Apology

When I was in training at Werner, my trainer's rule was to have the 4-ways on while traveling through a construction zone. Got plenty of comments from other drivers asking if we were a disabled vehicle. Needless to say, that was one habit I never used when I went solo and I made a comment on the trainer evaluation because I didn't think it was a good habit to be teaching, either.

I always signal a thank you when passing another truck (or 4 wheeler or RV because some times they'll sometimes signal you're clear, too).

 

YOU ARE WRONG......1000%....!!!

actually you SHOULD have your 4 way flashers on while going through a construction zone. its for safety and to warn others that you WILL BE going slower. up here in Mass, a (now former) student of mine, had a part time gig as a tour bus driver, and he got pulled over......

state trooper wrote him up a ticket for NOT having his 4 ways on...!!

i forgot the actual wording on the ticket, but cost the student $100. and it IS a moving traffic violation as well.....

uh so yeah......TURN THEM ON when going through construction zones. IN FACT, download a copy of YOUR state CDL manual.......

it will say, "turn them on".....!!!

i kinda think THAT werner trainer KNEW what he was talking about...!!!

and i am surprised the safety dept or whomever is in charge of reading those evaluations didn't get back to you on that.....i would've jumped into you BIG TIME......

 

Anyone remember WHY we flash someone over?
...
...
...
Back before the day of the interstate there were 2 lane roads and 200HP trucks!
There was not that much traffic either but as Murphy will rule. When Passing on a clear road, a car will mysteriously appear coming directly at you so when a truck was passing and the trailer cleared and a collision was imminent a flash of the lights was the signal. There were also other flashes as the thankyou or, hey, a smokey is ahead and then the hand signals before CB's were born to let drivers know of scales or other problems.

Flashing another truck over kept on when the interstates became the way to go.
BUT to me the silliest thing to do is wear out the light switch on a road with a divider!

No, really, why does a truck driver with a mirror need to be flashed over when there is no one coming directly at him?

I stopped flashing drivers over for several reasons.
California started to writing truckers up for speeding AND adding a following to closely ticket to the speeding because YOU flashed the truck over when he cleared your hood and as a fool he jumped right in maybe 30' in front of you! You get the ticket for following to closely which, well, you were and he's correct for ticketing you.

Then DRL's (Day Light Running lights) became popular to the point where companies have them set to never go off so when you flash the truck passing you 2 things happen. He can't tell in the day time you flashed him and 2 he says something stupid on the CB to you about it! (Do NOT pull the DRL fuse if it's NOT your truck!) It's really not that important to flash!

Then at night because of several things, flashing has become a touchy point.
First, is the same above. It's hard to tell if the lights flashed.
Second, drivers have gotten freaking lazy and instead of reaching for the dash maybe because he's a moron and driving down the road with his foot on the dash he can't reach the dash or he's just way to comfortable in the seat so they reach for the..........

HIGH BEAMS!

This is a MORON MOVE!

High Beams in the eyes and the silly thing is, for some reason these idiots will ONLY manage to flash them when you look in the mirrors!
NO Crapola!
Murphy's Law says so!
I could wait for 100 yards clearance and look in the mirror and flash! High Beam spots in the eyes!
It didn't matter if I looked just as my trailer cleared or an hour later, as soon as you look you get blinded!
If you are one of these morons, STOP!
I'd rather you NOT flash me if that's all you can do! DO NOT FLASH if you either can not turn off the light OR you're so freaking lazy to reach down and flip a switch!

BUT! If you ARE flashed over EXCEPT for high beamers thank them back with either the switch, a blink or two with the blinker or pull the flasher JUST be careful with the flashers! That can be a ticket in some places! But always thank the other guy except for the lazy morons and their high beams!

Two lane roads still need a flash at a passer but really? On an interstate highway? WHY? Yeah it's old school but it's new school and if this old school driver can get with the times so can the rest of us. Heck half the time you don't get thanked as I found out during the Thanksgiving week when I had to drive the 4 wheeler to PA. My count was 27 trucks that either passed or needed out and only one flashed the 4 wheeler back! Times are changing!

 

I'd be careful on that one. It's a good idea to let people know but some states say no. Like when you're pulling a grade and going slow I like the 4 ways on but again you can get a ticket in sone states. I'd have to dig to find the ones but CA comes to mind. I could be wrong but I know I've heard it both ways.

 

Doing a little looking it seems CA wants you to use the 4 Ways but there is some talk of UT saying they are only used for emergency and there are are sign warning drivers trucks are going slow. I hauled gasoline and my 4 ways where on everytime I needed them. I'd fight the ticket all the way but it does sound like some states want you to use them only in an emergency. Kind of of stupid if you ask me but still I'd check the state.