New Found Respect For Truckers

Thanks Renegade! If we didn't grow up in a trucking family, there has been this minor epiphany for us too at some point in our lives. I once upon a time (although I really really hate to admit it) was one of those a-hats that would change lanes in front of a semi at a red light because of all the extra space that typically exists. And in a tiny black car O.o!!! I wish someone had taught me better smh. But now I try to educate everyone I know and love and occasionally strangers. I imagine I'm not really making that big of an impact on the strangers, but the way I see it, if one person out of everyone I spoke to takes in what I've said and just once the information saves a life or serious injury, worth my time 100%.

Once I started being just around trucks and not even inside of them, I gained the respect I needed to have as a young driver. It really can make a truckers day when one person is courteous. What's really crazy is if you go an entire day with courteous drivers. I'm.....not sure that's happened yet lol, wishful thinking.

But now I try to educate everyone I know and love and occasionally strangers. I imagine I'm not really making that big of an impact on the strangers, but the way I see it, if one person out of everyone I spoke to takes in what I've said and just once the information saves a life or serious injury, worth my time 100%.

I do the same. I think some people think I'm over the top. Others seem to listen when they realize these rigs weigh as much as they do. I think most people don't have a clue.

They really don't. I've heard someone say 20,000....I'm like uhhhhh ya an empty dump truck is heavier. If it's online I post up the Alaska bridge weight chart since we can go over 80,000 legally. I actually thought it was weird when I found out Lower 48 doesn't, when I think about some of the bridges though....eegh okay ya. I kind of like to see the look on peoples faces when I tell them our Side Dump is legal for about 98,000lbs. And then I tell them dump trucks are legal for over 50,000lbs......and then to think about how many less breaks that is O.o! And that the average 4 wheeler is what....2,500 lbs? Some of em guys eyes as big as dinner plates.

Some of em guys eyes as big as dinner plates.

Haha I love the "Holy ****!" look hahaha. I didn't know this until I got into trucking, but my dad used to work for a bus company back in the day. He asked about my fuel mileage and was surprised when I told him I average only 8 mpg. He said they used to average something similar even though they did alot of city driving. I'm like, trucks are alot heavier. He argued that it gets heavy with all those people and their stuff. I'm like, "Okay so you might weigh 30-35,000 pounds" (just a guess, I don't know how much buses weigh)--"that's how much my truck weighs pulling an empty trailer." Haha

A few days ago I posted a picture of my truck since I was hooked up to one of our really pretty 50th anniversary trailers. My aunt commented, "That's huge!! You drive that??" I commented that it was 72 feet long, 13.5 feet tall, 8.5 feet wide, and up to 80,000 pounds and included that my current weight was 67,000. My mom said my aunt texted her something like, Wow no wonder you're freaked out! Haha

I think trucks are bad-ass, even my not-very-pretty, not-very-strong Freightliner (I'm trying not to offend it too much since I still have to drive it lol), but I want people to know how dangerous it is to drive around them. When my mom tells me she's worried about me, I tell her that if I have a collision with another vehicle and someone dies, it probably won't be me. The thing truckers die from the most are rollovers, which are typically completely preventable. I WANT people to know that if they cut in front a semi on a rainy day and hit the brakes, they might meet Jesus. I don't drive like I think I'm the king of the highway, but I think it's good for people to have a healthy respect for these vehicles, whether they actually drive them or just drive their little cars around them.

All true and good points :D

Ha ha when I end up slipping a diss out on my ride whether it be the car (mostly my car) or the truck I rub the dash and whisper "don't worry baby I still love you"