wasn't even driving a truck.