Open letter to dump truck drivers....

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
To those who are concerned over my comments regarding 'cutting off' gravel truck drivers...etc.? No worries, I am not stupid enough to endanger my life (or others) by literally cutting directly in front of them and slamming on my brakes or something. But here's the deal....I've been very courteous of them by giving them needed space to merge, change lanes, or otherwise just move around on the interstate. I realize that they have a job to do and a full load to pull around. Have my courteous actions been returned in kind? Certainly NOT. Most are rude jerks that intentionally cut passenger cars off (including driving in the left two lanes as well as not moving over on uphill grades). In addition to the loads not being covered (peppering all those around them), they drive like they rule the road and have no desire to share it. I see many (on a daily basis) ride the bumper of the vehicle in front of them like they could stop on a dime in an emergency situation (not). Basically what I was saying was that I am DONE being courteous to these clowns and I will treat them EXACTLY how they treat others....but in a fashion so as not to endanger myself or others. And if I feel like flipping off or honking the [censored] out of my horn at one of these thugs? I won't hesitate...


I agree 100%. I see this rude behavior by truckers all the time...left lane camping, holding up traffic flow, tailgating, pretty much like you said, acting like they own the road and their time is more important than anyone else's. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt as much as I can, but as soon as I do, some jacka$$ trucker is pulling one of these stunts. I think law enforcement needs to start paying more attention to these jerks and start ticketing them...they don't own the road any more than the does the next guy...

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
I don't risk the life of anybody on the highway....ever. You've taken my post and the intent too literally. Why aren't YOU in an outrage over the habits of these truckers I describe if you are so concerned about safety and the lives of others? You are shooting the messenger.


"Outrage" is such a strong word, especially over something like this. [censored] happens every day and all we can do is deal with it. Over the years, truck drivers have cut me off, run me off the road a number of times, ridden my bumper for miles or crawled in front of me. But that's one person who happens to be driving a big rig, not all professional drivers. To assume that ALL drivers are "[censored] on wheels" is to paint with a broad brush as I know plenty of professional drivers who do a fantastic job working long hours on the road day and night in all weathers. When I drive, I try to do the same thing for them as I would like done for me - I try to be helpful. Do I meet the occasional idiot who should not be behind the wheel of a big rig? Sure, just like I meet others on the road in cars, pickups, vans and motorcycles who need a lesson in driving, but I don't let it ruin my day. Life is simply too short and I'd rather move on and enjoy the ride.

I hope you find your "happy place" with this - I really do. Just let it go man. Relax and enjoy the journey taking it all in stride.

 

[whip]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I do believe the owner of the truck should be responsible for ANY damages caused by their trucks, even if it was damage caused by a stone flung up by the truck's tire.

If I'm following you, and I get a chipped windshield, from a rock thrown by your tire, are you liable? What if it happened 2 weeks ago, but you look like a guy with really good insurance?

Most states, it's law that loads have to be secured. The problem is, most dump drivers get paid by the load. The more loads they run, the more they make. It's a pay structure that encourages unsafe acts. Things like taking the time to cover the load, or do the speed limit get pushed aside in order to earn a bigger pay check. A lot of this would stop if the pay structure could be changed.

 

[KenO]

Originally Posted By: whip
Originally Posted By: grampi
I do believe the owner of the truck should be responsible for ANY damages caused by their trucks, even if it was damage caused by a stone flung up by the truck's tire.

If I'm following you, and I get a chipped windshield, from a rock thrown by your tire, are you liable? What if it happened 2 weeks ago, but you look like a guy with really good insurance?

Most states, it's law that loads have to be secured. The problem is, most dump drivers get paid by the load. The more loads they run, the more they make. It's a pay structure that encourages unsafe acts. Things like taking the time to cover the load, or do the speed limit get pushed aside in order to earn a bigger pay check. A lot of this would stop if the pay structure could be changed.



More often than that, they're paid by tonnage. I've seen plenty of trucks over the years being as much as 10 ton overloaded. The truck can probably handle it just fine, but as always, it extends braking distences, as well as hampering the ability to quickly manauver. The laws regarding tonnage are strange, it's based on wheelbase. I've seen trucks witha sing axle installed - it swings down from the tailgate and lands on the road, therebyte 'extended' the wheelbase a number of feet, if not yards, now allowing them to elgally haul more weight.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I don't risk the life of anybody on the highway....ever. You've taken my post and the intent too literally. Why aren't YOU in an outrage over the habits of these truckers I describe if you are so concerned about safety and the lives of others? You are shooting the messenger.


"Outrage" is such a strong word, especially over something like this. [censored] happens every day and all we can do is deal with it. Over the years, truck drivers have cut me off, run me off the road a number of times, ridden my bumper for miles or crawled in front of me. But that's one person who happens to be driving a big rig, not all professional drivers. To assume that ALL drivers are "[censored] on wheels" is to paint with a broad brush as I know plenty of professional drivers who do a fantastic job working long hours on the road day and night in all weathers. When I drive, I try to do the same thing for them as I would like done for me - I try to be helpful. Do I meet the occasional idiot who should not be behind the wheel of a big rig? Sure, just like I meet others on the road in cars, pickups, vans and motorcycles who need a lesson in driving, but I don't let it ruin my day. Life is simply too short and I'd rather move on and enjoy the ride.

