Be a Trucker not a Wheel holder

The Truckers Law


As a third gerneration truck driver, I have heard, seen, and done a lot of things. I have been a
onwer operator and a company driver. I have driven all types of trucks, both long and short nose, refeer and
flat bed, and tri-axle.


The thing that bites me the most is the violation of the unwritten laws. These laws have been over-
looked by new drivers and old alike and replaced by the use of the electronic devices. I blame this trend
change on driving schools and company training programs. These places do not make truck drivers they
make wheel holders.






Law one: Respect your fellow drivers-too often other drivers disrespect their fellow drivers by saying
or doing things for no cause; Example: a driver finishes an eleven hour drive day, pulls into a
truck stop and starts to park his rig, he is tired and his game is a little off he almost gets it on the
second try but he has to pull up just one more time. Meantime another driver waiting to get by
has been screaming on the radio "learn how to drive" cussing and swearing and offering no
advise.


Law two: Flashing a truck over into your lane-be curtious to drivers who pass you by flashing
your head lights but dont be a dick and highbeam at night, take your time and reach for the switch
to turn your lights on and off or tell them on the radio that they "got it if they want it" (use some
kind of truck identification).


Law three: A thank you-be nice to the drive who just flashed you over, flash the driver thank you.
There are many ways to do this, you can use your four-ways, a marker light switch or rotate your turn
signals, or over the c-b. There is nothing more irritating then flashing someone over and and they dont tell you
thank you.


Law four: Help out your fellow truckers-too often truck drivers will pass other drivers who are on
the shoulder. Move over and slow down and ask them if they are ok or if help is on the way. We
all get busy, but there is more than one way to help. Maybe they need to make a phone call to get
help on the way, or maybe just a lift up the road in which you are going that way. Or when you
are sitting in a truck stop and you see a guy trying to adjust his weight purhaps you know a way
that he doesnt so offer him a hand.


Law five: Talk to your fellow drivers-Saying hi at a truck stop may cheer up someons day. Talk on the
C-b radio you will be suprised at how fast a trip will go with a good conversation. Let people know
what is going on down the road "where are the bears" "are the chicken coups open" "is there a wreck"
"has the traffic stopped".


Law six: Dont hang side by side- If you have a sixty-three mph truck and a sixty-four or five mph
truck that starts to pass you up and you see traffic lining up, let off the gas for a second and let your-
self get passed up. there is no need to have two trucks side by side for five miles because neither one
will give it up.


Law seven: Proper lanes- This law irritates me the most. Keep your truck in the lane that it needs
to be in. If you are in a three lane and its "no trucks left lane" and the speed limit is 70mph and you
can only do 65mph, park you rig in the right hand lane, if you are hanging in the middle lane running
65mph in a 70mph your are causing a traffic back up, holding up rigs that can run 70mph. Move back
and forth as needed to try and keep the passing lane open.


Law eight: Fuel Island-the fuel island is there for one purpose; to get fuel. When you pull into a truck stop
know what you are going to do, if you need to just grab a drink, pull through and go grab your drink, but if
you are going in to use the bathroom and you know you have to take a 20 minute #### park you rig and then
use the bathroom. Think of others when on the fuel island with todays modern technology we have to save as
much time as we can.


Law nine: Parking Lot-Dont be an idiot when parking, trucks stops do get full. If you pull into a full truck stop
dont park in a place that is going to block traffic from moving around, when your looking at an optional parking
area in a full parking lot, think about traffice movements cause personally if your parked out of a spot and I cannot
get around, I will wake your ### up and make you move.


Law ten: Be a truck driver and not a wheel holder-A truck driver doesnt do this for the pay, we live our life a mile
at a time. Any truck driver will tell you there are days that this job is great and days that just flat out suck. If you are
going to be a truck driver you have to love it, hate it, then love it even more.




THERE AINT NO FEELING LIKE EIGHTEEN WHEELIN

Please if you think of anything to add to this pm me i will look at all and add what seems to fit