The most important item your not taught in training

Courtesy. Plain and simple. Rude behavior just shows how unhappy the other person is with their life. Sad really.

 

Sorry to derail the CB talk.

Here's something they apparently don't teach, diagonal parking. I posted pictures in a post last night.
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ads/diagonal-parking-get-out-and-look.308975/

 

I'm not old school, but I was raised in a family which was (work belt discipline, the whole nine yards), so I don't profess to be an expert on it, but I like to think I'm not completely oblivious to it, either.
On the matter of respect, there's two things they taught me. The first was that it's earned, not simply given. Which, yeah, someone out here has been doing it since the 70s, I can certainly respect that, and if they have something helpful to offer, you'd better believe I'm all ears.
The second thing they taught me was that it's a two-way street, and I think this is the part where some people lose focus. I may be younger than the driver next to me, but we're both adults... I don't care how many gray hairs they have on their head, if their first response is to instantaneously act like an ### towards me for no reason other than my date of birth, they shouldn't be surprised when I respond in kind. Which, for the most part, hasn't been too much of an issue, though there have been a few instances.

 

So if for the sake of argument lets say I was westbound and you are eastbound and I see any number of possible things coming out of the woods on your side about a half mile ahead of you, how will I say anything to you directly? Is there a 21st century technology that will allow me to do anything to get your immediate attention other than flashing my lights and looking like my truck has an electrical problem? Do I laugh when I hear about the truck that got a deer through the windshield? Perhaps it's a foggy type of day and the cars and trucks are wrecking into each other over there one after the other and I see more trucks coming, should I stop and throw a rock at you? quickly get my sharpie out and make a pictograph sign? Is there an android app I can get that will let me say something to anybody I point it at? (this has actually happened unfortunately). I think it is great that you have been driving so long unmolested by the world around you, really, it's great. Now me, I work for the government and I have a radio in whatever kind of truck I am driving that day. It's the same kind of digital radio that you will find in most any law enforcement vehicle these days, has all kinds of channels, I can talk directly to the sheriff's with it but there is also a regular old CB radio in there right next to it. It's there so I can talk to the quarry, or a loader operator and it's there so I can YELL at other trucks when I need to... It has a squelch so I can set it so the only time I hear something is if I am in the line of sight. I drove OTR back in the 80's and 90's and I still don't get what happened to the life out there??? Went on a trip recently and took that CB with me.. Nothing... It was kinda sad, there were few people running together or talking. There used to be a bit of a brotherhood but maybe I've been working local to long.. I don't get why you guys all want to have nothing to do with each other...smh...

 

Respect is earned not given... I don't run a CB currently and do just fine. Only been driving 4 years and somehow since I was only 18 in 2007 I'm a bad driver. Yet magically I have 0 accident or tickets, never been late for a delivery, don't go down a one way dirt road if my gps tells me too, and use my smart phone as a tool to help me. Ran loose leafs and never got a ticket. Get the #### over yourself, thinking your so ####ing special because you run a CB. Don't run others down to make your ###### feel better.

 

I don't want anything to do with others when they have the attitude of the OP of this thread. Acting all high and mighty. Don't come at me with that. I'll help you fold tarps or tie down your load, but only if you show me respect. You look at me like a stupid kid, who's a bad driver simply because of my age and I'll run circles around you just too prove you wrong.

 

I'm probably older than most of the people posting on here and have LESS experience than a 26 year-old kid who's got 5 years driving experience. Grey hairs don't mean a thing. I have a CB. I NEVER use it. It's never ONCE been useful to me in my one year of experience. It's mildly helpful at some shippers/receivers.

I use my gps and my smart-phone every day. I use my road atlas every few days, sometimes more. I treat EVERYONE on the road with respect. Because what OTR drivers do is HARD. I assume you deserve respect, until you show me otherwise.

Guess what? I meet lot's of helpful people. I've had guys spend 15 minutes spooting me into an insane dock. I've had guys help me tarp a load when I was injured. I've had guys give me tips and tricks that I use every day. I've had guys buy me a beer and tell me stories and guys pat me on the back when I've felt down.

You get what you give. It's just that simple.

 

Good Post Jubal3

I have a CB and it is off most of the time. I turn it on when I need a laugh. Like the one quiet night at a truck stop in Iowa off I 35 South of Des Moines a guy comes on the radio and says "truck drivers are scumbags." I just chuckled. I knew that was another driver just trying to rile everyone up. He succeeded mightily! All kinds of threats and constitutions came from a lot of trucks. I was wishing I had popcorn to sell for the show!

 

Technology is technology , use it or not.....CB radio can be a very important and a very useful tool....and it can be the one thing in your truck cab that you'll swear you'd wish you never heard of , or spent money on.
Respect works 2 ways , Myself , I'll give a person the benefit of the doubt , to begin with , and show them tons of respect , especially in a training position , now if I'm training you , ( 40 + years of accident free driving ) I expect you to listen , pay attention , and above all ask questions , if I'm not explaining why I just did this , or did that , then ask me why ...that's called communicating.

IMHO , like I said , a CB is a great tool , and a pain in the butt at times , but as far as to making a driver safer or not , idk. I do believe that the safest drivers are the ones that use , 1. patience , 2. common sense , and 3. always make sure they're proactive while driving , instead of being forced to be reactive.....carry on folks.

 

For some reason, I survived without a CB in a truck many many times. I didn't fail. It is a tool that is as useful as other people make it.