What's So Bad About Start Up Companies

Dont even turn on the cb myself. I however see the rudeness all the time. They wont flash you over, they wont give a "thank you" flash when you flash them over. So i also make sure i give a little "whats up" nod as we pass each other and i always flash them over. And i will even back off a mph or 2 if someone is having a hard time getting past me. I do all this in hopes that maybe they will rember that and "pay it forward"

Richard, I completely agree with Pat on why they started in on you, but then it just switched over to a Swift bashing.

Don't let it bother you. For some reason among truck drivers there is a disproportionate number of insecure human beings who seem to think it makes them look like a superior person when they begin belittling other drivers or companies. Only a very small man will hide behind his C.B. microphone while berating a rookie or a driver for a company that he considers to be inferior.

The Citizen's Band has become something less and less useful with all the new communication technologies available to us today. I think the truck drivers will always use it, but I must confess that mine is turned off most of the time. For the most part it is used now days to talk down to other drivers, and not for helping each other like it was about thirty years ago. The camaraderie in trucking has suffered with the demise of C.B. communications, but one can always hope for better days to come in the industry.

Yep... I have read more than a few horror stories here on TT about newbie bashing. Personally, some of the best conversations I've had this past month have been while backing up at truck stops, getting out and looking. Usually I'll look at my backing situation, where I have to go, how much space I have to do it... and then I look in the windows of the rigs around me for the guy (there's always one) who is watching my "starter company" truck backing next to his rig.

I'll approach his window with a big smile and a wave, and tell him that I've only been driving for a little while, but I'm going to take as much time as I have to to get it in without hitting his truck. I've collected more helpful backing tips and advice doing this, and met a lot of other great truckers too.

The way I see it, you make your own world. I am going to do everything I could to make mine as positive as I can. I can't wait until I know enough to help someone else out and give some good karma back!

Snappy I know exactly what you are talking about. This attitude is not limited to just trucking. Its unfortunate people behave this way and in the end I find people that behave this badly end up isolating themselves because no one wants to be around them. Keep your chin up and maintain that pay it forward mindset. It will take you farther in life than those who choose a different path. It will be people like you that help to change this industry and perspective people will have of truck drivers. Happy New Year.

Thank you all for the feedback and yes looking back on it I am at fault and now know how to correct my mistake I made. Thank you Pat and Old School for helping me realized where I messed up, I hope to one day be where you guys are in level of skill and it's the little things like this that will prevent big bad things happening later on.

You keep up with that attitude you will have a long and prosperous career.

I like to do things like keep track of how many cars are within say 100 yards of my truck. You gotta remember 99% of my driving is in Montana so that is pretty easy. What this allows me to do is count cars passing me in a passing lane on a 2 lane road. I can tell you if it is clear for me to move back over without looking in my mirror BUT (and that is a big one) you still need to check the mirror for someone that sneaks up on you. I always add one because of that car that may be in your blind spot directly behind you. This forces me to check the mirrors before moving over.

I have trucks pushing me all the time as I WILL NOT speed. Then we get to a hill and they fall back and catch me on the down side and start griping again. Another thing I like to do is figure out what they are gaining by passing me. I have had people pass me then make a turn. I have counted as little as 6 seconds that they saved from the time they turned to the time I got to their turn off spot.

Paying attention to all these other things around you will keep you alert. I was passed the other day by a tanker pulling doubles. Well on the other side of the little town we had to go through, he was on the shoulder with 2 DOT officers behind him. He finally caught up with me 30 miles later but I was turning there so it did not matter... LOL

I pull flatbeds, stepdecks and lowboys so I am always looking in my mirrors to check the chains or straps and it is easy to keep an eye on how many cars are behind you.

