Truck Driving Etiquette

If you need a babysitter to change lanes, you shouldn't be driving.
As for those clowns that drive 1/4 mph faster than you and hang out beside you; it's not your responsibility to slow down. I used to slow down and let the other truck get around me, but that doesn't work. What happens is the truck then cuts in front of you and then you have to reduce speed to keep from tailgating. Now I just ignore the guy in the left lane; he chooses to hang out there and obstruct traffic and blames everyone else because he's ignorant. His mommy told him he's special and bought him stuffed toys because he agreed to attend school when he feels like it.

 

Buy these: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ca...5682&sst=07bd90de-c5b9-6e68-5282-00000f732b96

Use a trash can, preferably farthest from the store entrances.

 

I thought they were Mansfield bars. After Jane Mansfield.

 

This lights topic is making me remember trips I made with my father. One of the earliest trips I can remember was around 1964. I was six years old and on cloud nine. If I remember correctly dad drove a cabover made by White. I would sit on the doghouse and kill the headlights or flash the tail lights. This was before CB radios and I really was close to my dad. I remember us stopping at a truck stop in Breezewood Pa. I would sit with dad and the other drivers as we ate. That was 51 years ago now. I would give anything to make that trip again.

 

I drive an f150 equipped with a cb, if i don't key up and let the trucker know he has room to merge back i to the lane i will flash my fog lights or quickly flash the high beams

 

If you've got to pee in the middle of the night in the rest area or truck stop, don't hang it out the door and whiz on the ground. I stopped in a rest area this morning and parked not 50 feet from the door. The urine stench was so strong I moved so I wouldn't have to walk in it and track it inside my truck.

Wishful thinking I know, but there's no reason to act like an animal. Don't do it while at the fuel pumps either. I've seen that twice and both times I loudly called attention to it in an attempt to embarrass the offenders.

There will be times no facilities are available. I'm not saying never whiz outside, just have a little courtesy.

The best advice my father ever gave me was short and simple. "Son, don't be rude, and don't be stupid."

 

Great advice drivers. I'm definitely taking note of the high beam thing and about passing in a governed truck. I've always flashed the high beams in my pickup to signal to truck drivers that they can get in my lane. I thought I was being courteous but it sounds like I was really doing more harm than good even if it were for only a split second. Now I know. Keep the info coming. I'm learning a lot here.

 

The golden rule of trucking is don't do anything to slow the other guy down. We're all fighting the same clock. Examples; pull forward in the fuel island, get out of the fast lane as soon as possible, when your loaded strap and tarp out of the way so the next truck can get loaded.

If u pull forward at the fuel island be done with your business before I'm done fueling. Ect...

 

My golden rule is be aware of how your actions are effecting others. Its not just on the road or at fuel islands. Its things like being proactive when you have a loose belt on your reefer that hits metal and getting it fixed BEFORE you get loaded. Its things like paying attention to your tractor and noticing your air compressor pressure regulator is causing your escape valve to spit out air every 15 to 20 seconds. Its being a man when another driver peeves you off and not pulling his fifth wheel handle or his trailer tandems handle. Its not pulling into a fuel island and going inside to eat or take a shower, or worse yet getting into the sleeper. Its not leaving urine bombs everywhere except a trash can. Its not having a loud cuss fight with your wife or lot lizard at four in the morning. Its not being a radio Rambo. Its not cussing the waitress out or complaining about food prices or quality knowing full well the poor girl has no control over it. Its not parking in such a way in a truck stop as to block entry or exit into a service bay or cat scale. There are other things I could list, but I think I made my point.

 

It was probably where someone spilled DEF. You smell that all the time in truck stops.