Should we, as individual drivers, try to be better drivers?

that is pretty bad those guys sitting there eating sandwiches. fuel islands and parking are a problem, but I tend to blame the truckstops more than the drivers. I really don't know where Pilot gets off with these little bitty parking lots. I mean if Pilot would provide a good sized lot with ample spaces those fat ######## would have probably went ahead and parked instead of sitting there. I also notice that many times the fuel desk is understaffed. When you have a constant flow of trucks spending $400-$1000 a pop I think we should expect to not have to wait in line to pay for our fuel. We should get more and faster pumps, more parking, and more fuel desk workers.

 

Please keep in mind that truck traffic grows every day. Every day there are more trucks on the road, and they can't build enough truckstops to handle them all.

I can't imagine what things will be like 10 years from now.

If Obama (and the rest of the gov't, both sides alike) wants to keep spending money to supposedly stimulate the economy, then please spend it on more highways.

Although I hate construction, it's necessary to make more highways. I can't wait for I69 to be done all the way from Indy to Laredo/Brownsville. I wish it already WAS done, it would make my life easier.

They could also build more lanes through Arkansas.


I'm imagining one day there will be truck highways, built just for trucks taking certain routes.

 

there is 50 million in the new highway bill dedicated to truck parking, san diego, baltimore, michigan, somewhere in Wisconsin all have projects in the works. I-69 already is a 4 lane basically all the way anyway, a few town bypasses would be in order but otherwise free wheeling.

 

I have been taking 69 to 70 effingham to 57, to 55, then across 40, then Texarkana US59 all the way down.

I swear taking US59 is worth it compared to taking 30 to 35 down there. I35 is a hellhole and from now on, since I go to McAllen and Laredo every week, it's US59 from now on for me. It's not any slower than being stuck in San Antonio and Austin for 2 hours. And the fuel is cheaper at the Love's in Edna, north of Victoria. And from Laredo to Texarkana, Google shows 607 miles taking 35 to 30, and 605 miles taking US59. And not to mention more parking on 59. I can make it up to Carthage where I can always find somewhere to park.

 

Couple things, I do everything I can to avoid parking in truck stops... PEELOT! Ha!! Sad but true. I NEVER wear my shoes past the space between the door and seat; and I'm very careful where I step. Yes, I use pissbottles; no, I don't toss them out the window, and I sure as hell don't piss in the parking lot! Nasty!!

Was sitting in the fuel island waiting for a truck to pull away so I could pull up, truck behind me waiting for me to pull out so he could fuel. After 20 mins, I got out to see if I could find the jerk driver holding up the show. Figured out who it was, coming out with food and a drink all leisure and stuff. I said, "hey, ya might wanna go park instead of sitting in the fuel lanes, I've been waiting 20 minutes, and the guy behind me has been waiting about 15. That's what those empty parking spaces over there are for..." He had the nerve to call me an as#$h*le and make like he was gonna start something. I looked at him like "what?", and he skulked off to his truck and slouched out of there. The guy behind me gave him an ear full on the radio, and the jerk was an ##### to him as well. Some people. I generally like my fellow drivers, but there are some real pieces of work out there... I hear drivers complain about how we're treated; but seriously, look in the mirror before throwing stones. Nasty pissbottle throwing trash tossing rumpled slobs have no room to talk, don't care what you're doing...

 

THERE IT IS!!! The post I was waiting for!
Watched a TMC and a SWIFT go at it over that a few years ago, I couldn't breathe the CB had me laughing so hard...
TMC parked on the island, swift is waiting for him to move. TMC comes back with a shower bag, SWIFT floors it and blocks him, TMC got out and started yelling at SWIFT. Well now, SWIFT gets out and drops a stream of profanity. TMC walks back and gets on the phone, here comes SWIFT with a balled fist. Took me and 2 cops to break the two apart. An extra driver and the rent-a-cop to keep SWIFT back. Steroids were found in the SWIFT truck... there's the clue right there.

 

Clowns.......the Pilot is filled with them. That seems to be the common denominator in the majority of these stories. Pilot is joke for a truck stop......filled with company trucks. Most.......certainly there are GREAT people driving company trucks........Most are clowns. I go to T/A or Petro just to avoid those problems....but I have a choice where the company drivers are stuck with $2.22 hot dogs and mind numb drivers that are a product of the "throw away" culture we live in. Everything and everyone is replaceable so why give a crap?

The T/A is not perfect and sometimes you run into those issues.......but IMO not as frequently as the land of " fuel and get lost". O/O's and drivers for small carriers......driving non-governed trucks......different mind set......different skill set. The majority of these drivers are well compensated and operate in a different environment than the company drone. And I'll say again......NOT ALL COMPANY WAGON PULLERS ARE LIKE THIS. But most are......likewise there are goofballs on the other side.....just not as bad.

I support the full service truck stop.......the Pilot can keep their $2.22 hot dogs and the clowns sitting on the fuel island choking them down.

 

heck, i was down in phoenix at the J 2 weeks ago. every fuel island had a truck. not one of them had a hose hooked up or a driver standing around.

i just pulled out of a spot from taking a nap. so i had to turn around to enter the fuel island in the appropriate direction. basically i was pretty much blocking some of the parking lot waiting for ANY of them trucks to pull forward. since i had no idea who would be first.

get used to it. won't be long now before every truck on the highway is a rookie.

 

I think alot of problems with the drivers sitting on the fuel islands is that they dont know how to back into a parking spot. Talking about being better drivers....what happened to the days when a rookie driver having problems backing in would get help from other drivers? Now, it reminds me of a spectator sport, its like everyone is just waiting for a crash! Rookies will always be here, lets be better professionals and help each other out.

 

the one thing I have learned in life is I am only in control of my own actions
I too get fustrated at others but I have no ability to change anyone or anything but myself
I HATE THAT