Things that make you go . . . Hmmmmmm!

It's the "class" of people who are starting to get into our industry because they see it as an "easy paycheck." Just look how many people post each and every day about how they "want to get into trucking because the job market sucks and it's guaranteed wages" or some other such crap. Trainers and mentors for the big companies have only been driving for a year themselves and may not care about the etiquette and ways of the past leaving new drivers short on manners. The majority of my parent's generation failed to raise kids with manners and scruples and it's bringing our society down. The legends of the industry are becoming just that... legends. Gone are the days of the "Bandit and Cletus." They're slowly being replaced by people with entitlement theory. I blame the hippies...

 

Hmmmmmmmm.

 

So how did we get from me generaton to hippies?

 

I have been given talks at safety meetings that insurance companies push drivers to NOT flash someone. You are setting yourself up for a legal battle if you do.

 

Legal battle for what?? Instead of a two sentence reply, can you explain the legalities of the tradition "Trucker Flashing/Courtesy lights"?

If I'm not mistaking, it's still the passing vehicle operators responsibility to make sure that they have passed the slower vehicle and have enough distance and is legal to proceed back into the lane in front of the slower vehicle. Whether the slower vehicle flashed or dimmed their headlights or not.

Just because somebody flashes or dims their headlights at me or not, I'm still going to look in my mirror to make sure I'm clearly passed and safe to move back over. Any driver that doesn't is an idiot. And any driver that flashes or dims before the faster truck passes you, is an idiot too. It's all common sense.

I still would like to see some facts and laws for commercial vehicle on this subject. Anybody??

But I could care less if drivers want to flash their headlights or not. If they do, I prefer dimming than high beams at night. Otherwise, don't do anything. I'll get over it.

 

Sorry Bud. You know how these thread can go sometimes. But I really do understand your point 100% in your first original post.

 

The legal battle comes from what was already stated.

You flash some idjit who's passing you. He starts to move over and side-swipes a car that jumped between you and the other truck.

"But the truck I just passed just flashed me that it was clear to come over".

You have now become "liable" for the other drivers actions.

THAT is the explanation that is given in safety "meetings".

Do I agree with it, hell no. Can I see the liability of it? yes.


I am likely to flash someone when there is NO traffic around, but in city (metro traffic), not going to happen.


As to the rest of the "old school" ways, too many cell phones, you broke down on the side of the road? Call the dispatcher and they can help you out. Might be different in remote Wyoming or someplace like that where cell service is likely not to happen.


Have had bottom feeder drivers come up to me and wanted to know if they could get a light from me to fix one that's burnt out. Get the hell away from me dude. Get your company to give you money to go inside and buy one.

Same feelings with most O/O. If you can't manage to have a set of spare bulbs for a mechanical part that you KNOW WILL burn out, then why are you running a truck?

I have helped out other drivers chain up only to be left sitting on the side of the road to chain up alone. I have also tried to share with others if I see something BLATANTLY going to damage tires in that case of chains with the cross bars turned inside. It was fun watching 6 tires go flat in 10 feet of driving. That was 20 years ago.

I see a smaller, closer knit group of drivers working together now because we stay in touch on the phone during the day.

I have also run across the country with a group of guys all of us staying in touch on the CB as we drove.

 

The same people who cry about not be flashed over. Also cry about nobody giving them a bear report. Nobody paying attention to what the opposite side scale was doing, people not having their cb's on. People who can't give them directions to a shipper because that guy keeps telling everybody he don't have no panties on. Lastly that 20 trucks don't stop to help out somebody with their triangle's out.

 

MNdriver, I now see where your making sense to me on the headlight deal.

It's all about using proper discretion and common sense.

Nowadays, I can totally see BillyBobNewbie blaming me for his ignorance if I flashed my headlights at him and a second later a 4 wheeler jumps in front of me and get's hit by Billy-Bob moving over and not watching his mirror.