I hope you find your "happy place" with this - I really do. Just let it go man. Relax and enjoy the journey taking it all in stride.

Thanks for the advice. I do and have FOR YEARS just "let it go". But this is from an accumulation of incidents that honestly occur MORE than occasionally. Of course, I don't think that all gravel truck drivers are jerks. But, it seems to be from my own daily driving experiences that the good ones are now in the minority (at least on my commute). They have become not only costly to me personally (windshields replaced, chips repaired) but in the last decade or so they are threatening, aggressive, rude, and dangerous. My brush is not as broad as you may think. It would be interesting and perhaps enlightening if many of you folks on here could ride with me to work for just ONE week. You'd soon come to the same conclusions that I have.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: andrewg
To those who are concerned over my comments regarding 'cutting off' gravel truck drivers...etc.? No worries, I am not stupid enough to endanger my life (or others) by literally cutting directly in front of them and slamming on my brakes or something. But here's the deal....I've been very courteous of them by giving them needed space to merge, change lanes, or otherwise just move around on the interstate. I realize that they have a job to do and a full load to pull around. Have my courteous actions been returned in kind? Certainly NOT. Most are rude jerks that intentionally cut passenger cars off (including driving in the left two lanes as well as not moving over on uphill grades). In addition to the loads not being covered (peppering all those around them), they drive like they rule the road and have no desire to share it. I see many (on a daily basis) ride the bumper of the vehicle in front of them like they could stop on a dime in an emergency situation (not). Basically what I was saying was that I am DONE being courteous to these clowns and I will treat them EXACTLY how they treat others....but in a fashion so as not to endanger myself or others. And if I feel like flipping off or honking the [censored] out of my horn at one of these thugs? I won't hesitate...


I agree 100%. I see this rude behavior by truckers all the time...left lane camping, holding up traffic flow, tailgating, pretty much like you said, acting like they own the road and their time is more important than anyone else's. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt as much as I can, but as soon as I do, some jacka$$ trucker is pulling one of these stunts. I think law enforcement needs to start paying more attention to these jerks and start ticketing them...they don't own the road any more than the does the next guy...










Thank you....they often do act like they own the right to drive any way they wish and the heck with passenger cars and such.

 

[xxch4osxx]

"It would be interesting and perhaps enlightening if many of you folks on here could ride with me to work for just ONE week."
Try going with me to work for a week and you would be shocked at how many times per day I almost run someone over due to their stupidity.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: linkbelt
I bet your congressman is to busy running this country to get involved with truck drivers

Congressman are too busy doing what now?

 

[Jarlaxle]

Golfing?

 

[cchase]

This thread takes me back to JHZR2's thread about re-treads and my thread about sheets of ice flying off trucks.

But nah, anything we do to regulate or enforce existing laws regarding commercial trucking will cause prices of every product to skyrocket, so let them do what they want. I think that was the idea in JH and my thread by the truckers.

 

[antiqueshell]

The ONLY thing that will get these truck owners to be responsible and PROPERLY COVER AND SECURE their loads is to have a failure to do so cost them plenty of money.

Best thing a passenger vehicle can do is when rocks or other material causes damage to get the name of the company, the license plate number and a truck number if possible. Then contact state law enforcement. They have more leverage and will likely pursue not only the individual driver of the truck but the company owner.

 

[yucca]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell


Best thing a passenger vehicle can do is when rocks or other material causes damage to get the name of the company, the license plate number and a truck number if possible. Then contact state law enforcement. They have more leverage and will likely pursue not only the individual driver of the truck but the company owner.


I had a stone fall out of an end dump and damage the windshield on my bronco. I remained calm and took the tag number of the trailer. I got beside the cab of the truck and took down the unit number, dot number and the name of the company.
I called the company and talked to the manager. Explained what happened, time, location and the identifying info on the truck.

He asked me to bring my bronco down to his location so he could take a look. Once their he looked at my windshield and gave me a claim form and the number of the glass company he uses. I called the mobile glass company and they had a new windshield installed within a couple of days.

I was fully prepared to file a civil case against the company to recoup the cost of the windshield if they would have told me to pound sand.

The company did have a big shop that had some trucks in getting worked on. I would imagine they tried pretty hard to maintain their equipment to safe running condition.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: cchase
This thread takes me back to JHZR2's thread about re-treads and my thread about sheets of ice flying off trucks.

But nah, anything we do to regulate or enforce existing laws regarding commercial trucking will cause prices of every product to skyrocket, so let them do what they want. I think that was the idea in JH and my thread by the truckers.


Or just use rail and significantly reduce the use of OTR trucks which means far less wear and tear on our roadways, fewer accidents and fewer threads like this one. But of course that just makes too much darn sense!!!

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: cchase
This thread takes me back to JHZR2's thread about re-treads and my thread about sheets of ice flying off trucks.

