Worried about death from another "driver"?

Back about 6 years ago I was running a tank wagon full of 2000 gallons of diesel for a construction company - I was their fuel truck driver. Late afternoon, maybe about 16:00 I was heading northbound on I-25 just past the I-40 / I-25 interchange in Albuquerque en route back to the yard. I was in the middle northbound lane (of 3 lanes) where 3 more lanes from the other directions merge onto I-25 and I watched a girl in a brand new Ford come across from the eastbound I-40 to I-25 northbound flyover ramp and cut across several lanes of traffic.

As I was watching her, she cut across one, two, three lanes of traffic so I laid on the air horn. She kept right on coming over into my lane straight into my right steer tire. I ended up having to slam on the brakes and jerk the truck over into the other lane to dislodge her car from my wheel. The lugs literally chewed a hole through the driver door and part of the rear door as well - I could see the inside of her door panels....

We both got off at the next exit and I called the police and asked her if she needed an ambulance or anything. She declined and immediately got on the phone with her daddy. Cops showed up first and they questioned her and I separately on what happened. While doing so, daddy shows up in his Jaguar XK8, looks at her car and without saying a word he runs over to me and starts yelling at me and asking "How in the #### can you hit a car, you dumb truck driving piece of ####?!?!" Cops restrained him and she yells at him - "It was my fault daddy! I wasn't paying attention and I hit him - he didn't hit me!" Good times...

She admitted to the cops that she had her stereo cranked up, that's why she didn't hear the horn, and she was texting her friend while changing lanes and because of that she didn't look to make sure the lane she was trying to get into was clear. Since she admitted that she was at fault, the cops turned me loose after getting all my information and company information.

Two years ago, same stretch of highway, I watched an elderly lady change lanes abruptly right in front of me while I was running a KW T600 with 2 telehandler forklifts on the flatbed trailer.... Wouldn't have been an issue except for the end dump tractor-trailer that was in front of me. The lady almost missed her exit or something and without even looking she just yanked her car over right into the middle of the end dump trailer and had the trailer tires run across the hood of her car. Her car was totaled and the lady didn't have anything beyond air bag rash on her head. Had to hang around and talk to the cops for that one because the driver couldn't speak a #### bit of English. So until a Spanish speaking officer arrived, I had to tell them what happened, who was at fault, and all that crap.

 

Not mention the "other" cargo. Empty warehouses. There been a few times no securement and rolling. Kind like fire fighting duty with a rgn. I ran fuel 10,000 gal. t&t in pnw. not for me.nope. yours pays well i hope.

 

fixed that for you

 

Yes most of our guys are around 100k a year. I've only been here for almost one year and it's a really good gig.

 

I would try not to smoke so much weed hopefully that will help with the paranoid feeling you have.

 

Hi Canned Ham, nobody should laugh, there's nothing funny about it. Years ago, it was mostly 2 lanes, and that was a constant threat, somebody crossing center. And I won't lie, I had several times I had to hit the shoulder, mostly around 2 am (bar time) As head lights came at me, I'd stare them down, watching to see if they were coming over the line. Not too many trucks, though. Even though I no longer drive a semi, I still do that in my pickup. As far as from behind, I always watched my mirrors, especially if I was the last one in a backup, and left plenty of room, in case, like you say, somebody wasn't paying attention, at least I could move up a little to lessen the impact. You'll be fine.

 

Now there's a smart driver. Try to leave an out.

 

Worried about death from another "driver"?

i more worried about a shortage of kittens and puppies and bowls of chocolate milk.

i may have to resort to real breakfast cereals in the future....

lack of talent..??

nah......lack of being courteous, professional, and on time deliveries of my chocolate milk and puppies and kittens.

 

Eggsactly.

All local is OTR to somebody from out of town, all OTR is local if you live there.

 

Lol. There's medicine for your condition G. Anthony.