Should I expect more from a professional driver?

Always remember the old saying, "what goes around comes around". Someday when your driving. There's going to be another guy who will do the exact same thing to you. You didn't really know the reason why he was in that lane. So you called his company to get him in trouble. How can you tell the difference between a bad driver and a new driver. What if the bad driver was a new driver. How would you know not to make a call on him. It sounds like you might be over-thinking this truck driving. Take a few steps back, go getcha some truck brochures and spend more time at home checking out the big rigs.

 

I see both sides here.. often times I see a truck right up on a cars rear bumper.. makes me cringe.. cause I know if that car let's up of the peddle or God for bid hit's the brakes there is no way that truck can avoid an accident.. and it bothers me, cause it is in the lane next to me and I could get caught in the mess... so, it is a safety issue...
We all know there are aggressive drivers out there.. trying to bully the car in front of them with no regard to the safety and well being to otheres on the road... there is no excuse for it..

Then there are the annoying inconsiderate drivers who take up the fuel island just to go in a nd pee and grab something to eat.. I know ther are times when the truck stop is full and there is no where to make a spot just to run and pee and grab coffee.. so, I too have utilized the fuel island for that.. however, I do it as respectfully and considerately as I can.. meaning, I pull my truck all the way through and park it so a truck can fuel behind me, that gives me the time I need and I can be gone before he/she is done fueling.. and I do that even if I have to wait behind a truck till I can get out ahead.. I have seen others do this too.. so I am not the only considerate one out there..

as far as calling in a driver.. if they are being unsafe or reckless then yeah, but if they are just being stupid and inconsiderate probably not.. cause, sometimes you just don't know the situation.. the other day I got my butt kicked by the mountains and a heavy load.. and I was down to the minutes on my HOS, I had to take a 1/2 break.. I pulled in with seconds left.. and all I could do was pull into the fuel island and get off duty ASAP.. I was fortunate that there were plenty of empty pumps and I grabbed the farthest one from the door.. but, yeah, I took my 1/2 hour break there.. normally I wouldn't.. but I just had no time left.. as soon as my 30 was up I took off...
So, I don't always know what the situation is with the other driver.. maybe they needed to get something to eat cause they were getting dizzy.. or had to go pick up a fax and it wasn't there yet.. I know there are a bunch of hoops and hoopla that can trip us up at times and somedays HOS clock tics fast... sheeeesh

 

You're going to see a LOT of idiotic moves out there. Situations such as the one you mentioned are the reason some states have to waste money putting up road signs that say "Slower Traffic Use Right Lane". Those are for morons that left their common sense at home.

 

You should probably become a DOT cop instead of a truck driver.

 

actually the OP worked it in during another post.i think it is the same BFT-butterfly tattooist.

 

Lead, Follow, or Get The Hell Out Of The Way! I hate it when some dummy blocks the road. You need to carry rocks with you to throw at his windshield once you pass him.

 

Good question. Mistakes are no problem - I'm the easiest guy in the world on mistakes - Hey, everybody makes them. Arrogance and the complete disregard for others, well, that I will do what I can about.

 

Yes, you should expect more from a professional driver. Much of what you see, such as blocking the left lane, blocking the fuel islands and overall just being self centered, is from poor parenting. The drivers doing these things were probably given a trophy just for showing up in class during their school years & if they failed at anything, it was always someone elses fault.

Yes, I've seen drivers park at the fuel pump,then get their little suitcase and head for the showers. It's all about THEM because they were raised that they are the center of the universe and that everyone else is just a necessary evil they have to put up with. They think everyone else on the planet is there only to make THEIR life difficult and we just can't comprehend how special they are.

 

Moosetek - so think of it this way. That guy that was rude to you at the fuel island. Do you think that was his first or last time making life difficult for other drivers? If every time he pulled a stunt he was called by his company, he might just start acting human, and with some respect to his fellow drivers.

I'm not high strung or a hothead. I just don't think any industry has to tolerate losers. This is a chosen profession, so let's be professionals and do our best.

To the rest of the respondents, I guess I was expecting more of a mixed bag of responses. Am I offending people by not wanting inconsiderate drivers in this industry? I wish I was seeing more pride and a higher standard instead of blind support for a poor driver.

 

Some would say writing down a truck number and company name and calling the company while driving...even hands free is more dangerous to other drivers than someone holding up some traffic in the fast lane....