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My father's been a truck driver for nearly as long as I can remember and I can tell you, a lot of what's in this article is generally correct and a lot of it is
by masterzora 15y ago
My father's been a truck driver for nearly as long as I can remember and I can tell you, a lot of what's in this article is generally correct and a lot of it is only correct for some drivers, but none of it is total bullshit.
I've known a number of truck drivers and I've seen even more than that. Generally speaking, as a group, they are better drivers and more aware of the road than the average driver on the road. Not all of them are, and some of them do make stupid mistakes or drive dangerously. Sadly, from what I've seen, even the safest ones get flipped off and honked at just because the car driving too closely behind them apparently thinks the truck should be driving faster.
The financial information is pretty spot-on. Some truck drivers are making $40K (or even more than that!). The shabbiness of this depends on where they're based, of course, but it can be pretty comfortable. Some drivers make significantly less than $40K. It's a function of mileage and experience, for the most part. I'd say $500/wk is probably lower than average, but it's certainly not unheard of. Especially right now (I hate the phrase "in the current economic climate", but it's kind of relevant right now) loads are getting harder and harder to come by and the further ones tend to be the first that go. The miles just aren't there and this can kill the driver's family's finances.
Really, when it comes down to it, if a driver runs you off the road, call the number on the back of the truck (please, have a passenger do it if there's one in the car). But if a truck is just slowing you down a little bit, I know you in particular may know that there's no cause to flip anyone off, but this knowledge seems to be lacking in some people on the road.
- InclinedPlane 15y agoMost people don't drive defensively, courteously, or safely. When they drive around big vehicles their bad habits just amplify the consequences. It's pretty typical for people to drive in a truck's blind spots by either following too close behind or driving where the mirror's don't have much coverage. Also, many drivers don't seem to understand that trucks have different limitations in driving than cars. Typically I try to avoid driving just behind a truck (even in a neighboring lane) and I try to avoid being side by side with a truck for long. In my experience truck drivers are generally better drivers than the average non truck driver, but they certainly aren't perfect as a group.
- checker 15y agoBesides being dangerous, following a truck too closely will destroy the paint on your car because they throw so many rocks up.
- GFischer 15y agoOr your windshield (I replaced my windshield last summer, and almost immediately had it dented by a rock from a truck).
- jrwoodruff 15y agothe one thing almost EVERYONE seems to forget is there's a lot of space in between that truck and the car in front of him for a reason - he needs more space to stop than that little car. Don't squeeze your vehicle in that space, give him room, then get over so that when you have to slam on the brakes for the exit you almost missed, he'll have room to not rear-end you.
- 5teev 15y agoI've always suspected there ought to be a physics portion on the driving exam.
- tomjen3 15y agoI wouldn't call anybody because a truck drives slower than traffic but I would have called somebody if he is ever in anything but the right lane on the free way. It is not to go slow in. It is to go fast. And really flipping people of is the least you can do.
- boredguy8 15y agoAt least in CA, trucks can drive in either of the right two lanes in a road with 4 or more lanes in the same direction, and can always pass on the left regardless of the number of lanes. And just as an FYI: doing nothing is the least you can do. Flipping someone off is nearly the most you can do if you stay in your car & don't endanger the lives of those involved.