Much respect to truck drivers

[Cong405]

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/126619568.html#.TjliGe_CsCo.reddit

My friend just linked me this story. I've always respected truck drivers but I honestly never really gave it any thoughts about how big of a role they play in our lives. Much love and respects to anyone here or anyone that knows someone who is a truck driver :up:

[Fusion]

My dad and brother were in the business for three years, I drove a small truck to help out. Craziest job ever.
Some companies have 60-90 day payment schedules, but you get butt raped when your truck lease is a day late. Noone will sell you fuel with a 90 day payment. The freight job is often sold and re-sold through 5-7 forwarders, who don't even have their own rigs.

[LuckyHenriksen]

After towing my car trailer for a couple years, I definitely have more respect and patience for semi drivers.

[Dozyproductions]

After towing my car trailer for a couple years, I definitely have more respect and patience for semi drivers.

Just pulled a trailer from the Dallas area back to San Diego in Cali. Mad respect for momentum now.

[Ryann]

As a mechanic in a truck shop, fuck truck drivers. They routinely put themselves and others around them in danger by completely ignoring their equipment, being on the road far beyond legal limits without rest, and taking illegal stimulants to do so.

[mrsleeve]

^
Gotta make living some how.

But yeah those that bend the rules like that need to taken off the dam road.

[DuMa]

sad story but it doesnt make feel pity for truck drivers just yet. theyre just another thing i need to pass on the freeway to get to where i am.

[tjts1]

Because killing hookers and dumping the bodies in the desert ain't easy.

[M-technik-3]

As a mechanic in a truck shop, fuck truck drivers. They routinely put themselves and others around them in danger by completely ignoring their equipment, being on the road far beyond legal limits without rest, and taking illegal stimulants to do so.

Rules are now being more stringently enforced with the advent of electronic log books and digital scales and electronic customs documentation.

I have driven Semi for awhile when in the service, because of the location, hated the lack of common sense when it came to cars creeping into holes they shouldn't have. Ran a 40' Trailer over the hood of a Suzuki Cappachino 660 with a left hand drive semi in a right hand drive country making a left turn. Back wheels crushed the thing, but she had to squeeze in that hole.

CSX and much of the long distance freight trains are now! doing cross country deliveries with Ro-Ro's. Saves fuel and cuts back on wear and tear on the road system.

[slammin.e28]

Maybe if they would realize that if they miss the blatantly obvious interstate re-entry down the road from work (there's a Pilot at this exit), they can just continue for another two miles and get back on the interstate, instead of turning up our road and tearing the shit out of the grass, etc, while trying to maneuver around our fine selection of European customer and sales cars. Then, finding out there is in fact not enough room to turn around, so they have to make 50 million point turns.....and this is AFTER the fact that we have up "NO TURN AROUND" signs with pictures for those who can't read.

...all when they could drive two miles up the road and get back on the interstate....there's even signs directing them, but most that I've seen around here probably have limited skills with the English language.....although the pictures should be a good clue.

There was one blocking my way up to work this morning, causing me to be late. This set off a chain reaction, and my morning has been shitty ever since.

[M-technik-3]

Cones?

[Axxe]

I'm sick of the industry. My family has been in it since we got here in '81.

[Nick_S]

I worked for RedBull a few years back doing all the events in the area, had to regularly drive a 26ft truck loaded with crap all over. Although it's not a semi, the difference in braking, acceleration, visibility and having to be far more cautious is night and day to driving a car. I learned to be much more patient with large rigs having dealt with it myself first hand, it's nerve racking and frustrating when people won't let you over or flip you off cause your 30,000lb truck won't accelerate as fast as their car.

[mrsleeve]

I will say I learned how to drive Class A hauling Heavy equipment on a lowboy that was 55k lbs empty alone. Thats why I let my CDL lapse and never plan on getting it again.