Trucking, What A Great Family.

First, I'm brand new at this and suck at backing. Tonight, I pulled in late to Pilot 009 in Franklin OH. There are only a few scattered spots and they are all super tight. At some truck stops everyone is lined up nice and neat. This is not one of them. After trying a couple of different spots, I decided on one on the back row. I get lined up and start my back. No good. Reset and try again. No good. About to try again when one guy comes over to help me. Then three or four more came over to help. I was having such trouble due to the lack of space between rows. The woman who I was trying to park next to, was kind enough to drop her trailer and move her tractor out of the way to give me more room. Well it took close to an hour, but I'm parked and nothing was hit.

Thanks to this family of truckers who look out for each other and help this rookie out.

So, this brings up the question, where are all the complaining drivers. Haven't seen them or any lizards. I must be parking in the wrong truck stops.

Just keep in mind, if you're relying on a spotter and they guide you wrong and hit something, all they are going to do is say 'oops,' while you have the paperwork and explaining to the company on your hands. That's not saying to never get help, just make sure you still GOAL, go slow, and stop before it sounds expensive no matter what the 'helpers' are telling you.

I think the 'complaining drivers' as you so nicely put it are really just a very large minority. I've had the misfortune of meeting a few of them, usually identified in my case by my nickname of 'f***ing England,' and for quite some time I let the fear of running into them control me. Frankly, for the first few months the worst critic of my specific job (not how I do it, but merely working for my company) was really myself. I think the vast majority are either drivers that would give you the shirt off their back, or the ones that will stay out of things. The ones that will be 'complaining drivers' just happen to be several times louder than all the other ones combined at times, despite being a much smaller group.

Most of the complainers you'll find in places where there are groups of drivers to complain to, like in the television lounge, at the terminals, or at the counter in the restaurants. You'll also find that a lot of drivers have that "hidden complainer" inside them. In other words, they seem normal enough until you get them started.

Obviously there are a ton of nice guys and gals out there though. Some of the most fun and interesting conversations and characters I've come across were truckers.

I gues my sarcasm didn't show through my exhaustion. I'm sure I could find the whiners, I'm just not looking for them. I mostly keep to myself. Most of the complaints I hear are company drivers not wanting to stop at Joplin because their truck may end up in the shop for a few days. Of course the shop is fixing things on the truck that they found in the inspection bay and will keep their truck running safely. Those gripes are usuly fairly light hearted as they know it's for their own good.

In general, I keep to myself.

Thanks to this family of truckers who look out for each other and help this rookie out.

Yeah, my experience has been that most drivers are friendly or at least keep to themselves. But I've also noticed that by some strange coincidence, the most helpful driver is often the one whose truck is on the blind side of the space I'm backing in to.

"But I've also noticed that by some strange coincidence, the most helpful driver is often the one whose truck is on the blind side of the space I'm backing in to"

That's gold right there Kurt!