"Little Trucks" versus the World

Jimmy · Jul 14, 2004

I thought I would post this in after reading Romoore 245's post on getting into expediting.
Do any of you folks in the "Little Trucks" ever felt like your the poor relation to the big trucks out there?What I am trying to get at is that some of these so-called "professional" 18 wheel drivers veiw you as low as they do the 4 wheelers? I know that 99.9% of all of us out there (Big & Little trucks) do our jobs with an eye on being safe& courteous to all we run across,but it seems like it's getting more prevalent! Any veiws from ya'all would be appreciated.
Jimmy

romoore245 · Jul 14, 2004

Well the only 18 wheeler that went up against our little truck is headed to the scrap pile. We will be repaired and on the road again in no time.

davekc · Jul 14, 2004

I can't say I honestly notice any difference. More often than not, I get approached more often by TT drivers than I do expediters. Most are curious about the business or want to know something about our truck or doggies.....two pomeranians.

Jimmy · Jul 14, 2004

Hey ya'all,
Back again. Slow day.Romoore 245 glad to hear you will be back soon .
Dave yes I get a lot of questions too from a lot of 18 wheelers about my "Little Truck". Maybe it's me with a bad case of paranoria, I don't know but seems like lately I've had more bad experinces with the big trucks than good. The small stuff like cutting me off for lane changing,being told I'm not moving fast enough for them (even when I'm in the far right lane).Even being threatened by one just because he didn't like anyone who drove a 6 wheeler. Go figure on that one. Like I said maybe it's my time of the year for the "nut's".
Maybe later on it will get better. ThanksJimmy

davekc · Jul 15, 2004

It is like any profession, for every 10 good ones, 1 will be an idiot. You just haven't ran into the other 9 yet.

chetjester · Jul 15, 2004

I find I get just as much respect as the bigger trucks. I get the headlights flashed to let me know it's safe to get back into the right lane. When I have flashed a big truck to move over, those that will thank you, thank me either on the CB or by flashing their trailer lights.

I feel like I'm part of the big rig population. Until I get into a truck stop and it becomes so easy for me to find a space and back into it first time!!! Yee Haw!!! I think of getting back into an 18-wheeler often. Then, I wake up and realize I was just having a nightmare.

At a truck stop, nobody knows what kind of vehicle you came out of. They just know you are part of the driver population and also know you have to put up with the same bull that everyone does. Little do they know it is a better life in expediting.

raceman · Jul 15, 2004

I hear you. I have had that feeling many times. I look back on it and I would say it is 75% good and 25% bad. The 75% that are good to us are real good and my experience with the bad 25% has been real bad. I was coming out of NJ and had one guy trying to run me off the road. I told him on the CB I was turning him in to his company and he simply said go ahead MF. I have been told to get the hell out of truck stops that they were for trucks. But I have had some guys talk to me all night, direct me and help me. I have found it is the younger guys that usally have a problem. The good ole Boys are still good to have around. Just dont pay attention to the smart A--s and enjoy your job.
raceman

ATeam · Jul 26, 2004

Our (wife and me) experiences and feelings on the road improved when we started turning the CB off as a matter of course. We only turn it on now if we're in a traffic backup and want to find out what is going on. Even there, the disrespectful drivers are eager to condemn anyone within ear shot. I remember being in a tie-up where a husband/wife truck driving team was killed. The loud-mouths were not detered. They mocked the deceased. They mocked the drivers wanting to know what happened. They mocked the four-wheelers. They mocked the woman that tried to get the point across that this was a very serious and sad situation in which respect was appropriate. They had an audience in the backed up traffic. They had a chance to spew their sour grapes in every direction. That's all that seemed to matter to them.

One of the most curious sights I've seen in trucking is that of truck drivers that hate their jobs but continue driving year after year.

The drivers that condemn you for being in a small truck and four wheelers for being in the way have a problem, but it does not lie with you or the four wheelers. Try running with your CB turned off for a week or two and see what happens.

Twmaster · Jul 26, 2004

RE:

I spent 2 years hauling cars into and out of NYC. The first week on that run I had my CB in the truck. I soon turned it off and later took it out of the truck. I couldn't tell you where I stashed the thing and I don't want to find it either.

CB = Children's Band.

--
Mike N

geo · Jul 26, 2004

most of ya hit it right on the mark
when i started out in 1992 in my 1800 ud alot of places didn't know what to do with us
i would fill up and only take 15 gals or 30 gals of fuel and go in and
ask for a shower they would say you need 50 to 76 gals of fuel toget
a shower i would take them out to the truck and show them where do you want me
to put it on ground toget the 50 gals or so and i would wear them
down and get a shower or have to pay half price which was ok
was able to get 3 of major truck stop chains to change there policy
and had alot of friends along the way to help change policy
they got to point they would see me coming and give me a shower or
put me on list ,
made a point to get to know people at the fuel desk and gm and let him
know liked or didn't like about there place
plus letters to headquarters worked when someone was extra speicial

davekc · Jul 27, 2004

xm radio wins over the cb every time.

danzman50 · Jul 28, 2004

Hello all,

Well I drive an 18 wheeler, and I have all the respect in the world for you guys. You put up with the same traffic jams, the same poor drivers, the same everything, except the backing part!
I drove a straight truck for a bit myself, with my younger brother, and I know it's no cakewalk, besides, what makes the difference how many tires you gotta pay for, were all doing the same job.

Dan

Dreamer · Jul 28, 2004

RE:

Dan,
That's probably one of the nicest, understanding comments we've had in here from an 18 wheel driver, that wasn't also an Expediter. I've always maintained that a professional driver, is a professional driver.. I don't care if he drives an 18 wheeler, 6 wheeler, a van or even the career pizza driver... a professional is a profesional.

Thanks for sharing that!

Dreamer

[font color="blue"]The trouble with ignorance is that it picks up confidence as it goes along.[/font]

Cpl_Fluff · Aug 1, 2004

RE:Little Trucks vs. World

I am loaded with examples of tt guys not respecting me because I drive 6 wheeler. The most memmorable was my own brother. We got running together out of Indy one evening, he goin to El Paso and I to Dallas. BY the time we hit St.Louis he had started "Why'd you get rid of your KW and start driving that pretend truck. You ought to go back to a real truck." I answered him "Well you know my payment is 2/3 what yours is, and I get almost double your mpg, I can park anywhere, I have 4 less drive tires to worry about, my insurance is lower, I don't have to fix every other trailer i hook on to, and right now I am making $.35 more per mile than you are with your REAL TRUCK. I'LL TAKE MY TOY TRUCK EVERY TIME." Didn't hear from him again till Joplin. My truck was not mentioned.;-)

Lawrence · Aug 1, 2004

RE:Little Trucks vs. World

CPL_Fluff,

We must change your name to CPL_telling_it_like_is_10-fer!

:7 :7

Lawrence,
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StayStrong1125 · Aug 29, 2004

I respect 6 wheelers the same as 18 wheelers. I respect all until I have a reason not to. I flash everyone over. I'll even flash an RV over. I dont flash people over as a sign of respect. I do it as a courtesy for safety. If a vehicle has limited sight or if it's a large vehicle with something blocking sight, I'll flash. If its just a car, I wont. But if its a pickup haulin an RV, Ill flash.

I drive an 18 wheel TT, and I can tell you one of my pet peves is when I flash someone over and they dont flash back. That's annoying. Makes me not want to flash anyone else over the rest of the night. The other thing I hate is when someone comes over before I flash them. They come over way too close for me.

Wise man once say, "He who drives truck in white pants...soon drives truck in dirty white pants."