Want Truckers opinion

There are a lot of crazy drivers (car and truck) in Florida...that's my personal opinion only. I hate the thought of even taking a load to the state.

There appear to be even more that can't read.

Seen on a rearview mirror: Objects are closer than they appear.

Regardless of the driver and his abilities. Your abilities and reactions play a part in every "re" action a truck driver takes. You stated it was a stale light. Why would you move into the path of a speeding truck if you knew this? Suicidal maybe? Certainly wasn't a safe maneuver in my book.

Having a clean driving record is not a sign of ability or professionalism. Although it's a good indicator.

Everyone gets a brainfart sometimes...regardless. Hopefully, you won't have one at the wrong time.

 

No it is far from common practice. Unfortunately too many drivers dont pay as much attention as they should. I recently had a rig pas me on the shoulder in a construction zone. Of course a couple miles later he had those pretty lights shining behind him. But sadly there are some out there who simply dont think. As a general rule of thumb one of the reasons most drivers get upset is because of one simple rule most of us live by.

It is our job to protect life

Most drivers operate by that theory and belief. So it can tend to get under our skin a little when some people make that task harder by not seeming to care about their own lives. I apologize for the driver you saw. It is possible he had some sort of mechanical problem that caused this. If he had an air leak his brakes could have been inoperable. But rather than guess as to why it happened, all I would like to do is apologize and thank you for being an alert driver. Most of us appreciate that and wish there were more like you....in trucks and cars alike!

 

>>ABSOLUTELY CORRECT !!!

Not only is it a "simple" rule, by golly ........... it's the most
IMPORTANT rule of a Big truck driver's job, or even lifestyle.
What ever we call it,
DidntITellU,...................

YES.
You sure did.

Thanks!<<

Excellent points!
Excellent Post!

 

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

>> Disagree or not, It CAN be done. Especially in side mirrors. <<
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>> Why? They aren't needed. <<
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>> What "misconception?"
Did you change lanes BEHIND the speeding Big truck?

As I recall, you estimated that Big truck's speed to be around 70 or 75 mph, right?
If so, when you LEGALLY changed lanes, that same Big truck ALREADY COULDN'T STOP.

An automobile can stop from 65 mph in around 162 feet.
A Big truck at the SAME speed would require 420 feet to come to a stop.
Add weight
Add MORE speed
Add MORE stopping distance.
You do the math.<<
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>> Glad you asked <<

>> I see.
You didn't.
Why weren't you using your side mirrors?
What do you think they're there for?
** hint: it's the LAW that they be there and I suspect the LAW expects YOU to utilize them. And didn't you state in another post that you always obey the LAW?
Do you wear safety belts?
Why?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>> Possibly, but from your descriptions, not likely. <<
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Didn't you mention there was also an alternative route you COULD take?
If I were you, I'd stay off THAT highway where you're seeing all the Big truck incidents.

The Big truck burned in the ditch COULD have been a result of the Big truck driver getting cut off by a 4-wheeler. MAYbe the Big truck driver had a 4-wheeler signal, and change lanes in front of him/her.
The possibilities are endless.

For every 4-wheeler that get squashed, maybe 100 get away without a scratch because a Big truck truck driver sacrificed themselves instead.
By the way, my 100 number is only an estimated guess.

You seem reluctant to admit YOU may have made a mistake.
Are you not human?

 

I don't agree with the statement that a driver can accurately judge another drivers speed at night, when that person is a considerable distance behind.
Maybe with night vision goggles.

How many times in your earlier posts did you state as fact that the truck was going 70MPH, but now you can't accurately judge another drivers speed at night?

There is the misconception that I pulled out or changed lanes in front of this truck. There was 200 ft or more distance between us.

200'...that's about 3 truck lengths. If he was loaded heavy, that would barely be enough time to realize what's happening, much less react and begin to slow down. And you expected him to stop for you?

what is this about "objects are closer than they appear"? I thought that was the side mirrors.
I was talking about the rear view mirror. hmmmm

It is possible he had a mechanical failure of some sort. I travel that road every night, and saw a semi on the side of the road that had been gutted by a fire Saturday night

. Sure that's possible. But, then again, it's possible for me to hit the lottery, yet I'm still working. What's more possible is this...a car got impatient at an intersection and pulled out to pass another car...which isn't legal, I might add, but that's another point. Anyway, the truck, not having adquate distance to slow down or stop ended up swerving into the center turn lane in order to avoid wiping out one or more 4 wheelers.[/

Something else just came to mind. You mentioned that the traffic light was "stale". Did it ever enter your mind that the truck driver saw this as well, and he was increasing his speed in order to make the light and not have to brake hard to get stopped when the light changed? Just a thought...

 

Probably not! Keep in mind truck drivers are just like you. They have family and kids. They put their pants on one leg at a time. They aren't from Mars, and they make mistakes. They just drive a MUCH bigger vehicle than you. Some are jerks, most would be absolutely abhorred at what that driver did. And, some are bound and determined to do really REALLY stupid stuff.

He didn't have a mechanical failure. He was playing beat the red light. Unfortunately when we as truckers do stuff like that people end up dead.

Just know there are many more good truckers out there running up and down your highways. Those are the ones you never notice, and you will never give a second thought. Tomorrow on your way to work or where ever you may be headed, look for a good driver. You'll see them.

They will be in middle lane on the highway (not in the hammer lane) they will be the one that closes off the right lane so you don't get pinched while they make a right turn(even though you have zero clue what this means). They will wave thank you when you stop for them to complete their turn (BTW did you know it physically takes a semi truck 5 lines of traffic to make a right turn. Guess how much advanced planning that takes? Most make it look effort less). They will resist to honk their airhorn (no matter how much fun it is) when a group of kids in a mini van passes all give the "honk horn" sign to the big truck. They will be the one with a full legal rest period and are fresh for the day. They will go down the road drug free. They will call your car in because it has a flat tire (you'll never know it) on the one day your cell phone battery is dead. They'll be the one who spots the license plate attached to the Amber Alert and save another kids life. They'll be the one who slows down because you just cut them off very near an intersection with a red light (they just saved your life and you don't even know it) BTW, if I had a dime for every time that has happened Sam Walton would have been my shoe shine boy. They'll be the one getting it on down the road on Turkey day while the rest of us are sitting home fat and happy for a couple days off. Oh, and probably Christmas day too because this country doesn't stop just because of a holiday... (how many trucks do you see on the road while driving to grandmas house on Christmas day) they wont be spending that day with family.

Point is. Lots and lots of good drivers out there. Many have saved your butt more than once with out you ever knowing it. Its cool to be pissed at the one guy that was a jerk. Just don't hate all truckers because of one #######...

 

Depends on the BB factor, Mack.

*BB = Bed Bugs.
Little critters, ........not the household mover kind.*

:smt065