Commuting - Abused by a Tractor-Trailer

On this mornings drizzly, dawn commute, I was riding along the shoulder of the highway, when in my mirror I saw a semi crowding onto the shoulder. I got over to the side of the guardrail as far as I could, when he comes flying by blaring his horn not more than three feet away. We were the only two vehicles on the road at the time, so I don't think he was trying to avoid anything. I followed the trailer with my eyes as it went by, hoping for a glance at the license, but due to the wet the conditions, the plate covered by mist. Frickin' truckers.

Best to ignore semi-evolved imbeciles like this. If he wants to let stress shorten his life, it's his problem isn't it?

I absolutely hate truckers. Just trying to avoid them is all I think we can do. :(

I'm older (almost at the half-century mark, but big deal). The reason I mention my age is that when I was a kid and teenager, it was perceived by the general public that truck drivers were the best and most courteous drivers on the roadways at least in the U.S. Well that has definately changed over the years. I think in general truckers are less professional than they used to be. It's a lousy job from what I've heard and a think less than stellar people take it on as a profession because of that. So as a result you get people (men and women drivers) that are in a hurry to make deliveries (pressure of the old bottom-line), don't have the values of yesteryear instilled in them by their mothers and as a result are often the worst drivers on the road. Generally speaking of course. I'm sure there are exceptions but overall the trucking industry is bigger than ever and in trouble financially (this is based on my opinion and hearsay).

Truck accidents are way up as a result. I recently heard that the turnover rate for truckers is at 100% a year. That is almost (all?) the truckers on the road today will be replaced, have quit, been killed or fired by this time next year and we'll have a whole new crop to contend with. How wonderful:(

Originally posted by bikeman
I'm older... The reason I mention my age is that when I was a kid and teenager, it was perceived by the general public that truck drivers were the best and most courteous drivers on the roadways at least in the U.S. Well that has definitely changed over the years.

Truck accidents are way up as a result. I recently heard that the turnover rate for truckers is at 100% a year. (

I agree. The venerable "knights of the road" image has been replaced by the unseen antagonist of the 1971 Spielberg movie, "Duel," in which a motorist is terrorized by the driver of an 18-wheeler.

http://www.eonline.com/Facts/Movies/0,60,5190,00.html


Last year, while walking on the road shoulder (there was no sidewalk then) near my office, I was right-hooked by a UPS truck. The driver cut across my path to turn into a driveway and honked her horn, as though I were the one violating right-of-way principles. I reported the license number and time and place of the incident to UPS, and although I never received a response, I no longer see that particular driver. Coincidence? I think so, but I like to hope not ...

I have always wanted to report inconsiderate delivery drivers... usually by the time I return from my ride, I feel so good, I forget about it. I like to think it would get them off the road. Who knows.

I do ride a road with little shoulder, and consderable truck traffic (Quarry and Large Grain Transfer),
and they sometimes come close, but so far so good. I do ride "very aware" on this road, and so far I have had no incidents.

I think most truckers are doing there jobs, and although there is probably a high turnover, it is mostly between trucking companies, and not drivers getting out of the business altogether. To most it is a carrear choice.... I think we notice the "rotten apples" more, because they affect us when they act like idiots. And with more drivers than in the past, we see more bad drivers as well.

So, I think the best thing to do, is ride cautiously, as we should always do, and if you are fearful of them, stay off of roads they frequent, as best you can.

There is a very, very simple solution to this trucking problem. They all represent some company or another, so why not set up a webpage somewhere and just name the company and mention the fact that they employ incompetent/inconsiderate drivers. I see Telstra vehicles have stickers claiming "Telstra values safe driving". We could find out a thing or two about it.

Originally posted by Steele-Bike
On this mornings drizzly, dawn commute, I was riding along the shoulder of the highway, when in my mirror I saw a semi crowding onto the shoulder. I got over to the side of the guardrail as far as I could, when he comes flying by blaring his horn not more than three feet away.
Thank goodness you are alright! :eek:

I would guess that driver's maturity level is measured in negative numbers. Why is an adult with a child's attitude allowed behind the wheel of a moving skyscraper?

I like Chris's idea. How many other people have stories to tell that could get some of these tossers off the road?

(Some of them take Speed, which makes them foolish and aggressive.)

As a person who was actually a long-haul trucker until about 6 years ago, I would agree that the professionalism among drivers is at an all-time low. Companies hire new drivers, pay them $h!t, then throw them away after a few years. I've seen it happen time and time again in all the major trucking companies here in the U.S.
What's particularily annoying is that, once a driver gets p!$$ed of at his own company, he's still driving a 40 tonne truck, and can use it to p!$$ off everybody else. It's amazing the ego one can acquire when they drive a big rig. It's scary how much damage they can do, too!

The truck that drove by me was a livestock semi that I would assume works in the area. I don't know if he has the same trailer everyday, but I sure would recognize it if he went by me again. Being vegetarian, I suppose it is only appropiate that I would be harrassed by a guy leading his flock to slaughter.

Originally posted by D*Alex
It's amazing the ego one can acquire when they drive a big rig. It's scary how much damage they can do, too!

I don't think it's just truck drivers that have an ego problem. I see plenty of idiiots in other vehicles too. Although an incompetent truck driver can probably do the most damage.

Don't forget about all their anphetamines, too, if you want to get really scared. In my state, there was a large scandal about people coming here from all over the country bribing our motor vehicles officials to get truckers licenses.