"Professional Steering wheel holders"

[G-Golly Wally]

Let me start by saying , I know there are a lot of truck drivers on here and I am in no way trying to belittle truck drivers. Our country needs your services. But, over the years of driving from Oklahoma to West Virginia I've noticed in the last year or two there are a lot more Truckers that can't drive. On my job I off load and back load a lot of trucks. I've seen more drivers lately that can't backup or even get close to placing the trailer where I need it, to best off load them. Some I've even gave up on and tell them, never mind, I'll make it work. I got run off the road 4 times last year during my travels, buy truck drivers . On the way back to Oklahoma yesterday, a driver was driving in the passing lane for several miles and never attempted to get back in the truck lane. So I gave a signal, switched lanes, and proceeded to pass 3 cars and the big truck. Just as I get next to his trailer, I see his turn signal come on, and he instantly starts merging into my lane, forcing me to the shoulder. So I gas on my little Nissan and finish passing him while on the shoulder of the highway get back on the road in front of him, and he lays into the horn like I caused him a problem? So naturally, I flung my arm out the window and let him know that I thought he was the #1 trucker on the road. He must have passed me while I got fuel and food at some point, because later I caught up to him and he lays into the horn again as I passed him a second time, this time without a near miss. But as I passed him and he blew his horn for a good 30 seconds, I pressed my hand to the passenger window and reminded him I still thought he was the #1 trucker on the road . Like I said before, we need truck drivers and the service they provide. But that was the first time I got forced off the road yesterday. The second time was an hr from the house, and again, he started merging as soon as I was about midway through passing him. What has happened to the old-school drivers that we had? It seems to me that the PROFESSIONAL TRUCKERS, the competent ones, are becoming a thing of the past. Again, not meaning to step on anyone's toes, just making an observation.

 

[Riverman]

Shooting drivers the finger seems childish and foolish to me. Nothing good can come of it. Better to not let bad drivers get under your skin. Encouraging road rage can be dangerous. Simply ignore them, drive safely and enjoy the day. Life’s too short to let things like that be upsetting.

 

[G-Golly Wally]

Shooting drivers the finger seems childish and foolish to me. Nothing good can come of it. Better to not let bad drivers get under your skin. Encouraging road rage can be dangerous. Simply ignore them, drive safely and enjoy the day. Life’s too short to let things like that be upsetting.

At the point I'm giving the finger, my give a F is all used up. May be childish, but that's me.

 

[AudioShockwav]

I have to say that most of the drivers I know have been on the road for years, recently a friend of mine received a bonus check and a award for 1 million safe miles from his company.
It's like everything else in life, there ARE idiots around us.
I don't allow myself to get twisted on the road anymore, just not worth it.
I just shake my head and keep going.....

73
Jeff

 

[G-Golly Wally]

I have to say that most of the drivers I know have been on the road for years, recently a friend of mine received a bonus check and a award for 1 million safe miles from his company.
It's like everything else in life, there ARE idiots around us.
I don't allow myself to get twisted on the road anymore, just not worth it.
I just shake my head and keep going.....

73
Jeff

I'm sure there still are some drivers that have been at it for years . But the one's I've seen with their barefoot hanging out the drivers window diving down the interstate, I don't trust to much.

 

[Eldorado828]

I've been driving almost 28 years now and I can say the trucking world has heavily changed in the last 10 years. The old school real drivers that I learned from started retiring out around 10 to 15 years ago and that started the influx of what we call STEERING WHEEL HOLDERS. The big part of what you see these days are truck driving school graduates from companies such as swift, Schneider and so on. Automatic trucks, flip flops and cell phones are the ways of today..... It's sad to see the professional trucker fading away. I've seen the type circle the parking lot 30 minutes until a pull through parking spot was available because they don't know how to back...... I once thought I'd never see the day but it's here.

The CB radio doesn't break the squelch anywhere like it used to and when it does it's usually another old school driver! It's like running into an old friend!

So to the O.P. , you don't offend me but please address the particular type (steering wheel holder) as such. There are of few of us professional drivers still in the mix and we don't want to be mixed into the same pot.

 

[doffo]

I hear ya.. For sure drivers with a CDL are held to a much higher standard than your average walmart issued driver's license. It probably happens more often than it should.

