Disrespect on the road

I just saw a CRE truck drive by on 35. First time I’ve ever seen CRE out here in Austin. He appeared to be in control—not driving erratically.

 

I'll be honest... I've met some good people along the way, even if they were in a Swift or Shneider truck.

It's been a few years now, but I spent enough time trucking South into the US, and always kept an open mind. Some of my best moments were splashing back a case of beer with that Shneider driver. Or that Swift driver at the stop.

I've never had any problem with them, here or there. You have to start somewhere...

I started driving truck for a nursery, for nearly minimum wage, driving absolute junk around, delivering plants and trees. We all have to start somewhere.

 

Sure they can drive forward ok most of the time. It’s the backing though... I once had one attempting to take my hood off. He asked me if I would just back it in for him because he only had two weeks of experience and his co-driver (trainer?) only had three weeks.

That should be illegal.

 

Makes me wonder how they got through the CDL road exam

 

Soooooo,Did you end up putting it the hole for him?

I've done it a few times at customers-And Probably a dozen times in a truckstop- The 76/Ta in Fultonville,NY ,If you been there you know what im Talkin about

 

Nope, I made him do it while I coached him.

I seriously think the schools should get some scaled down tractor trailers and make the students spend a whole day doing nothing but driving them backwards around an obstacle course.

 

I think there's just a lack of courtesy out here in general with alot of drivers. I used to drive for Swift and now I drive for a much smaller outfit, but I haven't noticed much difference in how I'm treated on the road. People still cut me off, don't thank me when I flash them over (low beams, not brights), don't let me over, etc. Of course, alot of drivers are courteous, but I don't think we remember them as much.

The main thing that's different is I don't get Swift jokes when I mention who I work for. But I found that how I talked and carried myself made a big difference in the way people talked to me when I was at Swift. I know it will probably rub alot of people the wrong way on here, but I really enjoyed working for them and thought they gave me a great start to my career. I would have gladly stayed with them longer but they didn't have any good-paying dedicated gigs where I live.

Just keep doing what you're doing and learn everything you can. That was a good observation you made about needing to get over a little earlier. Stuff like that makes a bigger difference than you might realize.

 

I know exactly how you feel buddy its called professional courtesy or quite simply doing the decent thing i had the same thing happen to me when there was some road work on the I-80 and one truck refused to simply slow down a couple of miles per hour to let me merge, i mean seriously what were they going to achieve? Then had the hide to get on his CB and let everyone know how annoyed he was with me for merging in front of him with inches to spare.

 

They're rare, but if you do see a hottie driving that's actually hot, not one of those behemoths that have bootysniffed until they believe they're God's gift, odds are she's a Swiftie.