Drivers parked in the way

Patience is a virtue, true, except when someone is on e-logs, they're 14 is running, and they're trying to do their job and get to where they need to be.. on time. So patience is a worthless option when some jerk thinks he can take an hour to fuel, eat, shower, rearrange the wires on his CB... do his taxes, whatever.

 

ever delivered to a hospital? when i was a local driver, literally every single time i went to one of the many hospitals around here, there would be a ******** toyota prius or chevy astro in atleast half of the docks, or in a spot that would make it impossible to get in to that dock

i left some nice little notes over that

there was also this ivy tech bookstore downtown indianapolis i delivered to that had about 5 docks, and a pretty big area next to it where cars arent supposed to park.....so they parked in the ******** docks! and id have to sit and wait for the 1 or 2 actual trucks to get out of the docks because in a place that big, nobody ever knew who drove what car or where that person was

hang on, gotta get my blood pressure back down

 

I'd be real careful about macing someone who doesn't feel obligated to move his truck. A driver I know at my carrier was arrested for assault for much less at the Bud brewery in Williamsburg VA recently, over the same issue - an argument over being blocked by an inconsiderate driver. He now has a misdemeanor conviction for assault, his lease was terminated, has an unfortunate DAC file entry, and his driving career appears to be over.

 

I used to pull sand to oil rigs. when I started everybody said "don't bother asking these guy's to move they e us and park in the way" the first time I was blocked I asked the guy to move and he just looked at me I just said while your thinking whether or not you should move let me explain some math to you. Your truck weighs about 4500 lbs mine about 80,000 you have a 20,000 dollar investment I have a 100,000 and it doesn't belong to me. Next I'm probably gonna get fired sooner or later anyway so why not today? the guy laughs gets in his truck moves out of the way and helps me back in. then brings me a cold soda! turns out to be a nice guy he just needed some education is all.

 

The nice part is the anonimity of the trucking industry...and with mace, an even further exception.

Officer: Who maced you?

Driver: Some big, bald guy. (Of course, that was an hour or so after the "macing", and while Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs took over, all the details of the altercation took a backseat.)

Or..

Officer: Who busted your mouth/nose?

Driver: Some big, bald guy. (I don't know many of THOSE at a truckstop...)

 

Well, just like nearly everybody else, I pull up to the fuel island, get out of the truck to fuel and suddenly need to pee right g-d NOW! So, I run in to pee (takes three minutes...I timed it.) Then get my fuel...another about 10 minutes and will often log it and leave at that point. Sometimes, I hold my water, fuel while doing the "I gotta go" dance, pull forward and go inside. Take care of Momma Nature, get a snack from the deli and a soda and, by the time I return to my truck a whole 10 minutes later, there's someone who only pulled in to pee behind my truck giving me the ol stink-eye. Sometimes it takes a little longer because it's a typical Pilot with four cashiers and one register open.

Of course, I want to log the stop. Takes me roughly 37.3 seconds to do this. Well, 52.7 if you're being obnoxious with your air horn. Nevertheless, my point is, a reasonable amount of time should be allotted for these activities. I'm not talking about a sit-down lunch and/or a shower. At least I'm not like that Covenant driver in Oklahoma City at the Pilot who stopped in the fuel island, went inside for his constitutional then meandered on out only to do a complete overhaul of every glass surface attached to his truck. Apparently, he didn't realize those invisible chains attaching the squeegees to the fuel island not only stretch about 75 feet and are so magical they actually go through trailers. In regular terms, pull forward and then walk back for the wash stick, ya lazy bum! That independent was waiting way to long for you to move so he could fuel.

I dunno....I think it cuts both ways.

 

You need a gun permit to get Mace in Mass.

 

Hmmm... know what ya mean Injun. Want to convince me to get slow real quick... I mean "gubberment slow?"

Just start laying on your air horn when I know I haven't been in the fuel island for more than enough time to get fuel and my receipt.

 

Nah wanna really see slow--get behind me as I pull thru the T/S(actually happened recently) and get on the radio and whine--#### is that as fast as that big fancy peterbilt can go? Four turtles made it to the exit before I did--and they started out that morning--even better when we got to the top of the ramp and he blew across the painted lines out into the left lane--to try and fly down the road--and about 5 minutes later when I had the cruise set # about 63-64 and had to pass him so I didn't run over his big fast gotta go truck--LMAO

 

I was at a TA the other day, I got in pretty early and got my choice of parking (nice benefit to starting my day early). The place was pretty small, and by 5pm, forget TV, I was sitting in the passenger seat watching some trucks do laps looking for a spot, others performing 40 point maneuvers trying to back into the few remaining, very tight spots. The next morning I got rolling by 3:30am. Someone decided to park on the painted "no parking" zone next to the center row of trucks. Three wraps on his sleeper and this guy was up like a shot. I guess he knew going to sleep that he'd probably be woken up at some point by someone who needed to get out. I didn't even have to say anything. With a grin on my face, I threw my arms up and motioned at my truck (which I'd already tried to get out without disturbing him). Maybe I was lucky, or maybe there is a shred of decency left in the world. Of course, the difference between moving your truck 20 feet, and having the police tell you to move it before ticketing you is significant.