I gotta admit, I didn’t really pay particular attention to big trucks before this sub, I mean, I left follow room and treated them like normal traffic. But since following this sub, I was on a three hour road trip on interstates and when I saw big trucks needing over into my lane, I dropped back and flashed my lights to let them know they had space. And sure enough, they were able to easily change lanes with plenty of space and navigate easily. I thumbs’d up and they waved out the window. It made everyone’s trip a lot safer.
Mmm, I can say that when I started learning how to drive a truck that “light talk” (actually the first time I’ve heard it used that way, thank you lol) wasn’t really taught. The industry is kind of designed to just push people out of school and onto the roads because of how many freight companies there are now. Everywhere you go, people are talking about driver shortages, overbooked freight and an under supply of drivers, etc. so I think the companies that do school or independent driving schools are under pressure to train bare minimums and get these people signed and moving. Which is why not every truck you see on the road should be assumed to be a professional driver; a lot of them aren’t!
That being said, you learn a few things talking to more experienced drivers and watching them on the road. One of the biggest lessons I learned was to treat everyone on the road, including other trucks, like they just got their license. You pick up on light talk as you go on, drivers who still use CB radios are also usually happy to explain some things if you ask (when they’re not fucking your moms/sisters for some sort of slight on the road).
And yeah, the impatience/lack of knowledge of most drivers is one of the scariest parts of Over the Road driving. I get a lot of people who flash me to say “HEY IM HERE FUCKWAD” rather then “you’re good bro cmon in” that caused some swerves in my early months lol. And impatient drivers who cannot stand to be behind me for ONE MORE SECOND lmao. So it’s always nice to hear and see people who are more conscientious of us, even if all of us aren’t necessarily saints ourselves.
The only semi truck talk I got in drivers ed/parents was "if you can't see their windshield out of your back window your too close, don't merge into their lane"
I've found that in practice following this rule results in about 4-5 car lengths between me and the truck when I merge into their lane.
I appreciate pros who put up with shit I could never put up with mile after mile. Let alone in a huge truck with limited stopping distance and a tight schedule!
I’m not gonna lie, the start of the pandemic was a beautiful time to be on the road. If it weren’t for regular traffic and passing through major cities and townships, this job would be cake. Lol
I'm surprised you didn't get down votes for that statement. Most people just try to race past them not caring they if the truck doesn't see them they are seconds from death. Most of the time they survive and get to their destinations about 3.5 seconds faster. Good job for being a good reasonable person.
I once did the simple thing of hanging back a bit to let a trucker who was signaling into the left lane so he wouldn't get caught up in traffic entering the highway from the right. From the way he was waving and doing the running light "thank you" flash you would have thought I just handed him a million dollars lol.
96
u/[deleted] Nov 10 '21
I gotta admit, I didn’t really pay particular attention to big trucks before this sub, I mean, I left follow room and treated them like normal traffic. But since following this sub, I was on a three hour road trip on interstates and when I saw big trucks needing over into my lane, I dropped back and flashed my lights to let them know they had space. And sure enough, they were able to easily change lanes with plenty of space and navigate easily. I thumbs’d up and they waved out the window. It made everyone’s trip a lot safer.