Profile For Bill M.

I think many believe that to be correct - it will be a matter of when. GOAL is always the best option, isn't it? Or as I started saying to myself after a near miss, GOALS Bill, GOALS - Get Out and Look Stupid. I can be hard on myself that way. I watched a guy do what Dennis mentioned - he was backing under a trailer and it was rising. But that's because the kingpin was riding the fifth wheel. I've discovered airhorns don't mean a thing. Nobody looks when you toot. He smashed his air wings on the back of the cab.

Be good out their BK!

Busy here. I'm getting my usual miles between 2500-3000 in 5 days. I could get more if I asked for it. But I'm content with things as they are. I'm not lazy—just content. :-)

Thank you for the words of wisdom, et al.

Like I said: I don't ever go looking for a fight. I've been around the world, literally, in many situations, civilian and with the military. I've become pretty good at reading body language, and tone. I have avoided countless incidents over the years. You could say that was a big part of the job I used to do. ;-)

In this situation, I felt this driver was just venting due to something else. My reaching out was in a professional manner and did not escalate the situation, it neutralized it.

As far as ending up at the same truck stop together, total chance encounter. He was in a better place and frame of mind by that time. He said he needed that.

As for Billy Bad ass's, truck drivers have carried all kinds of weapons with them over the years Fights at truck stops were very common, at least according to a lot of the old-timers I knew. Just as drinking was common among drivers. I think we have a lot of hotheads out here. I'm not one of them. I would never get in a fight or engage in confrontation. I always work to de-escalate a situation if I get in one. I have too much at stake and to live for than to be drug down into that type of thing.

Also, everyone is bigger than me I weigh a whopping 140 lbs. Lol.

In all my endeavors, I have never seen so many people ready to fight over the dumbest things. As a veteran, someone who was trained to fight and put their life on the line doing it, I am not eager for a fight. I prefer non-violent, non-lethal conflict resolution. It's so much easier, and it doesn't hurt anyone.

Yet, every day, I hear drivers cursing at each other and talking about pulling over to meet up at a truck stop to settle the dispute over whatever stupid thing they were offended by.

This happened to me the other day. I was driving in a 45 mph zone on Route 30 wb in Ohio. Ahead, I saw a vehicle on the right shoulder with a repair truck in front of it. The red triangles were about 1 foot into the right lane. I checked my mirrors and saw a truck in the left lane about 550 meters back. I judged his speed; I had the room to move over and back before he was on me. I did just that. Well, 10 seconds later, he pulled up alongside me and laid on his air horn to get my attention. He came across on 19 with a monolog of profanity and advice for me. Typically, I don't engage in such nonsense. But, that day, I did.

I asked him what I did. He told me I cut him off. I said to him my maneuver was safe and did not impede traffic much less did I cut him off. He then said something to the effect that I looked like the type of person who would do something like that. I said, well, sir, if my actions delayed you or in any way impeded you, I apologize. He responded he would take an apology from the bottom of his boot if I would only meet him at the next truck stop. I then said, look, I don't usually engage in these conversations, but the sun is shining, and the weather is beautiful; why should we be mad about anything on a day like this? Think of something nice, like a loved one. Call them and tell them you love them. Hug someone as soon as possible because whatever anger is inside you was not caused by me. But if it was, I apologize and will try to do better in the same situation next time. He said, I got your company and truck number, "next truck stop, driver, so I can beat your A**" Soon, he was speeding away in the 45 mph zone and out of range. Two other drivers behind me and being passed by him came across the radio and said they saw nothing wrong with my maneuver.

Well, Ironically, I decided to pull over for a break but made sure I went to the stop after the next truck stop. Wouldn't you know it, this driver was backing into a spot at the truck stop. I went out on the radio and said, hey, is that you my friend from the road about an hour ago? Are we going to be alright here? He came back with a completely different tone. He laughed and said "yeah, it's me." Everything is fine. Just getting some coffee. How about you? I said, same here friend - can I pay for your coffee? He said, nah, I got them both, friend.

Of course, I didn't let him buy my coffee. But he was as pleasant as can be. We both went our separate ways with a "stay safe out there" salutation.

Like I always try to say, today was a good day, tomorrow will be better.

Congrats BK!

I certainly don't disagree. I think it would be a stretch for a DOT officer to claim falsified logs for that reason. But, I still just switch to sleep birth when I go to bed for the night.

I used to go off-duty only. Our safety team said the same thing mentioned above - a savvy DOT officer could potentially say you were falsifying logs if you were in the sleeper but not showing it on your log. Heck, I log my 30-minute walks under the "other" category. LOL. Now, I hit sleeper birth whenever I go behind the curtain for the night. Avoid getting caught outside your truck or sitting in the front seat if you're in sleeper birth.

Not going to say that your point is wrong as it certainly has logical validity, but I would like to offer a counterpoint.

Since the only stated regulation regarding a 10-hour break is that it be 10 consecutive hours in an off duty status, I don't think failing to log "sleeper berth" when in the sleeper berth could be classified as a falsified log. Can DOT mandate that a driver sleep? Not really. DOT can mandate not driving while fatigued from lack of sleep, but DOT can't mandate how much sleep is needed because every person is different. Granted, being in the sleeper berth does not mean sleeping has to be taking place.

I agree that DOT seeing a lack of logged sleeper berth time could draw suspicion and lead to more scrutiny. I am skeptical that DOT would try to write a falsifying logs citation for not having a sleeper berth off duty status logged during a 10. One problem here is that a person may leave the truck and sleep somewhere else. While off duty, a driver is under 0 responsibility to show DOT where he/she has been or will be. My personal life is of no concern to that officer, unless there is probable cause that I have done something illegal while off duty and over which the officer has jurisdiction.

I used to go off-duty only. Our safety team said the same thing mentioned above - a savvy DOT officer could potentially say you were falsifying logs if you were in the sleeper but not showing it on your log. Heck, I log my 30-minute walks under the "other" category. LOL. Now, I hit sleeper birth whenever I go behind the curtain for the night. Avoid getting caught outside your truck or sitting in the front seat if you're in sleeper birth.

That's not virus protocol - that's programmed behavior protocol. The boogeyman is real, but the boogeyman points the finger to someone or something else as the boogeyman. Textbook psychological operations - 37F activate!

BK. This bothers me. I'll never understand why people can't put trash in its proper place. I don't call people names. But boy do we see some people engage in pig-like behavior out there. I hope that's exactly what they're using those scale tickets for.

I’m at a beautiful rest area on I40, east of Albuquerque. When I look out my windshield, I see a bunch of trash on the ground next to a trash container. Sad. The Crows love it, an entire flock (a murder of crows) is picking through it looking for food.

Interestingly, a state worker just came over to pick up the trash. I saw him collect a bunch of scale tickets from the rubble and keep them. I wonder if New Mexico uses those scale tickets to track down the person who littered? It’s so sad to me to see such a pristine landscape littered with trucker trash.

I used a portable unit for about two months during the summer. The reception could have been better. It seemed no matter where I sprawled the lengthy antenna, it never seemed to improve. I ditched it for that reason alone. Not to mention it was just one more thing for me to take care of in the truck.