What's your experience w/ Truck Stops/Truckers? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Warden · #16 01-05-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeeDubTDI

I also play along with the courtesy flash when a truck is trying to merge on the highway or change lanes at night. It's always nice to receive a "thank you" blink from the trailer lights.

So I'm not the only "blankety-blank 4 wheeler" who does that.

Only problem I've found is that some trucks don't expect a signal from a passenger vehicle, so they misinterpret it and think I'm being a jerk...not very common, but it does happen.

I've got nothing but respect for truckers. I've actually had some family in the trucking business, and I've put some thought into getting a Class-A and driving OTR for a while after graduating school, before settling down to a career.

I've got two bumper stickers on my 300D, and one of them reads "Without Trucks, America Stops".

84300DT · #17 01-05-2005, 08:17 PM

i've done a couple of lights on/off when passing truckers on I-95 and always got a friendly reply

guess they were sorta suprised. fueling up in Ga. at the high rate fuel pumps always got a couple of questions from the guys that drive the big rigs.

Richard Eldridge · #18 01-05-2005, 08:54 PM

Truck stops are the place to go on the Interstates for fuel always and for food much of the time. Here in Miami there are quite a few inconsiderate and incompetent truckers, but you don't find them on the long haul routes, ever.

Years ago, I was returning from Mexico in a '69 Renault 10 loaded with pottery and with a couple of suitcases strapped to the roof. While driving across Arkansas, I would pass this semi on every hill and he would pass me on every decline. We did this all the way from Texarkana to somewhere halfway across the state. We pulled over at a rest stop and he follwed me into the john and apologized . He said "I hope you don't think I was just playinn' with you back there". I didn't know who he was and said "Hunh?" He said that he was overloaded and never knew a little Renault could hold 70mph before. I told him that he hadn't bothered me at all.

#19 01-05-2005, 09:20 PM

Richard,
Yours cars have quite the names

BenzBoy8 · #20 01-05-2005, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxscar

as a former "materials re-location engineer" i never had much trouble with cars as long as they kept their space... meaning.. don't sit along side a truck on the freeway, especially the right side. remember on the highway there are two worlds existing on one small area of pavement... i'll explain that if anyone needs more.
it seems most truck stops have diesel at the car pumps now, i know the Flying J at ABQ has it. i remember when i had my 180D in the late 70's there was almost no other place to fuel and the pumps had the high pressure i loved later while buying 175 gallons and just wanting to get done and get inside to eat.

no longer out there.

Driving a Trunk is no picnic.

I was with my father on one trip, and he had to saddleback 3 trucks. That is 4 trucks total!

My father hates weigh stations. So every time we go on a trip he takes the smaller roads that pass through small towns.

When he gets through these small towns he is always paranoid.

"Will I hit the bridge, I think its to high?"
"Nick!, you see that red light!"
"Oh God these brakes are not holding!"

My father passed through a town with just to many stop lights. He nearly forgot about the load and could barley stop. My father actually knew he would not be able to stop and had to blow the horn. This guy on a tractor was on the road and he swirved around , he did not understand why my father blew the horn. If he only knew he was about to be crushed.

inbanshi · #21 01-05-2005, 10:32 PM

I too use truck stops, and have occasionally had an attendant run out and yell that I was pumping diesel not gas. Once I had a great laugh with a guy in New York when I replied that I liked the way my car ran on diesel and prefered it to gas.

Nice little secret:
To avoid the stupid law in New Joyzee which doesn't allow you to pump your own fuel, use the truck stops!!!

Radio Nut · #22 01-06-2005, 12:55 AM

I rarely buy fuel anywhere else than Flying J. The frequent fueler card is a nice benefit, and a small discount.

I've never had the slightest problem, or been treated with anything other than respect. Nowadays I rarely need to use the truck fuel island, but it used to be common practice for me.

I remember stopping at a Flying J, fueling, and going in to the fuel desk to pay. The fuel girl asked why I only needed 15 gallons, and was properly impressed when I told her it was a Mercedes. Even when I mentioned that it was only an old Benz, she replyed, "It is still a Mercedes."

BTW, with the frequent fueler card, they already have your name and address, so the demand that you prepay is rare.

Alan the Radio Nut
--------------------
Amateur Radio Station N7CEU
1985 300CD 196,000 Miles and rolling
1980 300TD (Died a horrible death)
1978 300D (sold to a man who is still my friend)

The Warden · #23 01-06-2005, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Nut

I rarely buy fuel anywhere else than Flying J. The frequent fueler card is a nice benefit, and a small discount.

Lucky you

There aren't any real truck stops around the Bay Area...the closest is a Rotten Robbie near San Jose Int'l that I frequent.

