truck drivin'

[low_delta]

Here's an article about what it's like to drive a semi. Roadskoller says it's pretty good.

http://autos.aol.com/article/general/v2/_a/driving-a-big-rig/20060914112709990001

I used to drive a truck. Not a semi, but a little six-ton (I did a little split-axle shifting with it, when I was over limit ;-) ). The biggest thing I learned about driving a truck is that truck drivers are always on the job. There's no relaxing. You've always got to be aware of everything that happens around you. The entire sides of the truck were blind spots, so you had to watch for people moving in an out. You couldn't see what was behind you, either, so you had to remember who went back there. That's why you don't want to stay in someone's blind spot - you're relying on their memory of seeing you drive in. How long ago was that? And how good is their memory in a tight spot?

Comments

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

Who did you drive for?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The company I work for now. I used to drive across Grafton every day for a couple of years. No, that's not very much, but it was enough to learn what I wrote about above.

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

my grandpa was a trucker. *snort* well, he was! it just sounds like a country song, that's all.

driving on california interstates, i learned to flash the drivers...wait, that didn't sound right. although once in arizona, i DID take my shirt off in the car and sorta, you know, forgot. a truck drove by...well, drove UP to us and my friend advised me to take cover. i'm a naturalist, what can i say.

ANYway, i would flash my lights off and on to let the driver know i saw that they might need to move into my lane. you know, when traffic was merging or when we were going down a hill. this technique was especially useful in the mountains and on long drives from l.a. to northern california. i'm always aware that truck drivers are "on" and also that the odd one here or there might be pushing it, might be sleepy or weary or have a problem with their load.

i put this in the past-tense, i drive so rarely now!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It's important to make roolm for the big rigs, wherever they want to go.

[specificocean.livejournal.com]

I learned to drive in a truck. My dad had a 1936 Ford 3/4 ton panel truck, green w/black fenders and yellow wheels. I'd drive it in our farm's yard and back pasture.

[emschin.livejournal.com]

That was very informative. I've always admired Stan because he drove so well and now that I realize he has to do even more than I thought--well, Hooray for Stan.