A story that I related in another thread had to do with our own drivers. Four of us delivered some bridge beams and on the way back the other 3 drivers could not stand being behind some slow drivers for 60+ miles so they passed them and others. Well about 25 miles down the road someone cut off the lead truck and the other 2 were so close they had to lock up the brakes. Second truck went left and 3rd truck went right. I saw the skid marks and it was close. Good thing no one was coming the other direction. Well they get to the end of the road and decide to stop at the rest area. I looked at the mile markers and I was exactly 4.5 miles behind them. While they were taking their break, I kept going. I got back to the shop a full 30 minutes before they did and I was initially the last truck. Oh and those slow drivers I was stuck behind, they pulled off in the rest area also... LOL

Thank you all for the feedback and yes looking back on it I am at fault and now know how to correct my mistake I made. Thank you Pat and Old School for helping me realized where I messed up, I hope to one day be where you guys are in level of skill and it's the little things like this that will prevent big bad things happening later on.

Richard, I am just starting road training with Swift. I understand there are drivers on the road that, when they smell fresh meat, will laugh & humiliate them. But remember, everyone is a rookie once, even if it was 25 years ago and it was a different time. You already have turned this mistake into a learning experience. One less problem you will have in the future.

And, of course, who is signing your paycheck - some crotchety truck driver or Swift Transportation? Move the freight, get paid.

Well about 25 miles down the road someone cut off the lead truck and the other 2 were so close they had to lock up the brakes. Second truck went left and 3rd truck went right. I saw the skid marks and it was close. Good thing no one was coming the other direction. Well they get to the end of the road and decide to stop at the rest area. I looked at the mile markers and I was exactly 4.5 miles behind them. While they were taking their break, I kept going. I got back to the shop a full 30 minutes before they did and I was initially the last truck. Oh and those slow drivers I was stuck behind, they pulled off in the rest area also... LOL

If you think the skid marks from their near miss were bad, you should have seen the skid marks they cleaned up on their 30 minute breaks! Hey-o!

Yeah, something about hitting that mic button on the CB turns some people into monkeys. It's unbelievable, and quite sad. You take someone who is insecure and allow them to make statements anonymously it's like all of that pent up anxiety comes rushing out. They spew out every piece of filth and garbage they'd never have the "cajones" to say to someone's face.

Unfortunately turning off the CB or having fun with it is your two choices.

Here's what you have to be aware of.....every has an agenda. They're trying to accomplish something with every word they say and action they take. In this case they're bashing on you and your company so it's obvious they're trying to p*ss you off, right? Well the best way to counter someone is to make sure that their words or actions produce exactly the opposite result of what they were going for. If they're trying to look smart, make em look dumb. If they're trying to make you mad, show em you're actually enjoying it. Figure out their agenda and make sure you give them the opposite of what they're looking for.

Like with someone who loves to argue....just smile and agree with everything they say! It will take a couple of minutes, but you'll drive them insane. People like that are not prepared for your "opposite" reaction. They want a fight. They expect a fight. So give em agreement. They expect you to get upset and start yelling at them. Instead smile and show you're enjoying the conversation.

Seriously, you'll get people to leave you alone quickly this way 95% of the time.

Yeah, something about hitting that mic button on the CB turns some people into monkeys. It's unbelievable, and quite sad. You take someone who is insecure and allow them to make statements anonymously it's like all of that pent up anxiety comes rushing out. They spew out every piece of filth and garbage they'd never have the "cajones" to say to someone's face.

Unfortunately turning off the CB or having fun with it is your two choices.

Here's what you have to be aware of.....every has an agenda. They're trying to accomplish something with every word they say and action they take. In this case they're bashing on you and your company so it's obvious they're trying to p*ss you off, right? Well the best way to counter someone is to make sure that their words or actions produce exactly the opposite result of what they were going for. If they're trying to look smart, make em look dumb. If they're trying to make you mad, show em you're actually enjoying it. Figure out their agenda and make sure you give them the opposite of what they're looking for.

Like with someone who loves to argue....just smile and agree with everything they say! It will take a couple of minutes, but you'll drive them insane. People like that are not prepared for your "opposite" reaction. They want a fight. They expect a fight. So give em agreement. They expect you to get upset and start yelling at them. Instead smile and show you're enjoying the conversation.

Seriously, you'll get people to leave you alone quickly this way 95% of the time.

Like when someone pulls up beside you screaming and telling you that you are number 1, and you give them a big toothy grin and wave at atem with all 5 fingers. Boy that makes them madder.