On the road, I almost exclusively fuel at truck stops...only one or two Flying J's on the route I'm usually on, but there's a Petro off the I-5 that I almost always stop at...in fact, somewhere, I've got a picture of my old van at one of the truck lanes at that station, with a few trucks in the background...it's a nice shot

TX76513 · #24 01-06-2005, 08:10 AM

[QUOTE=inbanshi]I too use truck stops, and have occasionally had an attendant run out and yell that I was pumping diesel not gas. Once I had a great laugh with a guy in New York when I replied that I liked the way my car ran on diesel and prefered it to gas. QUOTE]

LMAO

fz500sel · #25 01-06-2005, 11:53 AM

Diesel fuel will stink up your clothes and hands something awful!

I always had a box of latex gloves in my trunk just for when I filled up. If you watch the truckers, alot of them have gloves that they use especially for gassing up. Problem is that their gloves aren't disposeable so they use them over and over. When they put them on they have to touch the diesel that is still on the gloves. Could never figure out why they just didnt use disposeables to keep the smell off of them.

Maybe they wear the stench proudly!

TwitchKitty · #26 01-06-2005, 01:20 PM

Many truck stops have wireless internet.

There are many incompetent and/or inconsiderate truck drivers on the road but you see incompetent/inconsiderate people in any occupation, they are just people.

With the way the job market has been for the last several years we would probably all be surprised to see the diplomas that many truckers hold today. Many out of work or underemployed techies drive trucks to make ends meet.

thebern · #27 01-06-2005, 02:13 PM

Last april I took a long drive to Augusta, GA. Stayed in the right hand lane at 70 mph. Two 'truckers' gave me a thumbs up. Either for the car, or being a slow poke diesel in the proper lane. When filling up I was questioned about the car and was told that they don't see many of them these days.

thebern

dieseldiehard · #28 01-06-2005, 02:26 PM

I used to drive a NA 300D and was on a long trip, I was staying in the right lane at 65, at the time the speed limit was 55. It was late at night when a trucker came up on my tail. He slowly crept up until he was within a cars length of my bumper. I was starting to sweat it let me tell you, he flashed his brights a few times and kept a coming. I hoped he would pass me, but he did the Bully thing and it really ticked me off

I moved to the fast lane, we were the only cars around. I threw open my suroof and shined my three cell Maglight up to illuminate his cab number and I took down the ID and name of the company (J B Hunt). The next workday I called them and asked them for the name of their insurance company. They asked me if I had a claim or something, I said no, I wanted to make their ins co. aware that they employed a bad driver. They immediately wanted to know the truck number, details of where it occurred etc. I told them to be sure the report is placed in his personnel file. I hope he was fired.

#29 01-06-2005, 03:23 PM

As a former driver, I've never had any problem with respectful drivers on the road, and in the truckstop. A few points for fueling in the truck diesel lineup, and for proper road manners.

When done, pull forward enough to allow the truck behind you to pull forward, and begin their turn at the pump. Make sure that there is enough room for him to pull forward far enough to refuel the reefer as well. If there is no truck behind you, and there are lanes open, pull forward anyway. You never know when a line of 5 or 10 trucks is going to pull into the place all at once.

At night, turn off your headlights when driving around on the truck lot. People are trying to sleep, and the headlights light up the inside of the truck.

When letting a driver in front of you on the road at night, do NOT flash the headlights, the proper sequences is lights off, and back on once or twice. The high beams blind the driver. If the favor is returned on the next hill, you can use your hazards to thank the driver - a couple of blinks will suffice.

Finally, PLEASE wait to pull in front of the truck, untill you can see the ENTIRE truck in your rear view mirror.

TX76513 · #30 01-07-2005, 08:28 AM

[QUOTE=dieseldiehard]I used to drive a NA 300D and was on a long trip, I was staying in the right lane at 65, at the time the speed limit was 55. It was late at night when a trucker came up on my tail. He slowly crept up until he was within a cars length of my bumper. I was starting to sweat it let me tell you, he flashed his brights a few times and kept a coming. I hoped he would pass me, but he did the Bully thing and it really ticked me off

I moved to the fast lane, we were the only cars around. I threw open my suroof and shined my three cell Maglight up to illuminate his cab number and I took down the ID and name of the company (J B Hunt). The next workday I called them and asked them for the name of their insurance company. They asked me if I had a claim or something, I said no, I wanted to make their ins co. aware that they employed a bad driver. They immediately wanted to know the truck number, details of where it occurred etc. I told them to be sure the report is placed in his personnel file. I hope he was fired.[/QUOTE

Unfortunately, there are some bad truckers - sounds like some road rage going on. Just a couple side notes. JB is self insured so you are talking to the insurance company. Motorist Complaints: It is very good that you called to make them aware. It's very hard to terminate an employee for heresay. About the only thing a motor carrier can do is keep a record of such events and look for patterns - our great employement laws take care of that. JB's trucks are goverened at 64mph (Like Swift and others) but not saying he couldn't push the governor going down hill.