Dangerous CMV Driver For Sunbelt Rentals

We were coming home from North Carolina to Tampa Fl. We were driving in the center lane of I75 South just 5 miles North Ocala exit 358 . Driving at the posted speed limit of 70 MPH. As I normally do I look in my mirrors...I saw a Simi Truck with flat bed with a heavy duty lift. This driver was not only driving over the speed limit, but was putting other vehicles in danger of a serious accident by about 3 feet off their rear bumper -Intimidating vehicles to move out of his way, Then he did the same to me. this was a reckless aggressive driver. I was in the center lane where the truck driver could of moved over, since there was no traffic in the fast or slow lane... it was 1700 Hrs on Dec 2nd. I believe he was in rush to get back to Sunbelts yard to unload the 2 scisssor lifts he was hauling on the lowboy...with no reguards to his safety or anyone elses.

He was also talking on his cell phone (See Face Book Photos At Sean Obrien). He continued tailgating us...to a point where he was 1 foot off my bumper. my family was scared...I tapped my brakes to get him off.. He then went around me, I looked into his window...he was laughing...This is a very dangerous driver..plus it is is a federal crime for Commercial Drivers to use a cell phone while driving...and with a 60 day suspension and $2700 Fine.... https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/driver-safety/distracted-driving. Get This Driver Off The Road Before He Kills Someone!  BTW...LOOK Closely on the drivers door window. a sticker with an emblem of a cell phone and the words TURN IT OFF!...I guess he can not read, since he was using his cell phone in a commercial vehicle while driving..What you will see Is the light coming off his cell phone as he is either showing us a text message to move out of his way or taking photos of our car. Note Note: I did contact Sunbelt Rentals Corporate..they said they could not believe that this veteran driver of 11 years would do something like this, putting my family and other drivers on the road in a dangerous position. They have done nothing so far. He needs to be off road.

Ok, a few questions.

1) Did you get any video or were there witnesses that saw license plates and truck numbers so you can correctly identify the driver and company?

2) Did you speak to the police about this?

There isn't anything we can do other than offer you a platform for a public smear campaign, but that's not a very appealing strategy to be honest. Video makes all the difference in the world. When someone can see what's taken place and clearly identify the truck in a video there's no denying it and you can often force people to answer for it. A dash cam is the way to go if you want to catch people in the act or protect yourself from the mistakes of others.

But I'm not sure why we would keep this up here without some kind of compelling video. You claim some driver from some company did something he shouldn't have. Happens 10,000 times a day. Not one of us drives to work and home without seeing someone do something dumb. Should we all report it here everytime we see it? Probably not.

Ok, a few questions.

1) Did you get any video or were there witnesses that saw license plates and truck numbers so you can correctly identify the driver and company?

2) Did you speak to the police about this?

There isn't anything we can do other than offer you a platform for a public smear campaign, but that's not a very appealing strategy to be honest. Video makes all the difference in the world. When someone can see what's taken place and clearly identify the truck in a video there's no denying it and you can often force people to answer for it. A dash cam is the way to go if you want to catch people in the act or protect yourself from the mistakes of others.

But I'm not sure why we would keep this up here without some kind of compelling video. You claim some driver from some company did something he shouldn't have. Happens 10,000 times a day. Not one of us drives to work and home without seeing someone do something dumb. Should we all report it here everytime we see it? Probably not.

I did get photos and truck number License plate # I tried uploading them but kept getting errors.So I put the Photos on Facebook @ Seanobrien/Facebook page. I am not smearing this trucking company...Sunbelt has my Phone and Personal Info on this Issue...I called Corporate...theys have not called back to tell me the results.

Hey Sean, sorry to hear this happened to you and please don't think that all drivers are that irresponsible and dangerous. I'm honestly surprised that since you have photos and such a good account of what happened, you didn't make an immediate call to law enforcement, they would have pulled him over. One thing that makes me curious is that you mention seeing what he was doing to the vehicles behind you and yet you stayed in your lane and watched him as he came up on you to do the same thing. With traffic being as light as it was, my first thought would have been to get out of his way. The other thing I question is that why oh why, if he was "a foot off your bumper" you would touch the brake pedal. This was a really bad and potential life ending decision. At that distance, there's no way he could have seen your brake lights and you're extremely lucky he didn't hit you. I'll admit, he was stupid and bullying other drivers is reckless but keeping yourself in that position wasn't the best choice. In regards to sunbelt, I'd get ahold of their safety department, send an email with an account of the event, along with pictures. Posting on Facebook isn't the best way to get action from the company.

He continued tailgating us...to a point where he was 1 foot off my bumper. my family was scared...I tapped my brakes to get him off..

To be sure, the driver was being an unsafe and aggressive jerk, but please don't brake check drivers like this. Even a small tap could lead to an accident that could seriously injure or even kill the occupants of the car. If he was that close to you and also distracted/aggressive it's unlikely he'd be able to stop in time if you braked even a little too hard. In the future just move out of the way, I know that's "letting him win" but your family's safety needs to come first.

Sean O. --- what happened to you unfortunately happens too often. But why didn't you move into the right lane if it was empty as you claim? You are by law supposed to keep right except to pass. I am not by any means supporting the behaviour of this driver, but there were far better and safer alternatives for you to take. Brake checking? A very dangerous and stupid thing to do. Just move over and let faster traffic pass.

Brett is 100% correct on his reply. As I was reading you post I put myself in your position which I have been in that (your position many of times) in a 4 wheeler and a semi. You did what you thought was right however not realising that you instead of protecting your family you were actually adding to the allready bad and unsafe situation. Just hear me out ok, we as truck drivers deal with this every day from 4 wheelers and other big rigs. We have what I call a bubble thats circles completly around us and we have to protect that bubble including those that come with in our bubble. Yes it can be very stressfull and at times it can make one wonder how that person ever got a drivers license in the first place , what were they thinking, that sob is gonna get it and on and on. I do understand your concern, flusteration and anger. Somebody came into your bubble and sounds like both of your actions could have of poped that bubble. As a truck driver and a 4 wheel driver I would of merged to the right to do so safely and had my passenger write down the name, plate number, date,time, and location, and reported it that way. You mentioned you seen this truck being unsafe and putting others in harms way and then when he came up on your bumper you tapped your break and pretty much held that center lane. Through frustration and anger you also put everybody around and in your bubble in danger. Now I am not condoning the truckers actions, I am just trying to get you and your family home safely. So with all this said, when you see a unsafe act that is coming your way get yourself and your family out of that unsafe act instead of being part of it. Sorry this happened to you and please understand that not all truck drivers act in this manner. Glad it worked out the way it did and no one was hurt.