Two things that are beginning to hack me off

Yep, it seems to be getting worse, though, it always seems that way.

Yesterday, I had some hothead come up behind me in heavy traffic bearing down. He couldn't get out in the passing lane so started swerving into the four-wheelers to get them to move over or let him in.

They wouldn't let him in so he started swerving in greater swaths coming a few feet from sideswiping the passing traffic. Finally, someone slowed to let him in. But just then we started up a grade and he lost his momentum. Instead of swallowing his pride and moving back over, he stayed out in the hammer lane up the hill holding up all the traffic as he could not get around me (Sometimes I will slow and let a driver pass in these situations, but not for this idiot).

When we got over the hill and he passed me, I saw that the four-wheeler who had slowed to let him in had a passenger with a video camera trained on the idiot trucker. I came on the CB and told him he was under surveillance. He mumbled something that I could not recognize and he raced on.

 

There is always going to be someone in a big ol' hurry. As long as I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, if I get tagged by one, it goes on his (or her...I've seen women do this too) insurance.

Regarding the couriers, I am in total agreement. They are hauling doubles, which are less than half as stable as a 53' single trailer and always hammering down. And you are right...State Patrols rarely if every turn a hair when they go zooming past. If it wasn't for the company setups where you have to be at a certain place to meet up with another truck at a certain time, switch out pups and move on, with rarely enough time to do so safely, I imagine they would slow down a little. The way I understand it, UPS and FedEx have their routes set up on an average 55mph regardless of traffic or weather. This past winter, I saw more FedEx in the ditch or flipped than any other company. 08-09, it was Estes. Year before that, Conway. Always doubles. I'd like to see these companies give just one more hour for the drivers to meet up and switch...for safety reasons as well as to allow the driver to use the restroom and get a cup of coffee. There's no reason to push your drivers so hard.

 

Simple answer....
Too many CDL mills turning out too many "Steering Wheel Holders"...

 

*snicker* It's usually the guys doing this behavior who are on the radio b****ing about "CDL mills" and "Truck Driving School" drivers. Then, when they zoom past me,I look into the truck to see who's doing all the mouthing off and see a guy of whom I want to ask, "Does your momma know you're out here playing truck driver?"

 

Did their momma teach them to drive?...Probably not...Mom would most likely smack them upside their heads...

 

I learned to drive a truck the same way I learned to operate a backhoe..
Step-dad handed me the keys...and told me to get to work....
Of course I embellished my driving skills at the Teamsters CDL upgrade school....
I stayed there until I drove every rig they had...from the "Brownies" to the RTO's....The Lowbeds to the Double bottoms....

 

You Got That Right WCP, these young bucks think they are driving thier mustangs down the pike and play "What's My Lane" like a cab driver. Intimidation, not common courtesy seems to be the rules of the road for these cowboy's. I see so many drivers planted in the middle lane like they are riding on rail road tracks and do not even think about taking the granny lane. This is on the Mass Pike in light traffic it's just down right ignorant. But, I guess that's what the school forgets to teach.