A Question For Us Truck Drivers

Today's Thoughts 6/3/11 A Question For Us Truck Drivers.

I received a question from a friend of mine the other day. He works in law enforcement and was just trying to understand if there was a good reason behind what he witnessed two trucks traveling out on the highway were doing. I never really know how to answer questions like this. Trying to understand the thinking of some people is not always the easiest thing to do. But I always try to give them something to go on. I just wish we as drivers did not have to answer questions like this.
The Question:

"Can you help me understand something that bugs the crap out if me? It never fails that when traveling on the open road 2 trucks will pull along side of each other and run that way for 15-20 miles. As you can understand the traffic behind them is backed up forever. What is the reason for this? Is it just their way of messing with drivers or what? If it were to happen in my town we could have a nice roadside chat. Just trying to get to the bottom of things."

Several reasons....

Governed trucks could be one reason. If they were running around 60 to 65 miles an hour, that's all they can do. The drivers of this type of truck will set their cruise and the whole world can kiss their butt. The thinking is that if this is how fast they will allow me to run, then I'm going to do it come heck or high water. Even through slower speed limits, construction zones whatever; they will not back out of it for any reason. Being castrated like that saves the company on fuel money, but the psychology of the drivers makes them some of the rudest and most dangerous drivers out there.

Other reasons are the log book rules. They are only allowed so much time in a day and must shut down. It used to be that you could just redraw you log book to make up the difference. But now that Electronic On Board Recorders are being mandated more and more by the government and different companies, the driver can no longer afford to be courteous. It could cost him having to shut down just minutes from his destination or face penalties from being over on his time.

The number one reason in my book is that both drivers involved are, well, let just say less then professional. The one passing knew before he started that his truck would not pass in a timely manner. And even if he did not, should have been courteous enough to back out of it instead of blocking traffic.

The one being passed if for nothing else but for safety reasons, should have backed out of it and let the discourteous driver move ahead. Truth be known, other truckers do not view these drivers in any better of a light then you do. If you get a chance, explain that to them please.

And while you're at it, explain the fact that after being held up for so long, other drivers will start to act erratic and do whatever it takes to get around them putting everybody in an extremely unsafe situation. That they as professional truck drivers need to take into account that how they drive effects how others drive and that relates directly to the safety of the highway.

Anyway, what could I say? As hard as some drivers try to project a safe and legal image for the trucking industry, we still have those that do their best to project an "F you, I'm first" type image. All we can do as individuals is to keep on doing our part to clean up our image as truckers and make our part of the highway safer for those we share it with. Maybe someday the powers that be will actually listen to the drivers that are trying to do this right and the world will be a better place. Ok. I know, time to wake up from my nap. See you next time.

Jeff Head.
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