But nah, anything we do to regulate or enforce existing laws regarding commercial trucking will cause prices of every product to skyrocket, so let them do what they want. I think that was the idea in JH and my thread by the truckers.


Or just use rail and significantly reduce the use of OTR trucks which means far less wear and tear on our roadways, fewer accidents and fewer threads like this one. But of course that just makes too much darn sense!!!
Good idea but trains can't deliver to your doorstep like trucks can

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: cchase
This thread takes me back to JHZR2's thread about re-treads and my thread about sheets of ice flying off trucks.

But nah, anything we do to regulate or enforce existing laws regarding commercial trucking will cause prices of every product to skyrocket, so let them do what they want. I think that was the idea in JH and my thread by the truckers.


Or just use rail and significantly reduce the use of OTR trucks which means far less wear and tear on our roadways, fewer accidents and fewer threads like this one. But of course that just makes too much darn sense!!!
Good idea but trains can't deliver to your doorstep like trucks can

Certainly. But if they are all doing local depot runs that means they aren't running down the 401 rutting it up, throwing 120Km/h rocks at cars and blocking the lanes when one guy tries to pass another going 0.5Km/h faster.

I'm not saying eliminate OTR trucking. But much of what gets trucked could go by rail. And it should.

 

[hattaresguy]

Loads should be secured and the back of the trucks should be at least swept after dumping.

What I suspect your running into are a lot of farm operators in a rural area, ie no enforcement. Around here the DOT would be all over a spilling load like that.

OTOH most motorists expect trucks to accelerate like their Honda and as a result tailgate them. This is a bad idea with large vehicles because they do kick up rocks.

Lastly cutting off a dump truck is a great way to get yourself killed. Dump and cement trucks sometimes run very heavy, ie they might not have 80k pounds in them and be legal. I suspect if they are as loaded as you say they are carrying quite a bit more, somethings 100k pounds. As a result they don't stop on a dime.

I have seen a triaxle run over a Camry when the Camry driver was trying to pass the truck in the drivers blind spot making a right turn. From the wind shield forward the truck crushed the car engine included down to about 6in. If the driver had gone another 2ft forward he would have been in their somewhere. The truck driver didn't even realize he hit a car, thought he hit a curb!

 

[cchase]

Normally I get the most issue with rocks from trucks carrying excavators off job sites. First few bumps on the highway send rocks and gravel showering everywhere.

I've learned to keep my distance although 3 years ago a rock got me from several hundred feet back and two lanes over.

 

[turbodieselfreak]

If it makes any of you including the OP feel better, I am IL LEO and cite those guys every chance I get. I could give two fornications about the "not responsible" placard on back-tell it to the judge!! "Not responsible" means "jack squat" under ILCS 625 and 720/725 traffic statutes. Most states require that your load be secured in whatever feasible manner. I drove commercial in a former life, there's just no excuse for an unsecured/uncovered load. Haven't lost a case yet. Tired of cracked windshields myself. All CDL's on IL 1, 394, I80, I294, and U.S. 30, take notice and FOLLOW THE LAW!!! I'm MORE than happy to hand out 4 digit tickets!!

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: turbodieselfreak
If it makes any of you including the OP feel better, I am IL LEO and cite those guys every chance I get. I could give two fornications about the "not responsible" placard on back-tell it to the judge!! "Not responsible" means "jack squat" under ILCS 625 and 720/725 traffic statutes. Most states require that your load be secured in whatever feasible manner. I drove commercial in a former life, there's just no excuse for an unsecured/uncovered load. Haven't lost a case yet. Tired of cracked windshields myself. All CDL's on IL 1, 394, I80, I294, and U.S. 30, take notice and FOLLOW THE LAW!!! I'm MORE than happy to hand out 4 digit tickets!!

Thank you! Keep on giving out those citations. I'm happy to hear that you pursue these irresponsible truck drivers. Now if I can only get my local state patrol to do the same. You know, if we all just did our best to follow the law and be considerate of others....this would be no real problem.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: cchase
This thread takes me back to JHZR2's thread about re-treads and my thread about sheets of ice flying off trucks.

But nah, anything we do to regulate or enforce existing laws regarding commercial trucking will cause prices of every product to skyrocket, so let them do what they want. I think that was the idea in JH and my thread by the truckers.


Or just use rail and significantly reduce the use of OTR trucks which means far less wear and tear on our roadways, fewer accidents and fewer threads like this one. But of course that just makes too much darn sense!!!
Good idea but trains can't deliver to your doorstep like trucks can

Certainly. But if they are all doing local depot runs that means they aren't running down the 401 rutting it up, throwing 120Km/h rocks at cars and blocking the lanes when one guy tries to pass another going 0.5Km/h faster.

I'm not saying eliminate OTR trucking. But much of what gets trucked could go by rail. And it should.

Rail is the most efficient means of bulk transportation. But no matter how you look at it, you still need the trucks. The gravel pits do not have rail access so there will always be gravel trucks.

Enforcing the rules about passing and blocking lanes while doing so would make a difference.