What are your greatest fears?

That's almost as worrisom as bell bottom pants and poodle skirts and duck tail haircuts. Dang, what about those black loafers with the white lightening stripe on the side?

 

LOL.....you had to go an age us all , now didn't ya......been a while , you doing OK ?.....we're all good here in NC

 

Yeah, everything is ok. Yes, I did notice you're keeping a low profile the past few months. Nice to see you back onboard.

 

This is not so much a fear of mine per say but is something that makes me worry for the new guys. And this is an issue that creates a lot of stress for even the best and most experienced drivers.

I made a delivery in Connecticut today. The route out and back north, was different then the route in. I've done it several times. However, today, after unload, there was construction on the way out I was unaware of until too late, and traffic could not use the ramp to get on the northbound highway and there was no marked detour.

Not being familiar with the area, I was hesitant to proceed straight down a route where turn-arounds might be easier said then done, and low bridges might exist. The turn required to go to the alternate choice I made (the only choice in my mind) would have gotten most newer drivers into trouble to one extent or another. Other later preferred turns were undoable due to 15:00 traffic backed up preventing right hand turn. I had to later put my faith in my GPS, got onto my freeway going south and go south 2 exits then u-turn back north onto the highway.

Unexpected detours (road closures) in unfamiliar areas, with urban areas with tight narrow streets and low bridges everywhere can test anyone's driving and mental skills and their ability to make good decisions and implement them. Also, this is yet another situation where I must again say that no one should ever drive without a good GPS if they are regularly in unfamiliar areas. Having that instant and accurate map of my immediate area was so vital in being able to make good decisions in a very difficult situation.

 

I dunno. I guess my biggest fear is the one time I finally get flashed, my wife will be riding along that day so there is no way I can enjoy the view.

 

Greatest fear? Dying before my children are ready to live without my guidance.

 

Not making it to the crapper in time

 

OP: You work for Tri-Met? I have several fare evasion tickets from 10 years ago, from them. And that was back when Portland had "Fairless Square."

I haul fuel these days. My biggest fears come with interacting with an unpredictable public. I'm at gas stations in bad parts of town at 3AM sometimes. On more than one occasion, I've almost been robbed. I've had soccer moms flip out on me because they couldn't use their debit card at the gas pump. It's probably like how you get crazy homeless people coming on your buses, getting drunk in the back, falling asleep and urinating on themselves. Until you kick them off and tell them to sleep it off under the Burnside Bridge...

Driving a class A vehicle is, in my opinion, safer than transporting passengers. You are alone, so there are less distractions. Also, whatever you do that would get you killed/injured in a Class B bus, will also apply in a Class A vehicle. About 90 percent of these horrific accidents can be prevented by just driving a little slower than you want to.

 

I really only have one fear in life....giant man eating spiders.