Should I expect more from a professional driver?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bergy, Feb 3, 2014.

  1. bergy

    bergy Road Train Member

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    Not a driver yet, but I am fully immersed in this forum and trying to learn all I can.

    I try to be as courteous while driving - . I let people in, I wave, I don't cut people off, I signal, etc etc. That said, when someone does something selfish that affects the rest of us, I give them a blast and express my dislike for their bad manors.

    I already think of trucking as "my profession". Soooo, I find myself expecting more from truck drivers. When I see a driver doing something rude or foolish, I think "Why are you trying to make "us" look bad".

    Today I see a flat bedder driving in the hammer lane of the freeway. He has nobody in front, and probably 25 cars stacked up behind. I went in the HOV lane (legally) and got his company info off the side and called in a complaint (handsfree). I spoke to his boss who seemed upset by my call. She told me he would be called in for a sit down and was very apologetic.

    So my question is - how do you feel about bad truck drivers? Is there a brotherhood code where you always back a fellow trucker? Personally, I'd like all bad drivers to wash out and get off the road. I'm not talking about new guys who are learning. I'm talking about this guy today, or the guys who go eat or shower while fueling etc. If I see a guy come from the showers to his truck in the fuel island, I'd probably call his truck in as abandoned. I want these guys to get in trouble for their ignorant actions. Should I be more tolerant?
     
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  3. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    Can't wait to read the replies on this....
     
  4. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

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    I dunno.
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    Your gonna have to be when you get out there....because you won't go more than 5 miles without seeing something stupid.
     
  5. mpd240

    mpd240 Road Train Member

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    Unless it's a safety issue myob.
     
  6. rockyroad74

    rockyroad74 Heavy Load Member

    "Professional" is just a feel good title companies use, to avoid the subject of "fair pay". When you pay bottom barrel wages, you get bottom barrel drivers. And then everybody has bad days, or there is an unseen method to their madness.

    You'll need patience, lots and lots of patience, grasshopper.
     
  7. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Watch it, fellow truckers.
    Wannabe Big Brother is watching.

    Do you really hang around truck stops enough to see people go in to the shower (and back out) while the truck is in the fuel lane?
    In 3 years OTR I have yet to see it.

    Eating, yes.
    And once the driver came out and ate his meal in front of my truck after I finished fueling.
    He told me to back up and go around if I wanted out before he finished.

    I was irritated, but I didn't call it in.

    Bergy, if you are having such a hard time even before you start driving - I feel sorry for you when you actually get out here.
     
    Dinomite, A21CAV, Figgy and 1 other person Thank this.
  8. Mev

    Mev Road Train Member

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    Need to let NASA know...we've just found the center of the entire universe :)
     
    rank, teqntexas, Figgy and 1 other person Thank this.
  9. RogerThat72

    RogerThat72 Road Train Member

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    You lost me with "I'm not a driver yet." Get your CDL, drive a rig, and stop worrying about what other drivers are doing. I worry about me myself, and I.
     
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  10. x#1

    x#1 Road Train Member

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    no need to be professional.merely share the road and don't impede the traffic flow.going out of your way trying to be professional will give you a bad attitude.you will not get it in return for the most part.you'll learn that line,the one you set for yourself, when you get out here and sleep well to boot.

    do unto others and all that.you'll be fine.just no butterfly tattoos on your back,showing it off sashaying around-
     
    bergy Thanks this.
  11. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

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    I dunno.
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    Did you really just fold a tramp stamp comment into this? awesome.
     
    Northern Lights, x#1, jigger and 3 others Thank this.
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