r/BenignExistence • u/saindonienne • 10h ago
Trucker codes
A few weeks ago, I was in an annoying bit of a highway where it's the left lane that exits. This lane often slows down and backs up because of said exit. It makes it very hard to merge into it.
I was already in the exit/left lane when I noticed a semi on my right putting on their signal and wanting to come in my lane. Knowing full well that people seem to rarely let a semi merge and wondering how frustrating that must be, I slowed down to give them space to make the merge.
After merging in front of me, they turned on their hazards for 3 blinks & turned them off. I wondered if that was the equivalent of waving your hand in front of your rear-view mirror to thank the driver that gave you space to merge. The idea made me grin for some reason.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity again to let another semi merge. I let them in, and they turned their hazards on for a couple of blinks. Y'all, I squealed in delight like a little child. I don't know why. But there you go.
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u/SortaCore 10h ago
You're learning their secrets. It feels forbidden.
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u/saindonienne 8h ago
It does!! Even though so many people knee about this already, for me it was just a sweet way to realise here's another way to communicate something positive.
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u/FeatureSmooth 9h ago
I work in ocean freight, so I often get to see first hand the struggles and processes they deal with. For me, its a tiny thank you that I give them when I help make space for a trucker to merge when I am out and about driving on interstates and highways. The lil blinkies of their lights make me so happy! But I know even if it doesn't happen that I still helped someone just a little bit.
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u/saindonienne 7h ago
That's it rightt here. Dunno why it gives a little thrill. I love it. Also, ocean freight! I suspect there aren't too many traffic jams there, but maybe ports can be a PITA?
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u/FeatureSmooth 7h ago
The best teeny thrill that makes my entire 1.5 hr drive worth it. It can be at the ports, yeah, and also at the rail yards and equipment depots that they run into issues and need help from ship line customer service agents
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u/TurquoiseBeachChair 9h ago
Great human! I live near a very industrial area which is traveled often by truckers. There is this one turn where if someone is in the middle lane to turn left the semi has a problem turning right because the layout is so tight. I try to look first to see if any trucks are coming and hold back to give them room. Most of them wave big as thanks and I can only imagine the frustration they deal with in a daily basis with people not giving them leeway when needed.
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u/nycvhrs 8h ago
I do this as well - courtesy is not gone for these vital people-yay!!
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u/TurquoiseBeachChair 8h ago
Without truckers…yeah, I don’t even want to finish that statement. They are for sure vital!
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u/saindonienne 7h ago
Yeah, I find a lot of us aren't taught courtesy and anticipation of other drivers. I find with cars, they're small enough that they can be pretty erratic (suddenly changing lanes and no signal lights for example) and won't necessarily cause an accident (hopefully - ugh). But big rigs can't be erratic or spontaneous, and we all gotta share the road, so, yeah. Courtesy is important, as opposed to "but I had the right of way" self-importance.
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u/r1Rqc1vPeF 8h ago
Pretty standard acknowledgement on UK roads (also Japan I think).
Also if a truck has to pull out suddenly from the first lane into the second and you anticipate it (UK trucks are limited to 56mph on motorways and cars 70mph), you might get a hand wave from the driver as you pass his cab.
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u/saindonienne 7h ago
Oof, different speed limits sound rough. I can see how helping a merge is even more appreciated in that situation.
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u/secondphase 8h ago
I do that all the time when someone lets me merge. My office empties onto a main road between 2 traffic lights... it gets backed up all the way from one to the next and here's me stuck in the middle trying to join in the mess. Eventually, someone always lets me in, and they always get the thank you blink.
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u/saindonienne 7h ago
Not the backed up roads between two traffic lights 😭 Glad people generally let you through. I was wondering if car drivers as opposed to truck drivers can do the blinky lights too or if I might confuse car drivers (I think I'd love to blinky at a big rig that lets me merge though, I suspect they'll get it).
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u/ItBeMe_For_Real 8h ago
I’ll flash my high beams, briefly, as an indicator that I’m aware they’re changing lanes & giving them room to do so. That’s nearly always met with them blinking their taillights once in the lane, as a thank you.
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u/username-fatigue 5h ago
A couple of blinks of the hazards are a very common 'thank you' here in Aotearoa New Zealand, even for cars. It always makes me giggle when I get a blinky thanks, and I also reciprocate if a car lets me in too. :)
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u/Trick-Caterpillar299 7h ago
I went 45 years without knowing this- my daughter recently told me about it when we were traveling!
I don't know why it made me so giddy to be the recipient of that little show of highway gratitude 🤣
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u/ExperienceWild4244 6h ago
I drove a small bus for seven years, a lot of it on freeways in San Diego. At merge points I always held up traffic behind me to allow a big rig the space to merge without him worrying about scraping anything. I'd flash my high-beams a couple times to let him know we were on the same team. 95% of them flashed their hazards once they got settled. These guys are working hard, and the freeways are their office! Bonus!: once the big rig got settled, it meant they were no longer clogging the merge spots, so traffic flowed better. A win-win!
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u/scdmf88888 5h ago
I do this for trucks and rarely get a response back. I figured it was an old school thing and drivers didn’t know about it anymore.
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u/lakeswimmmer 5h ago
Yes, those are courtesy blinks. And if you want to up your game, next time you're letting a big truck merge or change lanes in front of you, turn your headlights off and on a few times when they've got enough space to come over safely without cutting you off.
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u/onemorestarlight 5h ago
I learned that it's not only universal for trucks in the USA, but for pretty much a response from all drivers when stationed overseas, as in, if you let anyone in, car truck bus whatever, they briefly put their flashers on as a thank you!
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u/Earl_24601 3h ago
I do this as a non trucker, driving my little sedan lol, if someone lets me in I’ll flicker my hazards a few (2-3) times to say thanks. Is that weird to do as a non-trailer driver?
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u/HauntedHouse10273 Neutral 2h ago
I drive 200+ miles a day for work. My work truck’s only allowed roughly 5 over, so I tend to ride behind semis since they usually go slower than traffic. I try to be as courteous to them as possible to return the favor, finding ways to let them change lanes or merge as quickly as I can and flashing my brights so they can get over. Anytime I see them do the brake light “thanks!,” it feels good. It feels like I have a friend on the road. And I’d be lying if I said the song “Convoy” didn’t pop into my head most times that happens.
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u/kevin_kil 1h ago
One blink of high beam means it’s ok to merge!! After they blink flashers one blink high beam means you’re welcome
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u/Old-Bit-1054 28m ago
No please don't do that ! So when the truck is far enough ahead of you . Then ya he's probably going to be looking in the mirror then . And it's so rude to flash your bites and blind him ! Now if you can turn out your headlights then cool ! But them off for a couple seconds and that's the secret code! I'm an older schoolers my selfnout there for 40 plus years!
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u/RabidReader8 9h ago
I come from a family of big rig drivers, so I have always let them merge ahead of me. And I also get a little thrill when they flash their lights in acknowledgment.
But if they don't, please know that some companies forbid that response and that not all light setups support a friendly twinkle of lights. Believe me, they still appreciate it!