Air Horn Ettiquite

OK, I know one of the main reasons many got into this line of work is just to be able to be able to reach up pull the cord and let the world know you're alive and have arrived.

So first question. What do you do when a kid gives you the "Signal"? Single, short toot? Double tap? Or tank draining bellow?

Second question. How do you resist the urge to do a proper pre-trip at zero dark thirty?

Remember - air horns are HIGHWAY HORNS - not really supposed to be using them in the city.

A quick "double toot", if you want to be nice, but not long enough to freak out other cars around you.

We're not choo-choo-trains.

Rick

Kinda depends what is going on.

If your backing and get a short burst, it probably means you are getting close to hitting something. IF you get the tank draining bellow, more than likely it is too late and you have already hit something. Time to pull the air brakes, contact safety, take pictures, and prepare to admit you failed to GOAL.

If you are driving around a lot looking for a place to park a quick toot is letting you know that individual is getting ready to leave shortly. Circle back around, give them room to depart and the spot is yours. If driving around a parking lot and you get the tank draining bellow, you more than likely hit something, ran someone over, or generally being unsafe and are being told to wake the F up. In case of the first 2, time to pull the brakes, call safety, take pictures, maybe contact the police and paramedics, then admit you were driving unsafe and failed to use your mirrors.

Generally a quick double tap is saying "hello". The kid in the car next door wants to hear the air horn. You are passing by people, places that hold significant meaning. Example: when I pass by my school where I got my CDL , if I see people in the yard, I give a couple quick toots than wave.

Drive Safe and God Speed.

If it's a kid doing the arm pump from the back seat of the family truckster, drain the air tanks. It'll make them smile the rest of the trip.

MC wakes up to this:

Second question. How do you resist the urge to do a proper pre-trip at zero dark thirty?

Yes, many drivers shine this on, to their loss when they do break down. You may need to push yourself to do it at the beginning off your career, but allow it to become part of your start-up routine. Once in a while if have skipped the pre-trip. But I get that"incomplete" feeling, like my shoes are not tied.

Read my post here: Why Do a Pre-Trip?

MC wakes up to this:

Second question. How do you resist the urge to do a proper pre-trip at zero dark thirty?

Yes, many drivers shine this on, to their loss when they do break down. You may need to push yourself to do it at the beginning off your career, but allow it to become part of your start-up routine. Once in a while if have skipped the pre-trip. But I get that"incomplete" feeling, like my shoes are not tied.

Read my post here: Why Do a Pre-Trip?

I think his point was, how do you resist the urge to test the air horn during pre-trip when everyone around you is sleeping.

Answer to your second question. I test the air horn after I have left a truck stop/ out of the homes/ or yard. In the yard/truck stop there used for communication. So you can always do that as well.

I have a better question.

As a local driver, I have to drive in neighborhoods a bit too much in my opinion. Occasionally I will see a kid playing in his driveway and he asks for the air horn as I'm driving by this residential block.

What do I do?

(Sad face)

I have a better question.

As a local driver, I have to drive in neighborhoods a bit too much in my opinion. Occasionally I will see a kid playing in his driveway and he asks for the air horn as I'm driving by this residential block.

What do I do?

(Sad face)

At one point when I was a kid my family lived in a brand new neighborhood, so there was a lot of truck traffic for the homes that were still being built. I used to stand at the corner with my sister and the other kids in the neighborhood and pump our arms. Almost all of them would honk their air horns. Yeah, they shouldn't do it in a neighborhood, but who cares? We enjoyed the heck out of it!

We're not choo-choo-trains.

Well, that is true-true! ;)