TRUCKERS' TIPS
Safety tips for 4 wheelers.
NO MATTER HOW YOU GOT INTO YOUR PREDICTAMENT IT'LL BE SPEED THAT'L KILL YOU
If you drive a 4 wheeler you probably won't agree with everything I say here. And everything I say here might not be proper, but it's the way it is from the truck drivers view. If you understand the truck driver you won't have any trouble with him. Maybe might doesn't make right, but he's a lot bigger than you!
DON'T RENT A U HAUL TRUCK
Rent a Ryder truck. The yellow one. U Haul trucks are older and I'm always seeing them broke down along the highway. It's rare to see a Ryder truck broke down.
NEVER STAY ALONGSIDE OF A TRUCK
That cruise control is great but when passing a semi don't just creep past. Some 4 wheelers will sometimes just sit there alongside a big truck. That's dangerous. When a smokeys on the side with a paying customer (someone getting a ticket) the trucker will always give a professional curtesy by moving into the left lane and giving plenty of clearance. In some states it's the law and a driver will be ticket if he doesn't. Drivers have always done this though, even for a 4 wheeler on the side. Also sometimes after long hours in the truck we get a little careless and might be reaching for something in the cab and drift into the left lane. It's happened to me! Before I reach for something though I look to make sure no-ones there just in case.
NEVER STOP ALONG THE SHOULDER
There's been a lot of accidents involving semi's lately right here in Colona. Last week a big rig hit state highway truck that was stopped. The state truck even had one of those big flashing arrows. Yesterday the state police were stopped blocking a lane during an accident investigation where a driver fell asleep crossing the median and hitting another truck head-on killing that driver. The police did a dumb thing by using an unmarked car to block the highway. It did have small flashers in the rear window. It's daytime and they did have fuzzees out. A Warren Transport driver hit the back of the squad car. The truck jacknifed into the median. Camera crews where filming the first accident and got the second in live action. It was really impressive. It gave me the jitters though. I guess my job's more dangerous than I realize. Anyway have you ever noticed how truck drivers always stop on the entrance ramp to nap or cool down a tire (taking a pee break)? Never stop along the interstate or highway. It's too dangerous! I see four wheelers doing this all the time to read a map, make a cell call. Even girls taking a leek along the road! I'll tell those stories in person only! Remember, speeds on the entrance ramp are lower than on an exit ramp.
LOOK BEFORE MERGING
Most drivers don't look to their left until it's too late then they don't have time to speed up or slow down before merging. When I haven't been able to pull over for them I have watched them kick up dust and rocks driving down the shoulder. Drivers entering an interstate do not have the right-of-way. Vehicles on the interstate do not have to pull over or slow down so the entering vehicle can get on. Most truck drivers will pull over when possible, when they do don't just let them hang in the left lane. Speed up so they can get back into the right lane. Most truck drivers won't slow down for someone to get on, it's to hard to get speed back up and they have to down shift.
I almost hit a 4 wheeler the other day. It was entering the interstate at a slow speed, I had numerous cars alongside of me in the left lane, the only thing I could do was slam on the brakes. My load slammed forward while I gave her a healty blast of the air horn! She tells me I'm number one (flips the bird)! She seemed to think I was at fault and had no idea how close she came to getting squished! If I was pulling a flat bed with a load of steel she probably would have gotten me killed when the steel slides under the chains and penetrates the cab.
BREAK DOWN
If you have a break down on the highway don't just sit in your car with the hood up. People will figure you have help on the way. Get out and try to flag someone down. Most truckers will stop if they know you need help. I will only stop when I see they need help. It's too dangerous otherwise. Most of the time people are simply makeing a call with their cell phone, reading a map or letting a child urinate. It's real hard to stop a truck fast and by the time I think they might need help I've gone past. Many times I've even seen cops drive by. REMEMBER YOU MUST ASK FOR HELP.
LANE CHANGE
When you see a semi put on his turn signals to change lanes stay out of his way. I hate to say it but when most truck drivers put on their signals to change lanes they move over at the same time. That's not a proper warning, but that's what most of them do. They might not see you alongside. Usually when I put on my signal the cars that are behind me at a safe distance in the left lane speed up to stop me. They don't want to be behind a truck. I might slow them down I guess. They do the exact opposite of what they should do. When I see this I must admit sometimes I keep edging over. What's really stupid is they don't budge either. Sometimes they will take the left shoulder. Most of the time though for safety's sake I give in. Just stay back, the half-a-minute you loose is nothing.
More coming.
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