Rant from a Tow Truck Driver

The reason they have to have a law is that too many people will not move over.

We had a volunteer fireman hit one night in the area. They just drove right in the driving lane and never moved over. They paid more attention to what they were gawking at than where the car was.

Paid fireman in the Chicago area was struck by a 4 wheeler and killed.

You have to be able to hit the pocket of these fools.

 

Mr. nascarchuck: You addressed every point I made save the request to place cones or some sort of warning about 100 feet behind you. Are you one of those tow truck drivers who place them 15 feet behind your work area and expect them to be effective? I'm just askin'

 

If I can't get over, I slow WAY down... then everyone behind me has to do the same thing.

Ohio law requires that I do that. I got over once today and slowed WAY down once this afternoon. The tow driver waved a nice happy thank you.

Then the four wheeler behind me waved as he went passed me also... I think he must be handicapped as he only had one finger on his hand... I kind of felt sorry for him...

 

I worry about you guys... and whenever I see a wrecker, a cop, or an emergency responder on the side of the road, I always shoot up a quick prayer for your safety. I can't imagine trying to work with traffic flying by at 60 mph only a few feet away. I admire your dedication.

While the situation is different, one of my pet peeves is those doggone bucket brigades where typically high school kids stand in the middle of the road at intersections in an effort to collect money from passing drivers.

First off, who in their right mind wants to stand out in traffic these days? And second, there's no way I can stop my car, reach across the seat, open my purse, pull out a bill or some change, zip my purse, replace in on the adjoining seat, and be prepared to drive before the light changes.

These things are just pure stupidity, in my book.

 

It's not just high school kids doing it either, Ducks. During the annual drive for something or other, (I believe it might be muscular dystrophy,) firemen do it. And they always pick the busiest intersections in town.

 

i use to do that kind of work... i carried a few 2x4's with nails to mark my territory with..

 

I agree. Also, why do we need speed limits on freeways? Seatbelt laws? Helmet laws? Laws against texting and driving? And on and on...

Was it a swift truck?

 

i love when theres a broke down car/truck or cop pulled someone over on the right shoulder and im in the right lanee so i get over one lane and people just fly by me and stay in the right lane and dont even get to the left side of there lane....

if i absolutely cant get over a lane i will slow down alot and stay to the left of my lane

 

Something that constantly amazes me with many tow operators I see, especially with deck trucks, is the operator standing on the traffic side to operate the winch and bed controls. Mine had dual controls and so do most that I see. Remote controls should be standard equipment on every wrecker coming off the line.

It always fried my chips to have a patrol officer cruise right past me when I was working a disabled vehicle only to see him parked in the median or wherever "looking for speeders (read sleeping) within 5 miles.

Also loved it when I sat for an hour or two at a wreck while the officers did their investgative thing and then have them start riding me to "hurry up 'cause we need to get traffic going".