I've been driving almost 28 years now and I can say the trucking world has heavily changed in the last 10 years. The old school real drivers that I learned from started retiring out around 10 to 15 years ago and that started the influx of what we call STEERING WHEEL HOLDERS. The big part of what you see these days are truck driving school graduates from companies such as swift, Schneider and so on. Automatic trucks, flip flops and cell phones are the ways of today..... It's sad to see the professional trucker fading away. I've seen the type circle the parking lot 30 minutes until a pull through parking spot was available because they don't know how to back...... I once thought I'd never see the day but it's here.

The CB radio doesn't break the squelch anywhere like it used to and when it does it's usually another old school driver! It's like running into an old friend!

So to the O.P. , you don't offend me but please address the particular type (steering wheel holder) as such. There are of few of us professional drivers still in the mix and we don't want to be mixed into the same pot.

Glad to say my brother is a damn good truck driver. Yea he started in the early 2010s but still trucking to this day. He has stuck with working for Swift since so is used to hearing the grief. Handful of stories from him when he is able to backup his trailers just fine in some awkward spots only to find the other driver next to him asking how the hell he did it...

The thing my brother does NOT like is the automatic trucks. He prefers to shift them gears.

 

[Eldorado828]

The thing my brother does NOT like is the automatic trucks. He prefers to shift them gears.

Because a real driver wants a real truck and he knows how to float those gears without a single grind...... 10-4


Fun fact, a CDL driver who got his license with a manual transmission can legally operate both manual and automatic.

A CDL driver who got his license in an automatic can legally only operate an automatic.

 

[doffo]

Because a real driver wants a real truck and he knows how to float those gears without a single grind...... 10-4


Fun fact, a CDL driver who got his license with a manual transmission can legally operate both manual and automatic.

A CDL driver who got his license in an automatic can legally only operate an automatic.

Like I always say, you always learn something new everyday. That right there is new to me.

 

[G-Golly Wally]

My favorite driver I delt with at work was an old school driver we nicknamed Washita Bob. He could drive circles around everyone else I deal with. he was in his early 70s , he finally had to retire because of health issues. I sure do miss him. I even learned some tricks loading trucks because of him. He was the type that tried to make everyone's job easier.

 

[G-Golly Wally]

I've been driving almost 28 years now and I can say the trucking world has heavily changed in the last 10 years. The old school real drivers that I learned from started retiring out around 10 to 15 years ago and that started the influx of what we call STEERING WHEEL HOLDERS. The big part of what you see these days are truck driving school graduates from companies such as swift, Schneider and so on. Automatic trucks, flip flops and cell phones are the ways of today..... It's sad to see the professional trucker fading away. I've seen the type circle the parking lot 30 minutes until a pull through parking spot was available because they don't know how to back...... I once thought I'd never see the day but it's here.

The CB radio doesn't break the squelch anywhere like it used to and when it does it's usually another old school driver! It's like running into an old friend!

So to the O.P. , you don't offend me but please address the particular type (steering wheel holder) as such. There are of few of us professional drivers still in the mix and we don't want to be mixed into the same pot.

I changed the Title . Hopefully this is more appropriate.

 

[doffo]

I changed the Title . Hopefully this is more appropriate.

Yes.. Them damn professional steering wheel holders is better. How else are they going to keep their feet outside the window and on the dashboard...

 

[tramd]

Because a real driver wants a real truck and he knows how to float those gears without a single grind...... 10-4


Fun fact, a CDL driver who got his license with a manual transmission can legally operate both manual and automatic.

A CDL driver who got his license in an automatic can legally only operate an automatic.

I got my CDL back in the late 70's and you could operate any transmission. When did they change that rule?

 

[Dashing_donny]

Shooting drivers the finger seems childish and foolish to me. Nothing good can come of it. Better to not let bad drivers get under your skin. Encouraging road rage can be dangerous. Simply ignore them, drive safely and enjoy the day. Life’s too short to let things like that be upsetting.

I agree. De-escalate, rather than start a road rage incident. I drove transports for 9 years, and when other drivers make irritating errors, I just remind myself that it takes all types of drivers to make the conglomeration that we have on the roads.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

My wife's nephew is an OTR driver. When he comes home, he always has some interesting dash cam videos...