Parking

Something that happened to my husband this morning.

He is usually very good at getting into his parking spot quickly, but this morning he sucked. He doesn't know why he was having trouble or what was going on, but he couldn't get it work how he wanted it to. I think he was still a bit sleepy from waking up.

What made me write this is the other drivers who were blaring horns, flashing lights, and yelling at him from their trucks. I guess they think that by stressing out the already stressed driver, it's going to make them park faster. It was incredibly rude and what was actually woke me up.

After calming him down and making him laugh at the other guys, he flipped right on in the parking spot. The other guys flew past and gave us dirty looks. I could have fallen apart laughing.

What was funny to me, was we were parking and at points blocking the lane in front of us, but if the other drivers had looked to their left, there was a perfectly clear path to the row of parking behind us. Not one of them could manage to look around to find another way. Instead they insisted on harassing Tim. Nor, could they go past us when I hopped out and directed them to do so. I had thought they would go on and get around so that he could park without all the stress they added. Silly me for expecting them to have some common sense.

I ask that each one of you remember we aren't perfect every time. Sometimes your brain just can't figure it out or your hands forget which one is left. You never know what that driver is going through, their level of skill, or if the equipment is functioning correctly.

As a sidenote:

Once we went in, there were several drivers who smiled at him and apologized for the other drivers. Other drivers who had compassion for a rough start of your day.

Once we went in, there were several drivers who smiled at him and apologized for the other drivers. Other drivers who had compassion for a rough start of your day.

. . . and a good time was had by all . . . love these kind of anecdotes . . . makes imagining the trucker's life real, don't it?

Jopa

Once we went in, there were several drivers who smiled at him and apologized for the other drivers. Other drivers who had compassion for a rough start of your day.

. . . and a good time was had by all . . . love these kind of anecdotes . . . makes imagining the trucker's life real, don't it?

Jopa

I wish I could live the imagined one all the time. But unfortunately the drivers that are rude make it hard to do that. Some drivers out there are really nice and helpful. There are some out there that will bend over backward to help you (well as best they can, the driving seems to stiffen up your muscles). I wish they could all be so nice.

But, jerks abound. Though I have seen it come back around on them sometimes and that always makes me smile.

Our company had three trucks assigned to loads from a particular company. We were all assigned to arrive at the same time. I arrived early that morning and went to park offsite because I was too early. I came back when the guy in the office told me and the other two drivers were ahead of me blocking the entrance. Took a minute to find a place to safely park the truck and then I went inside.

The office guy smiled when he saw me and told me to go ahead to pull into gate 1 and that I would be loaded first since I checked in first. The other two, not knowing I had been there hours before, got angry and threw a fit. Instead of arguing and raising my blood pressure I let them go first. Didn't hurt me any, we all had the same loose schedule to get the load delivered.

They got loaded and left and I had to wait for my load to come off the sea container. There they found the instructions for the load. How it was to be stacked and braced. My load got loaded per the instructions and they sent me on my merry way. A couple of hours later I got a call from air freight and they asked if my load had be loaded correctly and I told them yes. She said she was happy because I wouldn't have to turn around to get the load rebraced. This was almost 6 hours after they had loaded and left. I felt so bad for them but laughed as well because had they waited their turn, I would have been the one turning around.

Yeah, people just don't look for an alternate way sometimes. Instead of possibly getting out of the truck and seeing there was an alternate way around (which you made even more obvious by directing them yourself) they chose to honk and get irritated. I definitely used to put on my patience hat when I had to wait for people to back up, even when my backing got better (not mastered, just better) because I knew that not too long ago I was in the same position. I got some dirty looks when I took longer than most to back, got cussed at over the cb, and got the look of death from more drivers than I can count. My response was nothing but a big smile. But there were also others who would help me, and give me tips after I got in the spot. I've had drivers stop their truck and block traffic even more to help me into a spot, even in the pouring rain.

One time when I was at a receiver I was having a bit of trouble backing (what else is new) and I just couldn't seem to get it in there. I finally pulled completely out of the spot, set up and tried again. Worked like a dream. After I set the air brakes and got out to admire my parking, I hear of all things....clapping! Another driver was clapping for me and said "Congratulations!" Well I did what any other driver would have done, I looked him dead in the eye, took a bow and said "Thank you, thank you, I'm here all week!" Another driver who was watching me from the stairs at the office said "Let's hope not!"

Smart aleck...we all had a good laugh, and wouldn't you know, they even offered me tips on my backing so the next time I backed in it only took me six pull ups instead of eight!

TSB has been driving for 45 years...and to this day...there are times when he looks like a student practicing on the pad... ..For me...there are days when I am a danger to myself and others

I know I pulled into a truck stop once while it was snowing and icy. My instructor got out and was helping me get the truck backed into a spot that was fairly tight. All I heard on the CB was some other drivers giving me a hard time. Then from out of nowhere a lady driver came on and saved me. She said look he has someone out there helping him. Did you all ever stop and think that he may be a student just learning? ( which I was at the time.) That shut everyone up really quick.

Glad to know that there are some drivers that think before they speak. Besides we all have bad days now and again.

I still have days where I cant back up how I want to especially when Im tired or just woke up. If there is a trucker "bully" trying to rush me Illpop my brakes and get out to GOAL plus take a little longer and move alittle slower. I could give a damn who gets mad. Opinions are like *******s, everybody has one. I tell my trainees the same. Take your time. Go at your pace. Be safe and as long as you dont hit nothing screw those other fools.